[Shawn72193]

I need some help! i bought a 1993 2.3L mustang LX Hatchback a little over a year ago and my engine has recently started running ruff. Ive had my step dad who knows a little about stangs have a look at it and he thinks its either a piston isnt fireing, there is an valve leak, the O2 censor is busted , or the engine computer isnt reading write causeing the fuel to air ratio to be off. Please someone get back to me as soon as possible. I've invested a lot of money into this car already and i don't want to have to get a new one. If the engine is going to be too much to fix, I've been looking at my friends ford ranger 2.3L engine and i was thinking about doing an engine swap. idk if my old engine will be a cheap fix or something expensive...please someone get back to me ASAP.
- Shawn Campbell

[zonker]

dude... talking about jumping the gun!

run the eec codes first and see if theres any clue.
Ford Fuel Injection How To Run a Self-Test

then run a compression check to see if you have a weak cylinder.

then, check your cam timing to insure you do not have a belt that slipped a tooth or two.

[Shawn72193]

thanks for the quick reply. Im new to Mustangs and i want to keep this car. Would it be an expensive fix? If it is im just going to see if i can swap in turboed Ranger engine. My friend whose good with cars said he could get the engine off a friend and help me put it in for around $300

[zonker]

Originally Posted by Shawn72193 thanks for the quick reply. Im new to Mustangs and i want to keep this car. Would it be an expensive fix?

nobody knows... unless you run the codes first. gonna have to do some work first before you can get any meaningful help.

CLICK HERE:
Ford Fuel Injection How To Run a Self-Test

[Mikel89us]

The Ranger engine is the same thing. No major difference. There are so many things that you could have wrong, the reading the codes is the best idea. That ECU can give you live data stream. If you can find one to use. A scan tool is a GREAT way to find a problem. a lab scope would be great too. I am spoiled by going to school and having all the right tools. But do what you can. Make sure you follow proper procedures though. Skipping steps or not finding them to begin with is the start of a long frustrating road to nowhere.

[Shawn72193]

Ok so I brought it to the shop and had them run the codes and it came up as a computer problem. apparently the computer was getting bad readings and causing the engine to go into a default mode that made it missfire so that I would have to go get it checked. the new computer cost $499.99.....the max i wanted to pay to fix it was $500 so i was kinda happy. now it runs like new, no more check engine light. He said that these engines have been used back since the pinto and they are made to last and that theres nothing wrong with it. now it accelerates a hell of a lot faster. now i just have to get it turboed. Any1 know of any places and i can get a cheap turbo?

[OHC230]

Naturally aspirated 2.3 Mustangs need quite a few parts in addition to a turbocharger, in order to complete an installation. If I were you Shawn, I would poke around these forums for a while and try to absorb some info on your car.

You might have saved yourself some money, if you had taken the advice of Zonker and Mike and pulled codes at home, shopped online for a cheaper computer and replaced it yourself. If you aren't as mechanically proficient as you would like to be, it might be helpful for you to try your hand at some more basic mods, before you tackle a turbo project. You can find some good people with equally good advice on these forums.

[Shawn72193]

well i am really new to mustangs and i only know the basics about cars. im only 18 so i dont have much experience with cars in general. im trying to get a job at my local auto zone so i can broaden my knowledge about cars and so i can work on my car myself and not have to rely on expensive repairs at the shop.

[skippy84]

not bad. i was 16 when i got my first mustang. it was a 88 vert 5.0. it was a great car and i learned a lot of cool stuff while working on that car. ultimately i got my 93 lx insted. way better gas milage as i was getting 15 to 18 mpg before and now im getting 22 to 24 now. in my 4cl. best thing to do is pick up a chiltons manual and read it from start to finnish just for fun and you will learn all the bassics. best $20 i ever spent.

[Mikel89us]

i can tell you right now that you can get a computer for around $100 from autozone or advance. Seems too cheap and easy to have done somewhere else!

[Mikel89us]

Buy Cardone Engine Control Computer 78-5107 at Advance Auto Parts

this is the most expensive one advance sells, and its 187, but its California emissions standards, the 49 state ECU is 119 for 5 speed and 133 for the automatic tranny, you could have saved yourself a lot of money for say... an engine rebuild??? lol