All Part Groups Chugging When accelerating When warm
Q: Have a V6 24 Valve DOCH. Engine is missing or skipping when warm. Took to Ford dealer for computer check. Says it's #3 plug wire , replaced and didn't fix problem. Have replaced wires, cap, rotor, and pulgs. Still have the problem. Happens from idle to 3,000 rpms. Under acceleration misses, but ok when driving 60 mph and over. Found oily residy in #5 and #1 plug recess.
Chassis / Suspension & Steering Making Noise When turning When cold
Q: We live in northwestern Illinois and last week, it's getting colder here (20 deg. F).
I noticed a noise when turning the wheels when the car is cold.
It sounds like rubber squeaking and it appears the joint from the steering column to the rack is moving.
Any ideas?
A: Colder temps cause the power steering fluid to get thicker thus putting more stress on your joint. Replace the old fluid and possibly the joint.
Electrical / Lighting Systems Other Not applicable Not applicable
Q: My battery keeps draining even though I just got a new one about a month ago.
If I charge it, it starts fine but by the next time I go to start it, it's dead again. Why??
A: If the charging system of the car is not keeping up.... no start problem...
Or if something like an interior light stays on now and then, same problem...
Start by checking the charging system performance... Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: I installed a new car radio in my 1994 ford probe GT and and the wires in the back of the factory radio touched the ground and blew the fuse for the taillights and lights inside and I replaced the fuse but the taillights still don't work. What should I do to get them to work?
A: Check the bulbs, and also if the tailights may have their own fuse........ Ed
Q: I have a 1994 Ford Probe and just recently it has begun to idle at 1250rpm. This is the speed it should idle at when it is warming up, but not when it is warm. Does anyone have any idea's what it might be?
A: check to see if the wiring on your choke is disconnected or have a mechanic, it seems like the choke is staying shut it will end up killing gas milage and could lead to backfiring through the intake.....
Q: my car trembles when stopped as though it's gonna cut off. my fuel cut-out light is constantly on my dash. i put a new fuel cut-out switch on, but i still the same problem
A: check the tube that runs from the air box to the Mass-Air Flow sensor.Its a black tube about
3 inches in diameter,they crack and the vechile gets unmetered air,or check the plug wires
Q: Checked two spark plug wires and neither are getting spark. how to i check the coil if it is good? what does it look like? is there anything else i should check?
A: you can buy a plug wire tester at wal mart. it will also test the coil.
Q: My probe was not idleing until i accelerated it
but i dont want it accelerated because sometimes
it accelerates too much and i have to wait for it to calm down so i can put it in drive and when i finally put it in drive and i am at a light it starts to vibrate as if fule is cutting off. I know its not the fule pump so i want to know what is the problem?
A: Check the mass air tube for cracking,its the tube that runs from the air box to the throttle body.
Q: I had a fender bender with another car and I buckled my hood and cracked the front bumper.
Can I put a newer part on such as a 94's bumper?
Or do I have to stay with the original years part? Thank you.
A: My interchange manual is at the shop... A local wrecking yard will have it handy..... Ed
Q: I need to know how much it will cost to have my engine rebuilt.
A: There are so many variables here... too many
to quote from a distance......
Type of engine & transmission, what's broken or needing repair, does the engine require removal, the area of the country, the local labor rates, lots of variables........ Ed
Q: My Probe has had the idle air control replaced twice, and now needs a third replacement. The car shuts down unless constant gas is applied. Releasing the gas pedal causes it to go dead.
The part # is f32z9f715b.
I have been told that a part by Borg, #21970 is acceptable as the substitute for the Ford part.
The Borg part is $200.00 cheaper. Is the Borg acceptable?
A: First take it out and clean it with a good carb type spray cleaner.... including the channel that it sits in and all around the intake part of the manifold.
Then unhook the negative post of the battery for one minute and try that..... Ed
Q: There is a knocking sound in the front end when I turn and/or hit small bumps.
A: I would check the lower ball joints and the stabalizer bar bushings, and finally the front strut mounts and upper plates.....
It could also be a tie rod end loose, but this would cause a lot of tire wear.... Ed
Fuel System Won't Start Happens sometimes When warm
Q: My Ford Probe, while driving, just shuts down like somebody took the key out.
I pull over, let it sit for about 1-2 minutes, then it starts right up.
I notice when I hit a certain point, the car will shut down. The higher the rpm's, the more shut down.
At this point, the car will no longer start at all.
