The POSSESSED Probe - Halloween Special (Part 1)

[@TheOnespeedbiker]

Ever notice the only light and buzzer that never fails is the seatbelt reminder.

[@edwardkopp1367]

That system is like the black box on a airplane...

[@ccole9080]

PRICELESS COMMENT

[@VolvoGonzo]

Truth. If they made every component as reliable as the seatbelt buzzer these cars would never break down

[@nukelauncher95]

This is a fun one! That buzzer is because the airbag light not working. Old Fords do that. I'm familiar with Miatas and they use Ford airbag modules. Lots of people put on after market steering wheels and don't disable the airbag module. I'm also suspecting bad capacitors in multiple modules. The last 90s Fords and Mazdas I've worked on all needed some module repairs. Pretty simple and cheap.

[@John-qh8id]

I had to laugh. I'm in my 60s have working on cars since I was 14 so I have worked on almost all of the older ones. Ford was terrible if didn't have brake out boxes. It's all ohms and volts you have to test everything. A lot of their stuff wouldn't set codes.

[@skip741x3]

Probe gt 94 owner here for last 29 yrs since new.. daily driver and my Only driver LOL. You check the codes on these OBD1 dinosaurs by grounding the Ten and Gnd connectors in that diagnostic connector under hood and it should show the code flashes with the check engine lite in dash... Ive always been envious of those with OBD2 systems becuz of all the advanced data they can acess that I cannot.. ur right, these old systems actually require You to have Alot of mechanical knowledge and Intuition to get to the bottom of issues..its not like todays cars that Tell the mechanic whtas ailing them.. these cars are old School and your mechanic skill need be the same...mine runs well, no codes but its just weak and its been like that for longer than I can remember..maybe its just becuz its old and im at mild altitude...good luck, im enjoying the video alot!

[@charleskenney5174]

I used to have an 89 GT Turbo, very fun car. Had it for almost 2 years before I realized it had a hidden tray under the passenger's seat. Air intake boots are near impossible to find. Mine had dry rotted and started to break, with the gaps in the boot the car constantly wanted to die, had to finesse the gas while stopped. Finally, after not being able to find a replacement, I rigged a new one with a pvc shoulder and dryer duct. Every now and then it would blow the duct off and I would have to cut a new piece.

[@Sandmansa]

I actually enjoy working on these older cars. Yeah, scan data on newer cars sure does make diagnostics easier. But cars like this has FAR less components to check and I feel that's much easier to work with.

[@lorrinbarth1969]

Same here.

[@richardcranium5839]

and also much more robust. they dont have problems and when they do they are man made

[@davyarthurs]

Customer leaves plenty of fuel in the tank for Ivan to do his stuff - not! So thoughtful. I’m guessing the old trick of disabling the MIL before sale was done here. Skills there from Ivan for wiring up his own

[@bigfilsing]

As long as it runs long enough to get to the nearest scrap dealing i'd be happy !! Your patience is quickly becoming legendary

[@tedjohnson64]

Very cool watching it blink out diagnostic codes with a test light! I’d read about that, but never seen it in real life until now.

[@dharley189]

Ain’t no way to undo 20 years of shade tree work in 2,3 ….10 videos. I’ve enjoyed the comments. Haven’t thought about a Tempo/Topaz in years. Now I’ll have nightmares. We were lucky to fix a lot of those problems back in the 70-90’s as we transitioned to more electronics without the tools, training and information that’s out there today. Glad I can sit in my recliner and watch rather than tear the hell out of my hands in all those tight places.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

Neat little town, thanks for sharing Dustin.

[@TheRealJerseyJoe]

I owned one of these back in the day. I actually never had any problems with it...which was a miracle. I agree the interior was a plastic nightmare.

[@CactosS]

those probe got into the crusher fast for a reason

[@Paul1958R]

Ivan Great video - thank you. This brings back memories. My late wife had a 93 Probe GT 5-speed that she bought used with 9K miles in 1994. Had it until 2001. Pretty good car. Paul (in MA)

[@LesCanDo2]

I really enjoy your thought process as your look for clues, plus we learn a thing or two about automotive electronics. Nice work!

