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 Post subject: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:41 pm 
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Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:09 pm
Posts: 29
On the way home today my 2001 mustang 3.8 L started misfiring. I noticed that the service engine soon light started flashiing. I pulled into the auto zone to check for codes. No codes. I figured that maybe i got a tank of bad gas. I poured a can of seafoam in the tank and drove until the tank was empty. It continued to misfire under a load. I put a fresh tank of gas in the car and its still missing out. I changed out the fuel filter but it didnt help. The car is still missing. I was think of changing out the spark plugs they have about 55k on them. If that doesnt work i was thinking of getting the injectors cleaned. Any thoughts?


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 Post subject: Service Engine Soon light flashing 
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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:19 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:09 pm
Posts: 5465
Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
When it flashes it means it's misfiring! Has anyone done a tuneup ever to this car?


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:49 am 
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Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:09 pm
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I have changed spark plugs, and done all normal maintenance oil changes, fuel filter, air filte. I just changed the plugs and the miss isnt as noticable. Under a load i can feel a slight miss. I was thinking of taking it in to a Valvoline center and letting them clean the fuel injectors.


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:12 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:09 pm
Posts: 5465
Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
The money would be better spent on diagnosis then services that probably won't fix it!


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:40 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:09 pm
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Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
Is it a coil on plug system or does it still use a coil pack with wires to each cylinder?


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:17 pm 
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It's a coil pack with wires running to each cyclinder


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:37 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:09 pm
Posts: 5465
Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
Have you tested them or done anything to eliminate bad ignition wires?


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:11 am 
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Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:09 pm
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I pulled the plugs wires one at a time while the engine was running. I held then about 1/2 inch from the plug. There was a good fire on each plug.


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:43 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:09 pm
Posts: 5465
Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
Yeah but that test doesn't confirm that wire isn't bad it just confirms that there is spark out of that coil!


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:00 pm 
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Do you know of a test that i can perform to check the wires? I appreciate your guidance on this.


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:31 pm 
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Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
Put a little bit of salt and some dish soap in a spray bottle and mist the wires with the water, if the wires are breaking down or what they call cross arcing you'll likely hear it and if you do it in a dark garage or driveway you can often see the sparks. If you have any replace the wires. If they don't cropss arc they can still be bad , you can test them for high resistance with a multi meter but it's not the most accurate test, it's okay for testing for an open circuit but when the wire is flowing voltage it can still break down and not show with a static OHms test. the rule of thumb is if in doubt replace them. The boots often get damaged removing them for a tune up and if they're original on the car then it's good preventative maintenance


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:03 am 
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Thanks..............I'll go ahead and pick up a new set.


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:08 pm 
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I bought a set of new ignition wires and replaced the old ones. The miss is still there. I took the car and had the fuel injectors pressure cleaned. That did'nt take care of the problem either. I'm thinking maybe one of the fuel injectors is bad. Any thoughts?


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:20 am 
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Location: Orleans Ontario Canada
Im thinking a scan tool hooked up telling you live data and misfire monitor would be nice to have. Of course the injector cleaning won't fix it I think I said save your money on that one and invest it in diagnostics instead. But sure price 6 new injectors if you want


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 Post subject: Re: Service Engine Soon light flashing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:48 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:06 pm
Posts: 714
Location: Atlanta GA
When does it misfire? All the time or when you accelerate? At what rpm range? Try this remove the vacuum line from the egr valve, plugging the line and drive it and see if the misfire is gone. If it is I can tell you how to fix it.


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