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Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey

918 messages,  Last post on Nov 28, 2012 at 9:41 AM

You are in the Ford Freestar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Van

Messages Page 92 of 93

#907 of 918 2004 Monterey by dlshnn

Sep 26, 2011 (2:16 pm)

Not sure what is going on with my Monterey. It is a well cared for 2004 that all of a sudden started to have a little shake when accelerating. Once I got up past 50-55ish it almost went away. I assumed I had a wheel out of balance so when I had it in for an oil change a few days later, I had them do a rotation and balance. That really didn't fix anything and it got worse. If I was accelerating up hill(which I have to do a lot since I live at the bottom of a hill) then it was like I was driving over hundreds of broomsticks that someone had lay across the road. I took it to a shop (not my usual one, but it was very close to home) to see what they thought. They looked and said CV shaft. When I was able to get it into my regular shop, they looked at it and said 'Found transaxle output shaft bearing on right side axle very loose causing excessive movement with right axle.' He said the right axle was basically loose where it attached to the transmission. They said they would have to research if it was actually a bushing or a bearing in order to tell me the repair cost. Monday morning I get a call saying basically I need a new transmission. Now the vibration isn't as bad, but is still there. It also feels like it is wanting to take off while I am driving at a constant speed. Not chugging out, but like all of a sudden it gets a little burst of more power then stops. After seeing all of these posts, I am a bit worried since I have five kids that I haul around in this thing. It just hit 125K miles.

#908 of 918 Re: 2004 Monterey [dlshnn] by mike_ga

Sep 26, 2011 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: dlshnn (Sep 26, 2011 2:16 pm)
After having my van in the shop for a final look over before my extended warranty expired they diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs needed replaced. Between that and recalibrating the timing my issue was fixed.

#909 of 918 Re: Occasional jerk under load or starting off [fdbgt] by corriefochler

Nov 07, 2011 (6:35 am)

Replying to: fdbgt (Nov 15, 2010 10:49 am)
2004 Mercury Monterey . I replaced the PCM, according to the technical service bulletin there was an issue with condensation and poor drainage. I got one frm a junk yard for $40 and had it reprogrammed at the dealer. The one I took out clearly had been wet. I have also had to replace the ignition coil pack because it was faulty and had a hair line crack on the bottom side. Shook and jerked. Also replaced the Cam Shaft Sensor. The PCM short blew out my tail lights and radio began to freeze. Now I have replaced 3 pulleys on the thing because it chirps and whines. Now I believe the alternator pulley is bad. This is such a frustrating van. But on a lighter note I can take the cowl off and put it back on like I work for a Nascar pit crew.

#910 of 918 Re: Occasional jerk under load or starting off [corriefochler] by corriefochler

Nov 07, 2011 (6:39 am)

Replying to: corriefochler (Nov 07, 2011 6:35 am)
Forgot to mention that I rigged a piece of weather stripping over the top of the PCM so it wouldnt get wet anymore and also silconed the windshield to the rubber to keep the thing from draining to the far right and left of the engine.
 
Forgot to mention if you ever have to replace the balljoints on this dinger. They have to be done with the control arms as it is one piece. It required a motor mount to be removed on one side by the guys who did it.
 
I really am disappointed in this purchase. This is my 5th ford and everyone has had some "thing" to contend with engine wise. I feel like a detective on this van tho.

#911 of 918 Re: Occasional jerk under load or starting off [corriefochler] by leandersgirl

Mar 24, 2012 (9:55 am)

Replying to: corriefochler (Nov 07, 2011 6:39 am)
Can you please tell me what the PCM is and where located so can have my husband check that? I also have a 2004 mercury monterey van...has 130,000 miles on it. I started experiencing same problems some time back. Thought needed a tune up job since had owned for 4 years with no problems whatsover. Right after the tune-up, the transmission went out with absolutely no warning whatsover-was well out of warranty so of course had to pay out of pocket for that. Right after getting out of shop for that had to replace one sensor which cant remember the name of but think was er valve and then the cam shaft positioner. The transmission went out AGAIN after maybe 4000 miles...if that many....thank God that was completely covered under warranty. Since then that cam shaft positioner was replaced again and the mechanic suggested taking to a dealership which is going to cost 80 bucks just to have them do a diagnostic. Needless to say, I am writing Ford but Im sure they wont do anything but this has been ridiculous to say the least. Appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks

