Body and Frame: Subframe and Torque Boxes
Issue: Due to the large engine up front and the tendency of Mustang owners to utilize said large engine, twisted frame rails, and cracked torque boxes are quite common. Factory bracing simply isn’t sufficient even for stock power levels. Cracks or bulges around the hatch or windshield pillars is clear evidence of a twisted frame. Solution: To fix it, reinforce the torque boxes with reinforcement plates, and install aftermarket subframe connectors for the frame rails. Strut Towers
Issue: Fox strut towers are susceptible to rust and rot, particularly so at the base where they meet the frame rails. Solution: It is possible to buy or fabricate replacement pieces, but this is not a job for the faint of heart. Nor will it be cheap. If purchasing a Fox, it is most likely better to walk away from one with this issue. Headlights
Issue: Over time, the stock headlamps can develop severe oxidation and hazing due to brittle seals. Solution: A headlight restoration kit (usually a plastic friendly cleaning compound) will often take care of the yellowed look, but typically doesn’t last a long time. If you prefer a permanent solution, replace the assemblies altogether. Engine and Drivetrain
Good news here – those 5.0L V8 engines are tough! There will always be wear items such as serpentine belts, batteries, etc, but as far as internals go, they should last a good long time. Rear Main Seal
Issue: As these cars ages, they will often leak oil from the rear main seal. If you see oil leaking onto or around the transmission, this is evidence of a leaking rear main seal. Solution: Replace the seal. Water Pump
Issue: A water pump can be considered a wear item, but it seems many owners are replacing them within short intervals. Check the water pump by looking underneath it (from the bottom of car) at the weep hole. The weep hole should be dry. There should also be zero play or wobble on the shaft. Solution: If the water pump is bad, replace it. It is an inexpensive and easy fix item. T5 Transmission – Reverse
Issue: The transmission grinds when being put into reverse. This is not actually a defect, but rather reverse is an unsynchronized gear. It is the nature of the beast. In fact, pretty much all manual cars have an unsynchronized reverse gear. Solution: Wait a few seconds before shifting into reverse for the transmission internals to slow down/stop spinning, or shift into any other forward gear and then reverse (ex, 1-R or 5-R). This will slow the internals sufficiently that reverse will not grind. T5 Transmission – 3rd Gear
Issue: It is not uncommon to experience problems when shifting and driving in 3rd gear (particularly if the transmission has driven many a mile). 3rd gear can be hard to engage, noisy or grind. This is due to wearing internals. Solution: Eventually, the transmission will need to be removed and rebuilt. AOD Transmission – Downshifting
Issue: AOD’s may exhibit odd downshifting characteristics, such as downshifting prematurely or not at all. A common culprit is the kickdown cable (TV cable). Solution: Adjust the TV cable back into spec. Some say it can be done at home, others prefer to leave it to a shop. Limited Slip Differential – Trak Lok
Issue: Fox Mustangs come equipped with a clutch-type limited slip differential. Unfortunately, they wear easily and cease to work. If you stomp the gas and only see one tire mark, it means the clutch discs inside the differential have worn out. Solution: Rebuild the Trak-Lok unit with a rebuilt kit, or replace it with an entirely different carrier. Option #1 is very inexpensive and can be done with attention to detail and an afternoon’s worth of work. Electrical
Electrical problems are often the worst to deal with because they are very hard to track down! It could be a blown fuse, bad relay or ground, or a short in the wiring. Whatever it is, these gremlins are annoying to find. Good thing for us is that the Fox platform is not known for having extensive electrical issues. Rather, there is simply one well-known one. ———————————————————————————————————–
*My Favorite Camera Gear* Sony Alpha A7IV: amzn.to/3FfBXId
Sony Alpha A7C: amzn.to/3uVq6Hv​
Sony 20mm FE f1.8: amzn.to/2UOjDRE
Sigma 24-70 f2.8 Lens: amzn.to/3v2rjgf​
Sigma 85mm f1.4 Lens: amzn.to/2PV4LPA​
Sony 10-18 f4 APSC Lens: ​​https://amzn.to/3uOHddL​
Insta360 1R Action Cam: amzn.to/3wUkpLD​
GoPro Hero5 Black amzn.to/2O39Y4p​​​
Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod, Black amzn.to/3duvwAJ​​​
Rode Wireless Go amzn.to/2AxXDQW​​​