BIG PROBLEM- Please Help (no acceleration)

**laserredgt** · 07-22-2010, 06:57 PM

I was driving out on a 35 mile trip, everything was normal this is one of the first trips with the new rebuilt transmission. The car seemed fine and temp stayed around 190* the whole ride over. about 24 miles into the trip i noticed a slight hesitation when i tried to pass another vehicle. A few miles later the car starts doing it again (studdering and hesitating after i step on the gas pedal)...i pull over and the idle falls straight down to 500rpms and struggles to keep running. It turns on but not really holding the idle.

Now heres the things
1-this car is new to me so im not sure if the fuel gauge is off and ive never had a car run out of gas on me so im not sure if this is even one of the symptoms lol it was showing almost empty but never the gas light
2. i heard noise coming from the fuel pump ever since i bought it (3 weeks ago) but dont know if this is a symptom of a fuel pump gone bad already.
and 3. I went to auto parts store and had some codes pull up
P0118, P0412, P0418, P0506

Any help is very appreciated guys im dying to have this car up and running ive had it on the road not even a week

**cammed goat** · 07-22-2010, 07:07 PM

I used to be pretty good with Mustangs. Hmmm...have you checked you MAF sensor? I know it is in the airbox. If you turn the key and hear a whine, then your pump should be good. Also, do you run the car all the way down to E on the gas gauge? Start with the MAF first and run the car with the airbox open to see if the stumble goes away. Keep us posted.

**cammed goat** · 07-22-2010, 07:07 PM

Also, check the hoses around the intake manifold. You could have had a vacuum hose pop off somewhere.

**cammed goat** · 07-22-2010, 07:13 PM

And if it is the T/A, start off with checking the MAF as well.

**laserredgt** · 07-22-2010, 07:35 PM

yup its the t/a lol...im sorry i gotta change my avatar

btw i usually have to step on the gas just a tad before cold start ups to get it to start on the first turn

**cammed goat** · 07-22-2010, 07:47 PM

That could be the pump. Could be weak. Have you cleaned out your throttle body? I ask as there was a day I stalled my car in gear in the parking lot at my old job last year. Went to re-fire the car and had to pump the gas on two occasions. Got it fired and took the car home. Got under the hood and took the elbow off my throttle body and there was soot all around the throttle blade and the housing itself. Wiped out all the soot, put the car back together and car fires right up now.

**laserredgt** · 07-22-2010, 08:14 PM

thanks man...
i will check it tomorrow i left it in front of a business and the owner said it was fine...
i doubts its old stuff in there i did the free air intake mod, and the tb bypass and i descreened the maf...maybe something got in there...tomorrow im going back with a gallon of gas, maf cleaner, and tb cleaner..a good place i could get a cheap fuel pump and i can install this weekend?

**thisisthewayilive** · 07-22-2010, 08:53 PM

sounds like you might be out of gas. there isn't a "low fuel" light. i think it just says "check gauges."
also, if you're sure you didn't touch anything in the maf except the screen then check the pcv valve.

**Speed_kills_WS6** · 07-22-2010, 09:17 PM

98 models dont even have the check gauges light...

**laserredgt** · 07-23-2010, 07:24 AM

thanks guys i will take a look at it all today im leaving in a couple hours

**JayTA98** · 07-23-2010, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Speed_kills_WS6

98 models dont even have the check gauges light...

They do have it but it don't work with the fuel gauge. I have a 98. The voltage, temp and oil pressure will set the "check gauges" light. It sucks I have been very close to be out of fuel. You just have to create the habit of checking the gauge once a while and if you notice is low get fuel right away before you forget.

**laserredgt** · 07-23-2010, 11:50 AM

F### ME it was gas lol...i tried cold starting in the am and wouldnt hold an idle and shut off...i added 1 gallon of 93 and bam fired right up...shitty at first but after a few seconds it ran great!
so happy it was gas but now i gotta check that gauge lol

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-23-2010, 01:35 PM

I could not post this last night for some strange reason, but I was going to tell you you are out of gas and that the 98's do not have a fuel warning light. We also have a 14 gal tank. Not sure how far A4 get on a tank of gas, but with my M6 with some mods I can only get 270 miles on a tank with city/hwy combine driving. Of course the more my foot get's deeper in the pedal the less gas mileage I get.

**cammed goat** · 07-24-2010, 03:48 PM

Good to hear you got the problem solved...as small as it was.

Tank it up and throw some Seafoam in the tank as well to sweep any crud away the pump may have sucked into the screen.

**67CamaroRSSS** · 07-24-2010, 06:10 PM

I never let the gas gauge get under 1/4 tank. The fuel is also the pump's coolant.

**thisisthewayilive** · 07-29-2010, 05:51 PM

not to mention if there's any gunk on the bottom of the tank if you run it out it'll suck it all into the fuel system

**cammed goat** · 07-29-2010, 05:56 PM

^^This.

**ne0fiend** · 07-31-2010, 05:50 PM

If it were me, I'd drop and flush the tank. It's only a few hours of work on the 90s trans ams and would save you a lot of headaches and problems with fuel system and its components in the future. If you need a diagram, I'd be happy to email you one.