[@BY504A]

It wouldn't surprise me if the throttle is not returning all the way to the idle position thus the throttle switch always indicates an off idle condition. Saw many fords that had misadjusted throttles with this issue. It'll be interesting to see part 2 of the diagnosis and repair. Seeing the flashes from the check engine light brought back many memories of these early 80's and 90 Ford vehicles. Some good, some bad. The Probe was supposed to be the replacement for the Mustang. Sure glad that that didn't happen!!!!

[@brianmason8400]

That ain't no kidding....I'm a big older Mustang fan myself !

[@throttlebottle5906]

yeah for sure, schmutz buildup, throttle shaft wear, sensor wear all made for ghosts in them. cannot say I've worked on a probe since 1999. 🙃

[@skip741x3]

TPS just needs adjustment back to factory specs and he's got 2 bad VRIS solenoids to replace... thats the brunt of whats goin on in this vid so far.. easy fixes

[@mitchharrison435]

Can't wait for the reveal! I'd be checking for bad grounds on an older car like that.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

I am wondering if the car was under water. Ivan will tell us what is wrong.

[@cloudwalker3650]

Hi Ivan, I don't know if anyone helped you out with the code reading or not, but here's the way I remember reading them from days gone by. Codes as I understand them 9 FAST flashes = Engine Coolant Temperature 1 SLOW Flash = "next code is" 5 FAST flashes = Knock sensor 1 SLOW Flash = "next code is" 7 FAST flashes = Crankshaft Position Sensor 2 2 SLOW Flashes = NOT SURE - Could mean switching to ANOTHER MODULE (Transmission Control Module?) 3 FAST flashes = Cylinder Identification Sensor? - BUT which module you are getting codes from 2 SLOW Flashes = NOT SURE - Could mean switching to ANOTHER MODULE (Transmission Control Module?) 4 FAST flashes = Crankshaft Position Sensor 1? -BUT which module you are getting codes from 4 SLOW Flashes = Should mean that the code results are completed. Long time viewer, first time commenting. Best wishes with this. Kindly, Cloud

[@rogerhallau5284]

I watch all of your videos and really enjoy watching how you go about diagnosing the malfunctions you have on the vehicles you are working on.i am in no way a automotive mechanic and quite frankly,I wouldn't want to be one.I did ,however, work as a helicopter and later on an engine and fuel systems mechanic on the C-130 aircraft and as a plane captain/ crewchief on the CH-46 helicopter while in the Marine Corps.I can honestly say,that working on aviation type vehicles,it's far easier than working on a car,especially the newer autos.Keep the videos coming! Very interesting stuff.

[@robertmartz9812]

As an old school tech muddling through OBD 1 days and the old red brick was fun and fascinating . Grounding those connectors to get codes was standard practice.

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

That OBDI is spooky.

[@kdmq]

Intake vacuum could be pulling the butterfly closed just a little more, bringing your voltage down by 0.1V when the engine is running.

[@gregwhite5058]

Welcome to my world. I have an 86 Ford Crown Vic (EEC-IV) and my wife has an 89 Ford Probe (MECS-II). Both are pre-OBD II. At least I didn't have to buy a scan tool, just need some wire and an analog voltmeter to read the codes (for the Crown Vic -- no MIL). I was amazed you got the plastic pieces off in one piece. Any time I touch something plastic inside my wife's Probe it shatters -- cheap plastic plus years of being parked in the hot sun every day.

[@tomwalma4762]

It's time...

[@baileymiller546]

Makes me appreciate how mechanical based my 92 Cummins is and I bypassed the pcm as the truck is so simple so I feel as if it is not needed along with the Mil

[@ToastBoi420]

you shaking the kill switch got me bruh XD

[@markhulse7940]

I was wondering if you could used your picoscope hooked to the temp test engine light to give you spikes on the time line that you could then read as fault codes. Also wondered if your Snap-on with the connector could read the codes once you shorted out the pins to get it to throw up the codes. But very impressed how you diagnosed this older vehicle

[@thedreadedgman]

my father had one of these back in the day, he bought it used and spent thousands repairing the nightmare electrics.. haha

[@mrblonde2013]

Stopped at 1:25. Looked up ford probe on Wikipedia and had an 'aha!' Moment. I am very familiar with this platform since i worked on a LOT of mazdas back in the day with this engine. This could be interesting 😊

[@donniejohnson7499]

Ole my ! I remember those days of pre OBD 2 days. It was a pain .I hated the feedback carbs of the 80s. Proud I'm retired now. After 40 plus years. I still fix my own stuff. Your a awesome tech. I sure enjoy watching you and Paul Danner. When you get time check out weber auto his hybrid videos are awesome. Have a great Thanksgiving.

