[TC10284]

Hello all,

Lately (today and yesterday) I have been noticing performance issues with my 93 Mustang 2.3 liter (4 cyl).

The past week, I've noticed that my car's temp has been running warmer than usual - not extremely hot, but about a tick to a full tick higher on my temp gauge than normal. It usually stays in the middle of the first and second tick on my gauge.

As for the performance issues; today I really started noticing that my car was weak and felt like it was being pushed to go 55. When I hit a long hill (not too steep)...it was hard to keep around 55 when I usually can get up to 60 or so.

Other information that could be relevant to a diagnosis:
My car is a five speed - the release bearing in the transmission/clutch has been making a squeaking noise if you touch or slightly press in on the clutch pedal and sometimes you don't even have to touch the pedal. I have the bearing on hand, but my father stays busy working on other things to put it in yet. I was wondering if the bearing could be getting tighter and causing something not to perform right. Although gear shifting seems like it usually is.

The exhaust in my car has been rather annoying lately also. Sometimes it "rattles" when sitting idle or at a certain RPM. I was wondering if a catalytic converter issue could be holding back my car.

Gas mileage seems to have dropped over the past few weeks - although I have been driving a lot more those weeks. That sounds obvious, but it seems like I had better MPG in past months.



Finally, my main (dreaded) concern is that the head has cracked or head gasket has been blown on my car (for the second time in less than six months). Note that I have NOT let my car overheat or ran it more than the middle of the temp gauge. It was expensive last time and if it's this again, it'll be expensive this time. I've heard that these models of Mustangs are bad about heads cracking, which is the cause of concern.

[TurboLX]

well to answer your first question, your tranny could be just on verge of checking out or some of your top end is gone, like from a bad cam or such. and yes the bearing can do that

the exhaust is problably loose and the catylic cold be clogged

if your head gasket was blown, it would smoke like crazy

your fans are problably not working

[TC10284]

Originally Posted by TurboLX well to answer your first question, your tranny could be just on verge of checking out or some of your top end is gone, like from a bad cam or such. and yes the bearing can do that

OK, so I'm looking at trying the release bearing. My gear shifting has seemed all normal. I still am afraid it's the head that's cracked on this thing. Is there any way I can test it other than a compression check?

the exhaust is problably loose and the catylic cold be clogged

How would you go about cleaning it?

if your head gasket was blown, it would smoke like crazy

This is definitely true because I remember when it was blown last year. The antifreeze was leaking past the gasket, and yes, it smoked like crazy. But I still wonder about the head being cracked. =(

your fans are problably not working

The man fan on the radiator is working, because it's been running warmer (and warmer outside). I hear it kicking on a lot more.

[TurboLX]

1. not that i know of, take it to a tranny specialist and have them check it out

2. gotta take it off and dump it out, theres actually 2 so take one off and gut the other

3. take the valve cover off and look for leaks

4. change it to a lower thermostat

[TC10284]

Originally Posted by TurboLX 1. not that i know of, take it to a tranny specialist and have them check it out 2. gotta take it off and dump it out, theres actually 2 so take one off and gut the other 3. take the valve cover off and look for leaks 4. change it to a lower thermostat

I talked to a transmission specialist and he tells me a release bearing shouldn't cause any power issues.

Would gutting one cause emissions spec. issues?

[TurboLX]

no not really actually