1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Complaints

4.6L ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

REGULAR USE OF CAR ON A 90 DEGREE DAY. ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT SHOW ON DASH. ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. REAR INTAKE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND INJECTOR CLEANED, COOLANT REPLACED. *NM

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH A CRACKED MANIFOLD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND THE CRACK IS BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID OUT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WIRE, WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK

BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE WHEN DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED.*AK WHILE PULLING FROM A PARKING LOT THE BRAKES FAILED. BRAKES REPAIRED BY NEARBY TIRE AND BRAKE SPECIALIST. *TC

FAILURE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, ALONG FRONT EDGE. ALLOWING WATER TO EXIT ENGINE. REPLACEMENT METAL MANIFOLD OVER $250.00 PLUS LABOR. STRANDING MY WIFE 30 MILES FROM HOME WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS OVERHEATED, AND COULD NOT BE FILLED WITH WATER. *NM

DURING TRAVEL ON FM 1604 (OUTER LOOP ROAD AROUND SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS), I NOTICED ENGINE OVERHEATING. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK STEPS TO DELAY MAJOR SEIZING OF ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SPEWING STEAM - LOOKING LIKE HOSE CRACKED OR LOOSENED. TAKEN TO FIRESTONE FACILITY. FIRESTONE UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO DAMAGE BEING CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD! VEHICLE REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE (APPROXIMATELY $1,000.00). IN MY OPINION, VEHICLE HAD INSUFFICIENT MILEAGE TO JUSTIFY SUCH DAMAGE. UNABLE TO OBTAIN REPAIR FREQUENCY INFORMATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FMC) OR ANY OTHER DATA, INCLUDING INFORMATION CONCERNING POSSIBLE RECALL EFFORTS AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. UNABLE TO RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE FROM FMC. IN 2004, FOUND OUT THAT FIRESTONE HAD ISSUED REPAIR KIT TO THEIR FACILITIES FOR CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIRS FOR VARIOUS VEHICLES, INCLUDING 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. FMC CONTINUES TO COMMENT OR RESPOND TO MY QUERIES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MIL CODE P0420 SET. FORD TSB 03-24-5 INDICATES PCM REPROGRAMMING RATHER THAN REPLACEMENT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REQUIRED. DESPITE BEING WITHIN EMISSIONS WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD DEALER CHARGED $119 FOR THIS WORK, CLAIMING EMISSIONS WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS WORK. DEFECTIVE PROGRAMMING OF PCM TO CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, REQUIRING A VISIT TO DEALER. CAN'T PASS EMISSIONS TEST WITH LIGHT ON, SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. IN ANY CASE THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE PCM SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN NO CHARGE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A MANDATED, DUE TO STATE EMISSIONS TESTING, VISIT TO DEALER AND A CHARGE FOR SERVICE TO FIX A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*AK THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED, ACCORDING TO DEALER, AND CURRENTLY LIGHT IS OFF. IT IS VERY EASY TO PROGRAM THE PCM TO SEND ERRONEOUS CODES AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY, ALLOWING THE CAR DEALERS TO CREATE A CASH FLOW THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!

THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD; THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE ANTI-FREEZE COMPLETELY DRAINED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER. FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. CONTACTED FORD MANUFACTURER. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED SPILLING COOLANT AND DISABLING CAR. THIS WAS A PLASTIC PART THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY METAL. DEALER SAYS LARGE NUMBERS OF THESE FAILURES. COST OVER $1,000 TO REPAIR. POSSIBLE RECALL FOR OTHER MODEL LINES USING EXACT SAME ENGINE IE CROWN VICTORIA.*AK