[@skip741x3]

the OBD1 era was the worst... you didnt get the advanced extra data that OBD2 provided that makes things so much easier but you Did have the computer involved in so many functions and controls, its just not smart enough to give the mechanic all the details of its operation...Pre OBD1 cars were easy as pie and straightforward in their prehistoric simplicity

[@NoWr2Run]

5 Minutes in & I say this car has many more miles than 70,000. I think somebody changed out the Instrument Cluster & HERE WE GOOOOOO.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Hah the brake pedal was worn down to the metal like it had 300k track miles on it LOL

[@NoWr2Run]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics28 minutes in & U R KILLIN ME WITH THE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. " GETTING CODES R A PAIN IN THE ASS " HAHAHAHAH " PLASTIC JUNK DASH, DOOR PANELS, KNOCKIN ON THEM, OH HELL FUNNY STUFF, SIR. I wonder if they also took out the bulbs, or cut them off in the cluster ? OK, Have to catch my breath & GOOOOOO.

[@androidemulator6952]

Thank you Ivan for another great learning experience. :)

[@mikeluscher159]

2:10, this seems like a perfect car for STUNTMAN 😂

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

YES! 😂

[@cullenmiller8170]

Oh that brings back memories for all the 80s and 90s Mercedes I owned having to count flash codes. Looks like someone has meddled in the dash removing bulbs and mixing them up. I guess putting the check engine light bulb and throwing it away used to be a common practice.

[@Frank-pv1hp]

I started as a tech in 1997. How well I remember all the cars that had no scan data or very little scan data. Back then, it was common to have mid 80's cars in pretty often. I believe that it made me a much better tech by forcing you to learn how the components and systems work. Codes were of very little help and you certainly couldn't just pull a code and throw a part at it and have any reasonable chance for success. I don't miss working on them. Haven't seen a Ford Probe in I don't know how long and hope I never see another one in the shop! Great flashback video Ivan!

[@RobertHancock1]

It's kind of mind boggling how hard some of the manufacturers made it to diagnose some of those systems. GM had that right, they had modern style live data available back to the early 80s, not sure why most others couldn't manage to do the same..

[@skip741x3]

so true bro... you really Had to have mechanics skills back in the day with those cars.. todays mechanics have it too easy becuz it doesnt take the critical thinking, troubleshooting skills and intuition that was needed back then... its all laid out via computer diagnostics nowadays

[@johnz8210]

The Fall foliage is awesome.

[@lorrinbarth1969]

Years ago, on vacation in Colorado, my 1992 DSM throttle position switch failed sending me barreling through traffic. Back home,, I threw a VOM on the windshield and watched the varying resistance across the contacts as I pumped the accelerator. Also, on an old car like this, save yourself some trouble, pull the counsel and replace all the bulbs.

[@LayZeeDawg]

I forgot how much I hated working on anything made between the introduction of EGR valves and OBD2.

[@karleck1119]

Was so happy when OBD2 came out

[@KentuckyRanger]

I remember, when I purchased a new 1993 Ford Probe GT, it was one of the most fun cars I've ever driven! It had a manual transmission, and the interior looked a lot better than that one. That must've been some stripped-down version, because it doesn't even have the rear spoiler, LOL! If I had the money, I'd LOVE to find a decent example, and have it refurbished to factory, but it would be really hard to find one, and nearly impossible to refurbish, because Ford dropped the line like a hot potato beck in the day. I guess I'll just have to keep my fond memories of the car Ford should've kept...

[@agmc4me]

Ivan the ghost buster.

[@pinecone01]

Ah, the bad ol' days of the arcane rituals to pull codes from pre-ODB2 systems. Getting flashbacks here from last year's Thanksgiving Mercedes!

[@EspionageTV]

I bought a 93 ford probe GT standard shift 6 cylinder Mazda engine. My favorite car I ever owned and I’ve owned over 40 different vehicles.

[@russellboyce9493]

switch in rear must remain up right at at all times an bolted in if not fuel pump cuts off a hard bump will turn it off

[@jamesspash5561]

lol, when I started out, 1980+, yup we counted the flashes for codes. No scanners. Dwell meters and a test light.

