My L is really screwed up and I'm not sure what it is. I'll sum up what I can figure and have seen to see if maybe some of you guys have had similar problems, or have an idea. Regardless, the truck is going into the shop tomorrow. This is a serious problem I think.

Okay, truck has 15,200 miles on it. It is a '99. Around 13,500 or so, I noticed the intercooler reservoir was empty. I filled it up, and didn't notice much loss (about 1/2") until 14,900. I topped that off, and annotated the actual mileage. In the last 300 miles or so, I have lost about an inch of fluid. So, truck was going in at first opportunity to get it in.

Have had my superchip for most of the life. Just got the Downs' air filter. Truck ran like mad with it for the last couple hundred miles. Lots of boost, noticable power increase, etc. etc.

On Saturday, was running to the mall. Zoomed on down the on-ramp, truck shifted into second, lots of great boost, sounds great, and then a stumble shifting into third if I remember. No big deal I think. Slow down for traffic, get to a light, no problems. Take off easy for traffic, get a chance to move, and give it some gas, boost comes up to about 2psi no problems. goose it to about 6k and a stumble. WTF. Ease off, no problems. Gas with boost, stumble, stutter, shudder, etc.

Let off again, runs great with no boost. Everytime I start to get around 3+psi, same problem. Stop, turn superchip to program 1, disconnect battery, go inside for a bit, come back out after 20 minutes. Hook up battery, and off I go. Run it hard up into 3rd, no problem. Get on interstate, go to pass someone, problem is back, but worse.

Get home, irritated, get on the board here and find some similar problems with belts.

I looked at the pulleys and one is very shiny and smooth, another is shiny mostly, with some dark spots (uneven wear?). Take it out again and spend some time under boost. Same thing, studder, then picks up, then studders, and then I notice some burnt rubber smell. Slow down, go home, figured it was definitely belts.

Get up next day, and runs fine about 12 miles, almost at work and starts up again. This was with stock program and down's filter. Maybe was the filter.

Tonight, I took off down's filter, replaced stock, no chip at all, reset computer. Runs good about 2-4 miles and then studders again under boost and shifts a little weird.

I know this is long...any ideas? Someone help.



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Aaron Luck
'99 Red SVT Lightning
Superchip, Safe-t-stop, Ford soft tonneau cover, 6 disk changer, ford bedliner, CL III tow package, 15+ coats of Zaino

'00 Black (Green got totaled) SVT Contour
KKM Induction Kit, Superchip, 73mm MAF

'90 Cardinal Red 5.0 LX Convertible Mustang
Removed intake silencer

 

I had this problem when my intercooler was leaking. You need to get that fixed asap.

This may be caused by ...
1) enough fluid leaking under boost to inhibit the spark.
2)fouled o2 sensor causing engine computer to mis-calcuate proper operating parameters.

Once I got the o2 sensors and intercooler replaced, the problem went away.

If you dont think that either of these is the problem, there is one other possibility. I had the following problem a while back and described it under a thread entitled 'tranny problems'. It actually turned out to be the computer:

Your superchip could have corrupted the computer's program and the CPU will need to be re-flashed or reprogrammed. This also happened to me, but was after the intercooler debacle. It should cost about $120 for the reload. You might be able to check for this problem by using the diagnostic code display built into the odometer. There's a thread from a few months back where they told you how to use your odometer to check for dTcs. Keep in mind though that the odometer will only display a sub-set of the codes available via the diagnostic port.

[This message has been edited by Nathan (edited 05-23-2000).]

 

This sounds remarkably like what I am currently experiencing with Beastie, except I don't seem to have the intercooler leak or the burning rubber smell. I am currently waiting for a new PCM to come in to see if that is the same issue that Nathan had (I tried to help him with that one, to no avail).

I'll keep you posted on what I find. Right now, I'm at the mercy of the Ford parts system, waiting for the unit to come in.

The Wyldman

 

Well, took it into the shop this morning. They are backed up on engine work, so might be there a week.

They did check on the sputtering/miss and it turns out I had 8 fouled plugs and coils. So, they are on order. They are calling SVT tomorrow and working on getting the details on the intercooler issue ahead of time.

Hopefully all will be well. I'll keep you posted.

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Aaron Luck
'99 Red SVT Lightning
Superchip, Safe-t-stop, Ford soft tonneau cover, 6 disk changer, ford bedliner, CL III tow package, 15+ coats of Zaino

'00 Black (Green got totaled) SVT Contour
KKM Induction Kit, Superchip, 73mm MAF

'90 Cardinal Red 5.0 LX Convertible Mustang
Removed intake silencer

 

Not that this is your problem, but have you noticed if your heater hose was leaking on the coil that sits below it?

I know some owners with these same characteristics found this to be their problem. Good luck with the dealer and check your tread depth before and after being at the dealer.

[This message has been edited by Pacecar18 (edited 05-24-2000).]

 

Well, the plugs and coils came in and they installed them this morning. They called me this afternoon to pick up the truck. I asked what the deal was with the leak. They told me they pressure tested it and couldn't find a leak. They topped it off and wanted me to drive it a few days so they could see how much was leaking. Some sort of fluid consumption test.

I said okay, be there in a bit. My wife took me over and I talked face to face with my service rep. He is a good guy and I basically told him what I knew of the problem. He told me that Ford didn't have anything online about it. I told him I knew non-Ford guys that had this problem and what happened with theirs. I told him I didn't have a problem with fouling up more plugs if Ford wanted to buy them, and he said give me a second. Goes to talk to the service manager, they still don't know anything about it. I told the service rep to call SVT and ask. They told him basically that if there is a pinhole, you'll never find it with a test, order a new intercooler.

So, new intercooler on the way after the holiday. Hopefully, this one won't leak like the last one. I guess the morale is that when you start mentioning the fact that you don't mind creating more work for them by fouling up more plugs, and are insistent, but polite, you get what you want from Ford service.



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Aaron Luck
'99 Red SVT Lightning
Superchip, Safe-t-stop, Ford soft tonneau cover, 6 disk changer, ford bedliner, CL III tow package, 15+ coats of Zaino

'00 Black (Green got totaled) SVT Contour
KKM Induction Kit, Superchip, 73mm MAF

'90 Cardinal Red 5.0 LX Convertible Mustang
Removed intake silencer