89 Ford Probe GT

KristyS · 05-21-2009, 07:33 PM

Hello!! I own a 1989 Ford Probe GT Turbo 2.2L Stick Shift... I have had several people look at my car and i cant get any answers..
I took my car a couple miles away from home one day and apparently the radiator had a pretty large hole in it and lost most or if not all of the water out of it.. The temperature hand was at the top on the n (normal) but not in the red and the car shut down all on its own.. Well now it just trys to start but wont.. When you turn the key it turns over so the starter is good.. But the kicker is i can push start it and it drives fine.. it dont smoke, it still has lots of power.. The turbo still works.. but it just wont start.. does anyone have a clue if my car is dead or if i can fix it fairly cheap.. I love my car..
Any help is greatly appreciated.. and i have had someone check the starter.

**mack1** · 05-21-2009, 10:22 PM

Hi Kristy and welcome to TSF,

You might have a weak battery or bad connection at the battery posts or at the starter. You have 12 volts available for the igniton system if you push the car off to start it. You have less voltage when the starter is engaged.

Get a friend to either measure the volts at the battery while starting it or just try using jumper cables to another battery while starting. The battery voltage should be above 9 volts when the starter is engaged to insure that there is enough voltage for the spark.

Its always a good idea to keep the battery terminals from forming lead oxide by using grease on the battery terminals. Keeps oxygen away from clean lead.

Let us know what you find. We have a lot of good Ford mechanics at this site that might have other ideas.

Very best regards,
Mack1

KristyS · 05-22-2009, 10:48 AM

Thanks for the quick reply i will try that today and get back with you.. thanks again..

KristyS · 05-22-2009, 05:34 PM

we are going to try that now.. thanks i'll be back in a few.. thanks again..

KristyS · 05-22-2009, 06:15 PM

I have had three mechanics come over and take a quick look qt my car and they all said it was screwed.. but they were wrong and i knew it.. i honestly thought that my battery was good cause it was almost a week old but i was wrong .... cause of your great advice we put the battery from my husbands car on it and it was a little sluggish to start (granted it has sat for months now) but it started.. Now i know that i need to get some plug wires, a radiator, a battery, battery cable connectors, and some new plugs.. thank you so much.. i really loved this car and everyone told me to get rid of it and i didn't cause i truely felt that it was something simple... thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!

**mack1** · 05-22-2009, 06:15 PM

Hi Kristy,

Another thing that will indicate a bad battery connection is that it will heat up while trying the starter. If you feel the battery posts and they feel hot, there is a bad connection there.

Hope this helps.

Mack1

**mack1** · 05-22-2009, 06:18 PM

Just got the last post. Good job. Looks like a simplier fix than you thought.

Have a great day.

Mack1

KristyS · 05-22-2009, 06:23 PM

you too.. thanks a bunch!!

05-21-2009, 07:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
KristyS Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	89 Ford Probe GT Hello!! I own a 1989 Ford Probe GT Turbo 2.2L Stick Shift... I have had several people look at my car and i cant get any answers.. I took my car a couple miles away from home one day and apparently the radiator had a pretty large hole in it and lost most or if not all of the water out of it.. The temperature hand was at the top on the n (normal) but not in the red and the car shut down all on its own.. Well now it just trys to start but wont.. When you turn the key it turns over so the starter is good.. But the kicker is i can push start it and it drives fine.. it dont smoke, it still has lots of power.. The turbo still works.. but it just wont start.. does anyone have a clue if my car is dead or if i can fix it fairly cheap.. I love my car.. Any help is greatly appreciated.. and i have had someone check the starter. Last edited by KristyS; 05-21-2009 at 07:36 PM.

05-21-2009, 10:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
mack1 TSF Articles Team Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 1,245 OS: xp sp3 My System	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT Hi Kristy and welcome to TSF, You might have a weak battery or bad connection at the battery posts or at the starter. You have 12 volts available for the igniton system if you push the car off to start it. You have less voltage when the starter is engaged. Get a friend to either measure the volts at the battery while starting it or just try using jumper cables to another battery while starting. The battery voltage should be above 9 volts when the starter is engaged to insure that there is enough voltage for the spark. Its always a good idea to keep the battery terminals from forming lead oxide by using grease on the battery terminals. Keeps oxygen away from clean lead. Let us know what you find. We have a lot of good Ford mechanics at this site that might have other ideas. Very best regards, Mack1 __________________ "If you like yourself others will like you also" me "Don't drink downstream from the herd" Will Rogers Submit New Articles Here

05-22-2009, 10:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
KristyS Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT Thanks for the quick reply i will try that today and get back with you.. thanks again..

05-22-2009, 05:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
KristyS Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT we are going to try that now.. thanks i'll be back in a few.. thanks again..

05-22-2009, 06:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
KristyS Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT I have had three mechanics come over and take a quick look qt my car and they all said it was screwed.. but they were wrong and i knew it.. i honestly thought that my battery was good cause it was almost a week old but i was wrong .... cause of your great advice we put the battery from my husbands car on it and it was a little sluggish to start (granted it has sat for months now) but it started.. Now i know that i need to get some plug wires, a radiator, a battery, battery cable connectors, and some new plugs.. thank you so much.. i really loved this car and everyone told me to get rid of it and i didn't cause i truely felt that it was something simple... thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!

05-22-2009, 06:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
mack1 TSF Articles Team Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 1,245 OS: xp sp3 My System	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT Hi Kristy, Another thing that will indicate a bad battery connection is that it will heat up while trying the starter. If you feel the battery posts and they feel hot, there is a bad connection there. Hope this helps. Mack1 __________________ "If you like yourself others will like you also" me "Don't drink downstream from the herd" Will Rogers Submit New Articles Here

05-22-2009, 06:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
mack1 TSF Articles Team Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 1,245 OS: xp sp3 My System	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT Just got the last post. Good job. Looks like a simplier fix than you thought. Have a great day. Mack1 __________________ "If you like yourself others will like you also" me "Don't drink downstream from the herd" Will Rogers Submit New Articles Here

05-22-2009, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
KristyS Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: 89 Ford Probe GT you too.. thanks a bunch!!