[@vpimike2646]

I remember getting a Probe-lem as a rental car in the early to mid 1990s and just like this one, it had a very harsh shifting transmission despite being new and very low mileage. Hmmm.

[@ivanolsen7966]

wow 1 is a problem ... 2 is a pattern

[@throttlebottle5906]

lol 🤣

[@somerandomguy3868]

OBD1 ahh the good old days, what an absolute jungle they were

[@gordon295]

Love the lack of Fuel showing on the Fuel Gauge ... I hope you got some in your garage ... :)

[@mikefoehr235]

Is sending unit correct?

[@111-c7x2t]

c'mon Gordie, Vanya always has fuel on hand, this ain't the first customer to bring him a car with an empty tank

[@shotgunreport]

Very nicely done.

[@inothome]

Smack the inertia switch with your hand or screwdriver handle. It works with sharp blows, not shaking. I used to love hitting the inertia sensor on my friends cars when they weren't looking and then watch as their car wouldn't start. Grounding and counting is bringing back fun EEC-IV memories, for real. I had a little box set up with a switch to ground and a light to count with. Learned a ton on how all the sensors work by learning the ins and outs of the EEC-IV. 99% of the sensor still work the same today!

[@inothome]

When you hit it just right you'll hear the ball make a cool buzzing sound. Like a ziiiiiiiiiip!

[@marshmower]

My old Nissan has a place in the chilton manual that instructs the tech to remove the "sensor" bulb after 80000 miles. The codes are extracted by pressing a button on the ECM. There's red/green LEDs that do that part.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Toyota had that switch in the early 90's trucks. I know cause we had several of those trucks and one would not idle right. That TPS was adjustable but this one truck had a bad TPS. Since I had just gone to some aftermarket training, ordered the part, installed and adjusted the TPS so the switch worked as designed and the truck ran great. Thanks to Mitchell training and the training book that went with the course with the specs for adjusting that TPS. It looks like the TPS on that Ford has a bad switch. It might be adjustable.

[@fredsalter1915]

"Super Star II Mode" LOL!!!

[@dfields9511]

Great vid makes you really appreciate scan tools of today . I had some strange idle issue on a 2001 maxima vq30de engine. It needed a idle air volume relearn procedure (something specific to that year maxima )

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Fascinating, in a true Halloween horrifying manner. That car is a Ford PITA, full of ghosts and active gremlins. I sense you're gonna sweat Ivan 🙂 Can't wait for Part 2 - should be horrendous 🙂

[@tiredoldmechanic1791]

I remember the earlier days when cars didn't have any way to tell you what was wrong. It seemed like a luxury when they came up with the blinking engine light.

[@tonylewis4661]

Pre OBD2 Chryslers would report codes by flashing the check engine light if you turn the key one-off three times in 5 seconds. You had to record the codes manually and a 5-5 sequence would indicate end of codes. Modern vehicles probably have more than 50 potential codes just for the cup holders.

[@topher8634]

@@tonylewis4661 The OBD2 Chryslers still featured this. If you had a digital odometer readout then the codes would display there along with the pulsing CE light. At the end of the list 'done' would be displayed.

[@tonylewis4661]

@@topher8634 and with the 12 inch infotainment screens in modern vehicles, the automotive lawyers won't let the engineers provide this information to the owners without a code reader.

[@lvsqcsl]

You just replaced what you thought was wrong with a "known good one." Chrysler was one of the first to come out with electronic engine controls. They weren't worth a darn. My El Camino flashes codes with the check engine light. It is a 1981 that has a version of Computer Command Control that controls the mixture in the electronic version of the Quadra-jet carburetor.

[@topher8634]

@@tonylewis4661 job security for the dealers.

[@TheFrenchPug]

Man, I've got one for you Ivan. Even Honda can't figure it out. Passport just shuts off while driving once a day. No codes thrown. Techs drove it with scanner hooked up, it died, no codes. Honda Engineers have no idea.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Nice. What year? Probably the BCM like that Odyssey van lol

[@TheFrenchPug]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics 2019...but I'm wondering how the heck do they try a fix without codes and give the car back to a mom with a 3 year old and newborn? Sounds almost impossible. Lol

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

@@TheFrenchPug BCM is probably on national backorder anyways lol

[@TheFrenchPug]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics Oh yeah, more than likely. 😆

[@Mr2004MCSS]

My old AutoXray 6000 scanner still works very well on the older OBD I vehicles.