#912 of 918 Re: Occasional jerk under load or starting off [leandersgirl] by dlshnn

Mar 25, 2012 (12:15 pm)

Replying to: leandersgirl (Mar 24, 2012 9:55 am)
There has now been a recall of 2004-2005 Ford Freestar/ Mercury Monterey Torqu converter output shaft. It is NHTSA Campaign ID number : 12V006000.
 
Here is the link
 
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=12V006&searchtype=quicks- earch&summary=true&refurl=email

#913 of 918 radio/dvd player-mercury monterey minivan by danyal

Jun 27, 2012 (12:14 pm)

I have a 2004 Mercury Monterey minivan. It came with the built in dvd player, which my kids loved, well the radio went bad so we took it out. I was just curious do I have to replace it with a factory radio because of the built in dvd player or does it matter what i replace it with?
Also, my automatic sliding doors will not open and shut automatically anymore : ( have to do it by hand and really have to shove on them, due you know what to do about them? It appears to have a lot of rust at the bottom, possibly a leak? Thank you in advance! : )

#914 of 918 Transmission etc 2004 Mercury Monterey by chage1

Aug 31, 2012 (10:48 am)

Hi, Anyone else able to trace the water in the trans fluid issue? We have had many of the issues discussed here and our 2004 Mercury Monterey van only has 56,000 miles on it. (Replaced ignition coil, spark plugs, transaxle and torque converter-I guess because of the recall issue). We have also had issues with the sliding doors not staying shut (esp. driver's side) and my heated seat (driver's side) hasn't worked in over a year. Three different mechanics have not been able to figure out why there is water in the trans fluid. I pulled the 2 TSB's that deal with this issue (cowl panel grille and restricted transaxle vent tube) and they said there is no way the water can have gotten in that way. They all have asked me if I drove it into water (of course not and twice in the same year?!). The mechanic put in a separate trans cooler to make sure that there was no intrusion from the radiator, but less than a year later, same problems! My engine light is on continuously and I'm back to the car feeling like it's going to die when I hit 35-40 mph or go uphill and losing my reverse gear. The mechanic has ordered a new gear train, but tells me I will get the same issues if we cannot solve the water issue. What gives???? At least now I can get a reimbursement for the money we laid out for the torque converter-at least I hope so!

#915 of 918 Frustrating at 04 Mercury monterey by bigndn

Oct 27, 2012 (1:15 pm)

I have the same problem with my 04 Monterey as you guys discribed. Check engine light came on took it to autozone to check the codes. Codes came back misfire on cylinder #1, Replaced the wires, Spark plugs. Check engin light was still on went back to autozone codes still read misfire on cylinder #1 and had a code for O2 sensor was bad. I remembered i had the same problem with my 1990 pontiac bonnieville and the machanic changed out the ignition coil packs and the car ran fine. So I changed out the ignition coil pack and my van ran fine for a good 3 weeks then started to chug so I took it back to Autozone and codes came back misfire on cylinders 1 and 5. Checked the conections to the coils and plugs all are fine. Went to start it after checking the connections and the vehicle won't start. It starts but won't stay running and also it drains my battery. Please Help please.

#916 of 918 Re: Frustrating at 04 Mercury monterey [bigndn] by mike_ga

Oct 27, 2012 (1:55 pm)

Replying to: bigndn (Oct 27, 2012 1:15 pm)
Change the coil pack. My van has 120k miles and I have had to replace the coil pack twice. This will solve the misfire problem

Messages Page 92 of 93

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