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I've been mulling through the forums and I have a question about how my 1996 Mystique 2.0L Zetec 122K miles is behaving.

The main symptom is that I can't get it to rev past 4000 RPM when parked. It will get to 4000 then 'woof' with the RPMS rising and falling between 4000 and ~4300. The strange thing...when I accelerate hard, I distinctively feel an increase in power at ~3800 RPM and it spins as hard as I push it...5500+ RPM.

Plugs are changed, wires are new.

It also idles somewhat rough at the low end and sometimes misses up until 2000 RPM where it smooths out.

I initially suspected the lower fuel filter so I filled it with gas, same symptoms. If it was the IMRC, fuel pump, or fuel filter would it even get above 4000 RPM?

When I changed the plugs I found oil pooled around the wire boots (electrodes were clean, no blow by), I am reasonably sure the valve cover gasket is bad. Could that be a cause?

Thanks for your help!


'96 Mercury Mystique 2.0 Zetec ATX
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A bad gasket could cause the rough stumbling feeling, yes.

The reason your car won't rev past 4K in PARK is a safety reason. That is normal operation, and is on every CD4E transaxle.

Ray


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Surprisingly, most Zetecs run like you are describing.


Hector 2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII 257HP/259TQ 2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED 160HP/141TQ
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Originally posted by MerMys19964C:

I've been mulling through the forums




Welcome.


"Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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you didn't say but the ATX has a rev limiter at 4k to keep damage from happening to the ATX when it is in park


- 95 Mystique LS - Zetec/5spd - 99 Contour SeVT Sport - Duratec/5spd Official NE-CEG Contour/Mustang Family
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DOH! 4K limiter, OMG.

I was testing the spark plugs I just put in throughout the RPM range and came up against the 4K wall...surprised me.

I've always told everyone I loved the car when I bought it and I like it even more each year. It grows on ya.

Originally posted by LocoSCZ:
Surprisingly, most Zetecs run like you are describing.




It has ALWAYS run this way, choppy on low end. I got it 100K miles ago and it was somewhat rough, a lot more so now.

Any advice on smoothing out the low end? Thanks.


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Originally posted by brapple:
you didn't say but the ATX has a rev limiter at 4k to keep damage from happening to the ATX when it is in park




Sorry, I'm still learning the alphabet soup of the forum. If by ATX you mean automatic transmission then, yes, its an auto trannie.



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Originally posted by MerMys19964C:

DOH! 4K limiter, OMG.

I was testing the spark plugs I just put in throughout the RPM range and came up against the 4K wall...surprised me.

I've always told everyone I loved the car when I bought it and I like it even more each year. It grows on ya.

Originally posted by LocoSCZ:
Surprisingly, most Zetecs run like you are describing.




It has ALWAYS run this way, choppy on low end. I got it 100K miles ago and it was somewhat rough, a lot more so now.

Any advice on smoothing out the low end? Thanks.


Possibly replacing the coil pack.

BTW what plugs and wires are running?

Last edited by LocoSCZ; 08/24/05 02:12 AM.

Hector 2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII 257HP/259TQ 2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED 160HP/141TQ
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Originally posted by LocoSCZ:
Possibly replacing the coil pack.
BTW what plugs and wires are running?




I'm running the autolite double plats and the generic wire set from PepBoys. I didn't know about fine wire plugs at the time and the wires had a 5 year warrantee, good enough for now.

I guess I hadn't thought about the coil...I'll get my multimeter and check the resistances. Thanks!


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Sometimes the wires will cause the car to idle like crap....trust me.


Hector 2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII 257HP/259TQ 2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED 160HP/141TQ

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