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Topic: Any Tricks or Tips for me? (Read 1529 times) previous topic - next topic

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Ok, I've been having some serious issues with the t-bird in recent days. I'll be driving along and the engine starts stuttering and then all together dies out. It'll be fine at high speed, but at 20-30, it starts getting sluggish, then will just die.

Last night, I was driving home and at every intersection I stopped at, it felt like, or did die out. Then, other times when I hit the gas at low speeds, the engine made this huge clunking sound and physically moved, and I saw the RPM's drop all the way to zero. If I let out of the gas, it would return to normal. But for miles it kept doing this.

I've been making several phone calls, and most people think it's the Fuel Pressure Regulator. Seeing as I changed the Filter and Pump in august, I have to believe they aren't bad.

I was told If I had a bad regulator, it could cause the Fuel pump to run at 100% all the time, and make it go bad in the process. So, I'm going to be changing both the Regulator and pump.

What I need to know is how in god's name I can get to that regulator. I have the 5.0 engine, and it looks impossible. I can see two screws, but the third looks like it's impossible to reach without taking the upper intake off.

Any ideas? Tips?
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #1 –
Pull the vacume line off of it, and see if theres gas in the line, if there isnt any, start it and see if it squirts. If it doesnt, drive the car with the line off. See if that does anything.
It's Gumby's fault.

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #2 –
I've already done all the tests with the Fuel Pressure gauges and saw the pressure was lower than it should have been.

I've started the process of changing the Pressure Regulator. It appears to have never been changed. I was able to get two of the screws off (The two facing the passenger side of the car) but there is a third screw holding the regulator down facing the Driver's side of the car which looks  near impossible to get to.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #3 –
I pulled the upper intake off,then removed the two bolts holding the passenger side og the fuel rail down,then just lifted the fuel rail and removed it.Not that hard.It's not nearly as intimidating as it looks.I have removed the intake so many times i can probably remove it in about 4 or 5 minutes,then reinstall it in about the same.Just a few bolts,a couple of vacuum lines,and a few electrical plugs.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #4 –
First check to see if raw fuel is squirting out of the vacuum fitting on the regulator, as Tbird232 has said. This will indicate if the diaphragm inside is ruptured.
I replaced one on my truck this past summer...would squirt fuel out quite a way...truck bogged, backfired, wouldn't idle well,a nd generally ran like shiznit, i replaced the regulator, and now it runs like stink on  again.

If you just replaced the pump and filter not too long ago, don't mess with them until you've done everything else.
BTW, a fpr from a truck will work on a Tbird/Cougar 5.0, and vice-versa...just a F.Y.I.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #5 –
thanks for the help guys. After some painful scratches and some blood loss, I was able to remove the Fuel Pressure Regulator and get a new one on. Now I just have to go around driving to see if it worked.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #6 –


First order of business ever..... KOEO and KOER
One 88

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #7 –
Yeah, I pulled the codes before I started this process and nothing came up, so I figured I didn't need to post what would be useless information.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
[/SIZE]

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #8 –
Actualy its very valuable information.
One 88

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #9 –
Well,how does it run?Is it better?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #10 –
Well, it didn't die. Plus the fuel pump is under warranty, so if it's still bad, I can just get a new one and put it in.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
[/SIZE]

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #11 –
If it still runs like  change your filter.

Scott
1980 birds X 3, 1982 bird, 1984 XR7, 1988 TC

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #12 –
I was having trouble with my 84.  My wire for my fuel pump was comming loose and cutting the motor out.  So check the wire with the fusable link in it close to the battery.
84 TC 302 -5.0L/t5/7.5 locking rear and a 3.45 gear, Edelbrock Intake, Aluminum Heads, Edlebrock 65mm Throttlebody, Edlebrock Cam, 24lb injectors & MAS Air Sensor calibrated via chip,  BBK headers, Catback H pipe, Magnaflow lers :evilgrin:
:pics-stfu:

 Project Thread with pics
 

Any Tricks or Tips for me?

Reply #13 –
I changed both Fuel pump and FILTER back in august. How could the filter have gone bad that quick...more importantly, so suddenly? Within 24 hours????

I mean, I know you're not supposed to use ARCO gas in these cars, but I didn't think it would mess it up that bad.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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