QuestionQUESTION: We have had a 1966 V8 Ford Mustang in our family for about 9 years now, but we didn't move it for quite a few of those nine years. In the past half year my father and I have been running the car and everything seemed to be working okay. We got the drum brake system converted to disc this past summer, and after that was when the problems started. The battery would get its power drained within just hours and the car would stop very many times within a short distance (we even tried a new battery). It was suggested that we replace the alternator or the voltage regulator. We did both of these, and yes the battery no longer gets drained out as it did. However, the car keeps stopping, even MORE now. The last time we turned it on and took it for a drive, we couldn't even get to the street on the other side. It stopped much more than it used to and just keeps getting worse. It'll run and just shut off. Lately it won't even stay on for a couple minutes, and we just don't know what to do now. The car is in EXCELLENT condition in terms of everything else-all original- but this. ANY suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.
ANSWER: It is not clear to me what you mean by "stopping". Do you mean the engine stalls and won't start, or do you mean the engine runs and tries to move the car but can't. If the latter, tell me if the engine revs freely as if the shifter was in neutral, or does it strain against some unseen blockage that prevents the car from moving?
I'd also like to know if this car has a V8 engine or a 6, and what transmission it has.
With the answer to those questions, I can probably lead you toward a solution.
I advise against modifying cars in any way, but it's too late to bring that up, I realize. I'll try to figure out what is wrong if I can.
Dick
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QUESTION: The Mustang is a V8 289. By stopping I meant that it'll run and all but soon after it just stops. What I mean by that is that the car just turns off/fails and I immediately have to pull over. I didn't really understand what you meant with "revs freely"..what is Rev? Sorry if that's a dumb question, I'm just not a know-it-all with cars.
Thanks so much!
Laurie
AnswerWhat I mean by "rev" is the engine rotation speed. When you start an engine, before you put it in gear, when you step on the gas the engine roars - right? That is revving - the word is short for revolving - in this case rapidly. If the car has a tachometer (I still don't know what model it is or what transmission it has, but some models of 66 Mustangs have a tachometer, as do most modern cars - that instrument tells you how many revolutions per minute the engine is doing). What I am trying to determine is whether the problem is engine or transmission related. If it is a transmission problem the car may stop but the engine continues to run - as if it were not in gear. On the other hand, the engine may stall and have to be restarted by twisting the key and pumping the gas pedal - I'm guessing that is what is happening to you - but correct me if I'm going down the wrong path here.
Does the car have manual shift, or automatic? (does it have a clutch pedal?)
If the engine stalls, and has to be restarted, I think you probably have a bad fuel pump, or a blocked fuel filter, or perhaps a restriction in the fuel line. If you are not mechanical at all, I don't think you are going to be able to find the cause yourself. The next step in diagnosis is to see if the engine is stalling due to lack of fuel- and the way to do that is to try to restart it by spraying some WD-40 (buy it at the hardware store) into the air cleaner opening while a helper trys to start it. If that makes it start, even if only for a second or two, when otherwise it would not have started, it lacks fuel - and you will have to have it towed to a garage for further diagnosis - the most likely reason being a failed fuel pump.
I hope this is of some help - and I'll wait to hear back from you as we progress toward a diagnosis.
Dick