[@nhzxboi]

I don't really have the time to watch this but experience with Probes...water leaks destroying wiring front to back. Get a water leak in the right front and it would wick it's way back to the rear. I'm probably wrong but that has been my experience with Probes of that era. And haha, on we go. Remember there was no internet back then and the instant wiring diagrams were not readily available by a simple touch of a pen. Yes, cars and the like are far easier to work on now than they were 20 + years ago. I don't think most under40 y/o realize that. Go back to the 80's(50 y/o+ tech) to have some real fun. When they worked right, they still didn't work well.

[@zoidberg444]

Oh wow. This is not something I expected when I work up this morning. I remember as a kid in the 90's the Ford Probe was not an entirely uncommon sight on the roads here in England. Someone I went to junior school with her dad drove one. These days - very rare. Its funny looking at one of these - it reminds me a lot of my dads 1995 Ford Mondeo although the Mondeo interior was a little nicer. Something of this era I'd almost be a little stuck without any live data to look at.

[@lloydweems6237]

This is where and when the parts cannon was developed!

[@topher8634]

I was gonna say scrap yards! Lol.

[@baxrok2.]

Still wondering what's up with the Fuel Cutoff light and the dash lights not showing. Good one Ivan!

[@destruct61]

The fuel cut off light is for when the inertia switch is triggered

[@Ram14250]

The Trip Odo say's 911. Kinda say's it all! Send the car ambulance (Ivan) quick!

[@ccole9080]

a demonic sign. good thing it doesnt say 666

[@nhzxboi]

With EECIII in early '80s, you triggered code readout by putting vacuum on the Baro sensor. After you did, the engine computer would go through a test sequence and spit out codes by pulsing the TAB/TAD solenoids...you could listen to pulses in the tailpipe(If the engine could actually run) or by putting a test light on those solenoids. Realize that older machinery was actually more difficult to work on that machines of modern day. Wish you were there. I was.

[@Tedybear315]

Worked on a lot of the older systems. Wife had an 89 Probe GT. That thing was FAST! The car was supposed to replace the mustang, but never really took off enough to get a large market share. It has it's own following and our '89 was always a solid ride, but alas, NYS road salt killed the unibody.

[@topher8634]

The ford tempos with the 3.0 V6 were fast too. You could even get an AWD model. The transmissions were junk though. About as reliable as the early Taurus/Sables. You were lucky to get 80K out of those units. It got so bad that Ford pasted a big orange sticker on the bottom of the Trans pan that said "Do not service". As if that was the problem.

[@lvsqcsl]

I don't think any of them had overdrive. Look there at 3:47. There was a massive letter writing campaign by Mustang enthusiasts questioning how dare Ford "drop the Mustang." I don't know how smart buying a 28-year-old car is for someone inexperienced.

[@GraditelMacedonia]

Nice like always...but, please buy one Milwaukee under hood light...

[@lvsqcsl]

That car had the same running gear as the Mazda MX-6. It was built at Flat Rock, Michigan. It was supposed to replace the Mustang; there was a letter writing campaign and the Probe got axed instead of the Mustang. I think the reason that car doesn't have an "overdrive off" light is because it doesn't HAVE overdrive. The Tempo/Topaz didn't have overdrive, that late either. (They were made until 1994 as well. Great video!

[@ecaparts]

Ivan showed there is an overdrive off button on the side of the transmission gear selector. I understand not all indicators in the cluster may be used/applicable to the vehicle but having a button that doesn’t actually do anything?? No… After some research. This vehicle has the F-4EAT transmission. It IS a 4 speed transmission. The computer controls the 4th overdrive gear (the button is supposed to work) and the computer controls torque converter lockup. 👍

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

4 speed trans... JATCO!

[@frizzlefry1921]

Tempo / topaz 2 words I could never see again and be happy... unless the one had to do with music.

[@lvsqcsl]

Yeah, I went back and watched the video. I was going by the PRND21 on the gear selector. It just said "D" it didn't say "0" like Fords of the era did. I thought maybe it might be an option and this car didn't have it.

[@Trucker254]

OMG I remember a shipmate of mine bought one of these back in 1996 and he was racing it around because the salesman told him it was a sports car. 😂

[@Usmanthemecano]

One my favorite cars in the 90s...