A: The "Ignition Module" is getting hot. Check for spark when it is not starting. If there is spark, then you have a fuel problem instead. Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Not applicable Not applicable
Q: I am trying to determine the wiring schematics from the wiring harness relaying to the car radio tape deck
A: First off I reccomend that you buy a "Haynes Manual" for your car (they cost between $10 and $15). That will tell you anything you want to know about your car. If not then you could do it the old fasion way. First locate the stereo wiring harness (or wires if your harness has been cut off), then with a test light grounded to a metal part of the car (ie a bolt under the dash that screws into the car body) with the ignition off test all the wires to see if any have power. if there is a wire that has power with the ignition OFF then that is your clock or MEMORY wire, mark it as such. Next turn the ignition on or to the acc. position and test the rest of the wires for power. If one has power (usualy red) that is your POWER wire. mark it as such. Then hook your test light clip to either the power wire or to the pos.+ Battery terminal and test the black,brown, or green wire of the remaining wires, if the test light lights then that is your ground. As for the speaker wires that is trial and error. Just remember that a solid color speakerwire is positive and the one of the same color with a black stripe is that speaker's negative.
If you have furthur questions Email me at E_lope@extite.com.
Interior Components Upgrade Not applicable Not applicable
Q: I NEED THE WIRING COLORS AND CODES FOR THE RADIO
A: check with a local car stereo place that does installations they should have the info unless they are just guessing they may charge a fee for this or they may not want to give that info out so check other places
GOOD LUCK
Q: Just had a new fuel pump installed by an authorized Ford dealer.
Runs beautiful except that when making right turns, the engine feels like its going to stall. And when I come out of the turn it regains its normal feel?
"Totally clueless".
And this never, ever happened until these people changed the fuel pump...help me!
A: The pick up tube on the fuel pump is wrong. Starves on right turns. Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens sometimes Not applicable
Q: Headlights come on sometimes and then other times they don't. Where is the headlight relay? Anything elese we should check?
A: If I'm not mistaken, these cars were on national recall for fire hazard in headlight switch. If you owned the car since new, you should have recieved a notice. The problem is, many cars are sold and dealers have no way of contacting new owners. Check local dealership for more info. hope this helps
Q: Every once in awhile, when starting the car, it makes a
grinding noise from the rear end.
When turning the engine over then, it makes the noise
even louder, and then vibrates the car until it kills within
a second or two.
The only way to get it to stay running is by putting a foot
lightly on the accelorator for about 20 seconds, then it
runs normally after that.
Lately it has been doing this every time I start the car.
It's a 1990 Ford Probe LX, with a 3.0L engine. It has
been acting up like this for about 3 months now.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Marlo Schroeder
A: Yup....the "grinding" noise sounds like the exhaust
vibrating against the underside of the car.
The vibration is because of a poor start condition that
results in the "rocking" of the engine on start up...
I would check and clean the idle air control passages and
valve first. Good luck....Ed
All Part Groups Other Not applicable Not applicable
Q: We have just replaced the brakes on our 1990 FORD Probe, we took it out on the road to test them. And we seen a friend so we stopped to chat, after when we got ready to leave, we had no gears at all. My question is can a transmission go out suddenly like that? We had no trouble before. It had never slipped or even acted funny at all. Please tell us if there maybe a button we might have accidentlly touched or something. Also,the manual shift light is staying on. Thank you,
Keith and Debera Lutton
A: I would definitely check out the "manual shift light staying on" problem. The electronic harness to the transmission may have gotten bumped at the shop and is only partially in the plug. Something along those lines is what you are looking to find. Ed
Electrical / Lighting Systems Won't Start When starting When warm
Q: AT FIRST, THE CAR WOULD ONLY START WHEN COLD, THEN WHEN IT WOULD GET WARM IT WOULD STALL, SO I CHANGED THE MODULE DISTRIBUTOR, THEN THE GAS PUMP THEN THE GAS FILTER AND STILL NOTHING, SO I DECIDED TO TAKE APART A GAS LINE AND START THE CAR TO SEE IF THE GAS IS PUMPING, NATA, SO NOW I'M STUCK
FORD PROBE 90 2.2L NO TURBO
A: its the fuel pump, i'm sure. i work at ford and that is a common problem.
All Part Groups Malfunction When driving Not applicable
Q: cruise control will not often engage
A: problems like this are often hard to find,when the 90 probe was new alot of things didnt work right,even with the proper test equiptment for the probe it was just an educated guess ,by far the most common problems with the cruise were the switches,it may come down to how bad you really want your cruise to work,THE PARTS ARE NOT CHEAP!
Q: is it possible to replace a 4-cylinder 2.2liter engine with a v-6 2.5liter
A: anything is possible but those older probes had a pretty small engine compartment,it would be a lot of work and expense and when you are done you still have a 89 probe
This way to the live technicians