Hello everyone, is what I know. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
92 mtx
Error codes given by a local mechanic last week, explained by Hawkeye18
219 = Spark timing defaulted to 10 degrees, spark output circuit open.
452 = Insufficient input from VSS.
528 = Clutch Pedal Position switch circuit failure.
542 = Fuel pump circuit open, EEC processor to motor ground. (just means you stalled the car at one point)
Intermittent dying on long trips and the occasional no start.
Back story time:
Six months ago I drove from Space Coast Florida to Chattanooga TN, via North Carolina on my way to college. When i first got to NC, after ix hundred miles of driving or so, the car just quit. it would crank back up after five minutes or so, then after maybe two miles it would die again. A mechanic there had the fuel filter replaced, suspecting dirty fuel. After the replacement and sitting in his garage over night it started fine, and drove me a couple hours down the road, but when I pulled off in a parking lot it died again. Opening the hood to inspect, I found that when the radiator overflow reservoir was replaced, the overflow hose was not put in correctly, and had gotten bent around and was pouring water on the alternator. I fixed that, but soon after the alternator died, and then replaced that. All those problems seemed behind me.
Now, last week, making the trip home for the holidays, after four hundred miles my car dies the same way in Jacksonville. It coasted into a mechanics parking lot, who told me he encountered a Taurus with the exact same symptoms four years ago, and finally found a service bulletin from Ford explaining that there was welding slag in the tank that needed to be flushed out. It was able to start and run an hour later, so we drove it home, and dropped the tank. It was perfectly clean. While we were there we decided to replace the fuel pump.
It seems to have improved a little, but it still has the occasional no-start. It appears that opening the gas cap to relieve vacuum/pressure helps.
Now, after much searching, I'm suspecting the CPS. The local mechanic claims he needs a five hundred dollar specialty tool due to the DOHC, so he won't touch it. The local Ford dealers say it will run $600, which is a little much to swallow. I am considering trying to limp it back to school, where I will attempt to get help working on it from the Automotive Maintenance Department of my school. They seem to be well equipped, but I haven't got a chance to get in touch with them yet.
I need to leave to get back to school at the latest Sunday, preferably Thursday or Friday.
So my options appear to be:
~Ford dealership: $600
~Local Mechanic: does anyone know an experienced SHO mechanic in or near Melbourne Florida, or Chattanooga TN?
~Work on it myself: Special tools? Is there anyone in the Chattanooga TN region who has done this before and is willing to help?
Thank you so much, sorry for the book
Keith Turner
92 mtx
Error codes given by a local mechanic last week, explained by Hawkeye18
219 = Spark timing defaulted to 10 degrees, spark output circuit open.
452 = Insufficient input from VSS.
528 = Clutch Pedal Position switch circuit failure.
542 = Fuel pump circuit open, EEC processor to motor ground. (just means you stalled the car at one point)
Intermittent dying on long trips and the occasional no start.
Back story time:
Six months ago I drove from Space Coast Florida to Chattanooga TN, via North Carolina on my way to college. When i first got to NC, after ix hundred miles of driving or so, the car just quit. it would crank back up after five minutes or so, then after maybe two miles it would die again. A mechanic there had the fuel filter replaced, suspecting dirty fuel. After the replacement and sitting in his garage over night it started fine, and drove me a couple hours down the road, but when I pulled off in a parking lot it died again. Opening the hood to inspect, I found that when the radiator overflow reservoir was replaced, the overflow hose was not put in correctly, and had gotten bent around and was pouring water on the alternator. I fixed that, but soon after the alternator died, and then replaced that. All those problems seemed behind me.
Now, last week, making the trip home for the holidays, after four hundred miles my car dies the same way in Jacksonville. It coasted into a mechanics parking lot, who told me he encountered a Taurus with the exact same symptoms four years ago, and finally found a service bulletin from Ford explaining that there was welding slag in the tank that needed to be flushed out. It was able to start and run an hour later, so we drove it home, and dropped the tank. It was perfectly clean. While we were there we decided to replace the fuel pump.
It seems to have improved a little, but it still has the occasional no-start. It appears that opening the gas cap to relieve vacuum/pressure helps.
Now, after much searching, I'm suspecting the CPS. The local mechanic claims he needs a five hundred dollar specialty tool due to the DOHC, so he won't touch it. The local Ford dealers say it will run $600, which is a little much to swallow. I am considering trying to limp it back to school, where I will attempt to get help working on it from the Automotive Maintenance Department of my school. They seem to be well equipped, but I haven't got a chance to get in touch with them yet.
I need to leave to get back to school at the latest Sunday, preferably Thursday or Friday.
So my options appear to be:
~Ford dealership: $600
~Local Mechanic: does anyone know an experienced SHO mechanic in or near Melbourne Florida, or Chattanooga TN?
~Work on it myself: Special tools? Is there anyone in the Chattanooga TN region who has done this before and is willing to help?
Thank you so much, sorry for the book
Keith Turner