[@wad4865]

Ivan, I had a Mazda 626 with kind of the same problem. It ended being the "Turbine shaft speed sensor" in the transmission.

[@111-c7x2t]

@wad486 Always sucks when your shaft ends up being the problem

[@1McMurdoSilver]

Was the shaft bent?

[@wad4865]

@@1McMurdoSilver No, the connection was loose. No parts required!

[@wad4865]

It was a really good car, 300k miles and still going strong. Unbreakeable. Still in the family.

[@robbflynn4325]

I think you should carve the outline of the Probe in a 🎃, looking forward to Part 2, could there be more?

[@tonyedwin9042]

Those motors were hyper sensitive to vacumn leaks. Rubber intake hose between cleaner and throttle body. Leaking rocker cover gaskets ??

[@dosgos]

Killer title for the Halloween holidays!

[@mikeluscher159]

I actually have an OTC *Monitor* scan tool (cartridge based) that can talk and do EEC self tests on these old Ford's

[@johndutton4860]

my first car when i was 18 years old was a 1994 ford probe the possessed kind ....... i was new to working on cars i was told it needed a water pump and that was all ...... but after the water pump repair the car never started .... then i need my 84 year old grandpa to help ..... the car was out of timing so we got a new belt and tensioner did the job it fired right up then we set the ignition time i was so excited .... took it for a small drive.... came back home shut it off ...... few hours later went to start it again it was a crank no start .... the car was out of time again the exhaust camshaft had jumped a few teeth ....... took it to a few shops none of them could figure it out...... heres me at 36 years old now that car had a bent valves on the exhaust side .... you live and learn .... sold the car long before i became a gear head... wish i would of kept it ...... best part was i sold the car to a mechanic or so he said he was he ended up scrapping the car because he could not figure it out either lol

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

🤣👍

[@RobertHancock1]

I'm guessing either the check engine light was on for years and eventually the bulb burnt out, or someone just pulled the bulb out of the cluster along with a bunch of other warning lights. They really should have switched to LEDs for those long before they did..

[@patlandy21]

Probes are born Possessed!!!

[@ehsnils]

The lack of lamps working including oil and charging is suspect. I would check for the presence of bulbs in the cluster - at least on the malfunction indicator.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

No oil or charge lights... It has gauges for that!

[@ehsnils]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics Ah - OK. One of those vehicles. On some vehicles there are lights in the gauges though.

[@louoldschool7047]

i used to build those junks at the flat rock assembly plant in michigan

[@saeedkizzy]

Fuel cutout led also turn ON through diode and A16 pin (21:10)

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Good eye! Can be grounded by Alternator or ABS module apparently 🤔

[@hpelisr]

Check engine and transmission mounts? broken or worn mounts cause linkage misalignment, at the carb and transmission.

[@betomendez4304]

I had a 93 Mazda MX 6. 5 speed 24 valve V6. Fast car clutch went out had a friend try to put in clutch for me never the same scrap yard it went but fun car to drive

[@Saykes1994]

12:13 Maybe a check engine light has burned out?

[@jackiemay9471]

have someone covered mil light or pulled it because it was lit

[@ecaparts]

Those battery cables are a setup for disaster with positive being a black cable (and negative being red). 😬

[@lovetolearn5253]

I almost made that mistake once and could of possibly fried both cars. I went to jump start a car and the cables where set up kinda like that. Thankfully someone said something before I connected the ground and fired it up literally. Now I always check the battery no matter what.

[@nickmalone3143]

Thats bizzare

[@lvsqcsl]

It isn't normal now, but, I remember when it was. Cars at one time had a positive ground. I know that one doesn't.

[@davidheinzmann4403]

I had that car for 17 years. It was a reverse polarity battery 58R I believe

[@ecaparts]

@@davidheinzmann4403 The R after the Group# for the battery designation does mean the the + and - are switched within the battery for better positioning and installation of the cables. However positive still means positive and the positive cable is BLACK on that car (even though we normally associate red with positive). The issue is when you jump start the car or use a boost pack. Since everything else is designated Red for Positive (and BLACK for Negative) it’s easy to mistakenly reverse the polarity. All it takes is a second connected in reverse polarity to destroy the electrical components in the vehicle…

[@mikeg3529]

I had a ford probe gt myself. I can attest to how huanted these cars can be. Mine would occasionally have a crank no start fault. However, if you pushed the car and popped the clutch it would fire right up every time. Battery was charged, it cranked strong, even putting jumper cables on it to help boost voltage while cranking did not help. It would ONLY start by pushing it. But then afterwards continue to start with the key just fine. Totally random when it would decide to act this way.

