Could it be my spark plugs and wires? Please help!!!?

Question

have a 2001 Ford Mustang.. It is not running very well. First of all, when I start it up in the morning and after work, it sounds really loud and makes a little ticking noise. (I was told it could be I need an oil change, but not the case because I has the oil changed and the fuel injection system cleaned).. Then when I put it into drive, it like KICKS or jumps. Its hard to explain but it has never done this before. While Im driving it runs kind of sluggish especially when Im going up a hill. Its sounds like Im racing or something because it gets loud.. Not to mention, when I hit like 40 mph it starts to miss. Now I haven't changed my spark plugs in like a year and a half and I do believe the owns I had put on were cheap back then. So could this be the result of my car issues.. My check engine light was on for about months but I think the fuse blew because it went away. I have a little over 90K on my car. Please tell me what you think!!!

Answer 1

Check your plugs & leads. All you need is for one to be faulty & you'll get a miss. 18 months isn't new by any means, so that would be the first place I'd look.

Answer 2

I have a 2000 Mustang....I just had to have my distributor torn apart and repaired. Seems to be a common problem with Mustangs. The cam position sensor goes bad and causes the car to run poorly, I know. This makes the check engine light come on and off. This could be your problem. With new technology, spark plugs can go 100,000 miles. But, since they were cheap plugs and wires, it could be that too. Get some Bosch platinum +4s. They are great plugs and last forever. If the check engine light isn't on, you may not be able to read the code. I'd get a mechanic to look at the cam position sensor and stator assembly. I paid $40 to get mine rebuilt and my car runs great now. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

that's achieveable to get undesirable twine or undesirable spark plugs or the incorrect spark plugs. it isn't any longer that uncomplicated by, that's greater uncomplicated to get the incorrect spark plugs or combination up the spark plug wires. yet you won't be able to omit twine only one spark plug twine, and with the coil packs in step with cylinder one might quite would desire to artwork to omit twine it. So i'm assuming which you have a Ford Explorer with a rotary distributor, and the two a 6 or 8 cylinder engine. tell your husband the concern and have him recheck his artwork. Get out your proprietors handbook and confirm you have the final spark plug to your vehicle. verify that the spark plugs are suited and securely geared up, that the spark plug wires are securely geared up, and that the wires are under pressure out to the final plug. depending on what 12 months of ford you have this must be very easy to do yet you will would desire to be conscious of the firing order. Get a restore handbook from the library or seem it up via the internet regularly the firing order could have a diagram that teach how the spark plug twine run. If all seems so as or that's previous our ability then bypass to a superb storage or ford dealership. you do no longer elect to stress if avoidable, you're able to reason greater severe injury. suited of luck

Answer 4

Well, it sounds like you DO have a problem actually TWO problems.

1) Take your car in to a mechanic and have them do a complete inspection. Not just the plugs/wires, but also the fuel system (clogged fuel filter, etc..). That engine lite may or may not be of significance but you are not going to find out from us waaaay over here.

2) The other problem is... YOU. You need to establish a regular pattern of service for that car or you are going to continue to have problems. When a light comes on you need to find out about it promptly,.. not MONTHS later. Those kind of deferred maint. issues have a way of getting as expensive as unpaid parking tickets.

Ok.. enough of the soapbox. You prob, already knew it anyway, but hopefully this will be a good kick to start doing it.

.

Answer 5

You should get the vehicles computer scanned and check for any problems as well as codes and then you will have a good idea on what the problem truly is.

Spark plug wire are a very common problem with ford but if you decide that you or someone else are going to replace them I would strongly recommend that you use only motorcraft wires, they will cost more but that will last longer.

Answer 6

well the noise im not to sure possibly the alternator i know mine does this whistling noise the higher my RPM gets. but for the missing i think i might have a clue mine did the similiar thing, i don't think its youe spark plugs but rather your spark plug whire. sometimes they rub against engine parts and cause the seal to rub off expossing the wireing, try using a push push bottle with water while the car is running and check for sparks comming out use only a little water and go one spot at a time. if the case those hose/wires aren't to expensive at a auto parts store.. hope this helps

Answer 7

Yeah it sounds like your spark plugs need to be changed, have you checked your transmisson latley? That needs oil too. Its either one of these two things, or your transmission could be going up all together. Try changing the plugs first and check your oil. Good Luck.....if i see ya broke down Ill pick ya up!lol.....FORD backwards stands for Driver returns on foot....I have a Ford Exploder!

Answer 8

You didn't mention whether it is a V6 or a V8 engine, but if it's a V6, it could be the synchronizer and camshaft position sensor. Sometimes that will cause the ticking sound as well as the sluggishness.

Answer 9

when its loud in the mornings, and it jumps when put into gear, is it cause it is idling high? Make sure you don't have a vacuum leak... especially check at the pcv valve and tube. This could cause all of your problems. Also check the MAF sensor, would give same symptoms as running lean/vacuum leak

Answer 10

Take your car to Autozone have them hook their computer up to it and have them code the engine. they do this for free. That will tell you why your service engine light is on. I would do that before doing anything else. After they code engine then whatever is wrong you can have it fixed.