02 GT Auto with spark knock issues

Yes, it was purchased used. The dealer has been in to reprogram the computer. I would have thought that they would have noticed a chip or a timing adjuster. I've haven't looked myself. Will do that tonight.

Marc

A chip plugs into the service port of the computer, the dealer would have used the OBDII port to flash the computer. The timing adjuster will be an exciter ring at the crank behind the pulley, the crank position sensor will have been moved from the block to an adjustable bracket using the new exciter ring.

hey, I still have the old stant locking gascap I used to use on my

95GT. Wanna buy it ?

The 03 uses a different type of cap so I can't use it anymore.

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Marc, you sound a little grumpy in this thread. You should take that grumpiness and unleash it on the people that sold you the car.

John

John, How is the KB working out for you? You don't have to use 100 octane all the time do you?

It's running great. Pings like crap at WOT on CA premium, so I have been mixing 1 to 2 with 100 octane gas to premium, and no problems. That brings it up to 94, but it gets tiresome to pay for the racing gas.

John

My website is at

** hey, I still have the old stant locking gascap I used to use on my ** 95GT. Wanna buy it ? ** ** The 03 uses a different type of cap so I can't use it anymore.

Oops, too late. I bought one yesterday afternoon. Hard to believe that Ford doesn't list a locking cap for Mustangs. I could even go for one of the old-style locking flip-open fuel doors.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

That is too bad,(the pinging), I thought that I had read on their site that you could run 91 octane on 6 Lbs of boost, apparently not, or is California gas so much different? I have been contemplating springing for a KB for my

03, but the pinging problem has me wondering if I should.

Sounds like the same issue I had a while back with an 02 GT 5 Spd. Manual.

289's and 302's are notorious for engine knock during cold weather operation. 302's especially HO's perform better with higher octane fuels, I switched to an 02 last June here in FLA. and ran higher octane and never had a problem. My first dealer service told me that using higher grade fuel was a waste of money because the 289 was the most advanced engine made and that it was designed to run on regular. Well the price of gas has risen so that was my motivation to switch to regular. During the summer and part of fall I felt no performance difference. But when we got our first arctic blast the GT started to knock during engine load. I heard a distinct ping shifting from 2nd. to 3rd. and to 4rth.

I took her straight to the dealer and they did a service check and re-flashed the ecm. It cleared up the knock for a while but I can still hear it ocasionally.

Part of this gas price rise is being attributed to refineries having to make different blends for different parts of the country? Maybe they are spiking it with h2o?

wow, aren't they supposed to run ok on premium ? might want to ask KB. Remove NO-SPAM from email address when replying

Cold weather ? No, it's more likely to happen when hot. the 94/95

5.0's are known for it. The 4.6's are less likely to ping. When it happens, something is wrong and you need to check it out. These cars are made to run on 87 octane period, including all emission control added mixtures.

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My octane page explains it. Check out

John

Thanks John, that helps, our premium here is 93 so should probably be OK. Dennis

"Dennis" wrote

Denver's Premium is only 91. and regular is only 85. I know why, but still, getting lower octane gas and paying more for it. PITA! 85 octane is $1.80.

Somebody has to pay for the *special blend* of 87 octane and n-heptane (research octane number = 0, if I recall correctly).