Thunderbird stumbling problem.

My neighbor sold his "summer car" and bought a (2005?) Thunderbird.  It's the nicest one of those I've seen, dark brown metallic with a saddle interior, but still.....    He put in a K&N air filter and a stainless Borla exhaust, it sounds nice.  But it doesn't run right.  He also bought a Superchip but hasn't put it in yet.

It's OK on start up, but after that it stumbles and sounds like the engine wants to jump out.  He drove home once with flashers on at 20 mph because it stalled when he touched the gas.  He asked my opinion of the problem and I though fuel delivery, that's when he told me about the mods.  On my GPz-1100, after K&Ns and header were added, just disconnect the battery, then when reconnecting and starting, the computer reconfigures itself to the new environment.  That's all I could suggest.

You guys think of anything?

Thanks, Dan

Sounds like something got disconnected. Start with the MAF and O2 sensors. Maybe TPS?

I'd make sure his MAF meter is plugged in. Ask if these problems started after he modified the car. Finally, is the check engine light on? Any codes? 

If he over-oiled the K&N he may have contaminated the MAF.

02Pilot said:

If he over-oiled the K&N he may have contaminated the MAF.

This was going to be my answer too.  

CRC brand cleaner is sold at all auto parts and places like Walmart. 

Started after the mod and he did not oil the air filter.

Thunderbirds of that era eat coil on plugs like they are going out of sytle. By any chance did he wash the engine bay with heavy water and kill one 

Thanks, but no washing.

914Driver said:

Started after the mod and he did not oil the air filter.

Without the oil, the K&N is kinda useless as a filter.

Anyway, I'd look at the intake system ofr any leaks caused by the filter installation or any other work.

Unplugging the battery did the trick!

Went for a ride, car's got more snot than I ever suspected.  On a long straight I matted it, before I knew I was doing a quite cushy comfy 77 mph.  
Neighbor got the Stage II exhaust, not as loud as I would want; got back to my place and installed the new chip.  Gotta drive 50-150 miles for full effect.

Would I own one?  It's a nice one of those but probably not.   For $16,000 I can do a lot of things....