1998 Ford Mustang WONT START, cranks, no spark.

Tiny
XYCOSE
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD MUSTANG
Electrical problem
1998 Ford Mustang 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual 130K miles

My 1998 3.8l V6 Mustang coupe will turn over but will not start. Another odd symptom with it is the lights and gauges do not turn on on the dash. The temp gauge doesn't go down like normal with the key on the on position, and neither then or while trying to start the car does the little battery sign or the THEFT light or check engine or any of the lights come on like they normally do.

I took a spark plug out and set it on the engine block to check for spark. No spark at all.

I replaced the EDIS ignition coil with a brand new one, still does not work.(I bought the new one before I should have, the coil isn't even getting power, so the problem is before it) I replaced the PCM and still does not work. I checked the crankshaft and camshaft sensors and both check out OK.

I tried using a engine diagnostics with the old and the new PCM and both times the engine diagnostics just gives an error on trying to read in the errors, no actual code.

I have tried another battery, both keys(I thought maybe the PATS system, even though I knew the theft light should flash, but I have now learned that disables the signal to the fuel injectors so if that was the problem I should be getting spark anyways). The only other alarm system I installed myself and just has a starter kill, which is not the problem since the engine turns over, just doesn't start. No spark.

I checked the two fusible links and ALL fuses in the engine compartment and under the dash.

Any ideas? I'm lost as all hell on this one, What would cause no starting and the dash panel to not work? (Stereo power locks, power windows, cig lighter, headlights etc all still work) What else could stop the ignition system? As far as I can tell the cam/crankshaft sensor, PCM and ignition coil is the whole ignition system.
Saturday, March 27th, 2010 AT 7:24 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Hi, thanks for the donation. If you can't communicate with the computer, check the voltage and ground at the datalink connector, if you haven't already. Pin 16 is voltage, hot all the time. Pins 4 & 5 are grounds. You can also check for primary voltage, small wire at coil pack, that is a fused circuit, red/lite green wire is primary voltage, goes hot when you turn on the key.
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Sunday, March 28th, 2010 AT 11:31 AM

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