[@jmihalchik98]

How do you find these classics? Lol I had a PGT - trash car … but loved it

[@wideglide2153]

I have always been a fan of the probe. I still hold out hope of finding one someday that is in good condition as second car. I could have bought one but also loved trucks when I was a kid and bought a new truck instead of a used probe. If that probe had been a manual I may have bought that instead.

[@alanprather8399]

gotta love doing diagnostic morris code. don't miss that at all. obd2 so much nicer. even better today. still does not replace diagnostic skills though.

[@rovhalgrencparselstedt8343]

I suspect a missing power feed given that the radio do not turn on when you turn ignition to on, assuming it has even been wired correctly. As for the idle switch in the tps, maybe a bad ground in the circuit the tps is on.

[@timm7885]

The current mileage on the trip odo...911!!! Spooky!

[@stevetaylor2445]

Is tps/throttle voltage changing/dropping because intake vacuum pulling throttle blade shut?

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Interesting thought!!

[@topher8634]

I was thinking the same possibility

[@jimforsyth2.]

What I remember on these you need to ground a pin in the dlc to get flash codes

[@topher8634]

You can tell the air bag light circuit is open by the beeping from the air bag module in the dash

[@mikefoehr235]

That's what that sound is

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

huh I thought it was the seat belt dinger...but yeah makes sense!

[@topher8634]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics this was common on 90s model ford's. If you recall, any air bag system fault would flash the air bag warning lamp. The flashes corresponded to a code--usually the clock spring. I believe the repeated flashing shortened the bulb life and would cause it to fail. The beeping was a frequent complaint that I would receive from Ford owners. They, like you, was thinking it was a seat belt warning but it would continue after belting in.

[@mph5896]

Yeah, somebody prob pulled all the warning lightrs out of the cluster

[@lvsqcsl]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics I forgot about that! My mom had a 1990 Grand Marquis and it was beeping as well. I remember reading that in the Ford repair manual; they had one repair manual for the engine and one for the body. I had to replace the bulb in the cluster and there were 3 modules under the hood on the radiator support that triggered the air bag in case of a collision. One of those had gone bad. I went to a salvage yard and got one and solved the problem. That car only had a driver's side airbag in the steering wheel. At that time on those cars it was known as the "brick" steering wheel.

[@johndoyle4723]

You are very brave taking this one on, most people would run away, you could spend hours getting no where and then the customer may refuse your bill. Yes the car looks good, but the internals are beyond repair, crappy old plastic that breaks as soon as you touch it.

[@gerardjones7881]

22 minutes , i'm calling it. someone swapped a wrong relay in.

[@zx8401ztv]

That accelerator voltage peaked my interest when it broke the 700mv value , ooow dodgy lol. But thats got bugger all to do with the mad dash displays, im sure that car is drunk :-D.

[@michaellewis767]

With that error of Ford it's common for the idle air control to get sticky when there not driven very hard so part of the problem would most likely be idle air control it causes high idle and stalling out as well I'm not sure about the cranking problem

[@shonepolk9112]

As a fan of Ford’s, and being a tech back in the 90’s, this is one car that ford should have unmade. It was garbage from the start

[@pl5624]

Mazda...zoom zoom...lol

[@shonepolk9112]

@@pl5624 yep lol like I said garbage ✌️🤣

[@raymondreiff8170]

PROBE I think the name says it all 😆.

[@shonepolk9112]

@@raymondreiff8170 lol truth

[@mikefoehr235]

Ad 97 Taurus. I hate Ford. Junk

[@onryboy2264]

Ivan, I have a code reader that will work on that probes diagnostic port under the hood. 😞 😂😂😂

[@roccociofani4119]

Probe : notorious for wiring harness issues underneath the radiator

[@ccole9080]

any thing with those tilt headlights.......RUN ........ CRAP on 4 wheels

[@d.j.9961]

Several years ago, I was looking for a Ford Probe GT & could not find a single probe period!!!