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Grand Marquis starting nightmare

13 messages,  Last post on Mar 08, 2012 at 12:42 PM

You are in the Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mercury Grand Marquis, Engine, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 2

#1 of 13 Grand Marquis starting nightmare by marquisman

Mar 10, 2007 (8:15 am)

I have a 1996 Grand Marquis. It has 56,000 original miles and has
 
developed a problem that 3 different mechanics cannot figure out. I bought
 
the car in August of 2006 and it ran great and looked like new. All was
 
well until the temperature dropped below 30 degrees. The car would start
 
then immediately stall, but on the second try would run great. This was
 
not a big problem, but did not want it to get worse so I took a garage and
 
they told me it needed new plugs and wires and to replace the air intake
 
control valve. Well the next day it was the same so I called the garage
 
and told them and they said they would check it out. They said that maybe
 
it was the wrong plugs so they put in the OEM recommended brand, but also
 
free of charge the replace the water temp sensor. That is when the fun
 
began. The next day it took me 10 minutes almost a dead battery and
 
finally starting fluid to get the car started. I have since had replace
 
the mass flow valve, fuel filter, another temp sensor, oxygen sensor, and
 
thermostat and nothing helps and paid out over $1,000 so far. Please let
 
me know what to do as if I can get it started and even to get it to stay
 
running for the distance of 2 blocks after that it runs great,. Now one of
 
the mechanics suggested a fuel pump and that will cost me over $400 and
 
not sure if it will help.

#2 of 13 Re: Grand Marquis starting nightmare [marquisman] by danielj6

Mar 11, 2007 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: marquisman (Mar 10, 2007 8:15 am)
Has any of the shops hooked up the engine to a computer to see if they can retrieve trouble codes before they recommended replacing parts?? Did they keep the car overnight to try to start it during very cold weather in the morning??
 
If they didn't, they should because they seem to be guessing. Otherwise, you will have to take it to a Mercury dealer service. Some shops are connected to on online database which, once the codes are obtained, it tells them where the problem is. I believe Auto Zone diagnoses engine problems that way.

#3 of 13 Re: Grand Marquis starting nightmare [danielj6] by marquisman

Mar 12, 2007 (11:09 am)

Replying to: danielj6 (Mar 11, 2007 4:12 pm)
The second place I took it to was a ford motors dealer and they had it 2 days and all they could come up with was bad fuel pump and mass flow valve and a funny thing is the 1st day they said the pump was fine and then the next day it wasn't. I had the mass flow valve replaced and no difference. The only codes that they could get was a misfire code and that is they replaced the plugs and wires. I am going to replace the fuel pump relay tomorrow as I can get one at NAPA for $11 and who know it may take care of the problem.

#4 of 13 '89 Grand Marquis 5.0 Starting "NIGHTMARE" by walar2007

Aug 09, 2007 (11:56 am)

Is there anybody out there able to share with me how to overcome a cranking, however "NON-STARTING" 5.0, with only 77,620 miles? I've replaced the following:
Plugs, Wires, Distributor, Relay to Distributor, Ignition Coil, Battery {twice}.
This started two weeks ago. Some days it starts no problem; yesterday, today is a different story . . . .NOTHING. I ran the battery down then began all over again . . . NOTHIN'. I'm at my wits end and need someone to come along side and "PLEASE HELP". Your assistance is well appreciated. Thank You, walar2007.

#5 of 13 Re: '89 Grand Marquis 5.0 Starting "NIGHTMARE" [walar2007] by browney

Aug 14, 2007 (7:22 am)

Replying to: walar2007 (Aug 09, 2007 11:56 am)
I think these older GMs have a ballast resistor in the ignition system.
If it does you should try replacing it.

#6 of 13 Re: '89 Grand Marquis 5.0 Starting "NIGHTMARE" [browney] by beedub

Jan 02, 2008 (5:43 pm)

Replying to: browney (Aug 14, 2007 7:22 am)
i agree with above and maybe it could be the fuel delivery to the car, fuel shutoff buttin could be stuck,hole in the fuel line,fuel line rusted

#7 of 13 Re: Grand Marquis starting nightmare [marquisman] by jandracchi

Apr 08, 2008 (11:10 am)

Replying to: marquisman (Mar 10, 2007 8:15 am)
Same year same problem - solved the problem by using lower octane fuel - fixed it immediately - I could go into octane as a measure of combustibility and why the higher octane struggles in the lower temperature but I am not qualified. Try it - I believe it will work.

#8 of 13 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis Odometer/speedometer problem by 19cami57

Dec 13, 2009 (11:13 pm)

I recently purchased a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis showing 55,337 mi and cked out as one owner 80 yr old lady who I bought it from. Immediately the odometer/trip quit working. Within a few more days smoke poured out from the dash and the speedometer quit working. I'd understood there was a recall on this but Ford tells me that is expired. They did fix the cruise control that was a recall. Didn't seem to understand smoke from the dash in connection with the speedometer no longer working. It did not quit working at the same time the odomerter & trip did but later following the smoke from the dash that smelled like a short or wires burning. This is a standard sort of dash indicators. Appreciate any feed back.
Also, having read that these 96s have had a plastic intake manifold problem, please tell me how that is detected before I get this problem as well. I am an elderly myself and already dissappointed in my local Ford dealership. Have a couple of good mechanics who have been laid off but would like to know something of the problems myself before I even talk to one of them.

#9 of 13 bizarre electrical issue by 2kredss

Dec 17, 2009 (7:13 am)

i have a 97 grand marquis 76K miles and a possessed electrical system! we got the car in aug 04 with 25K miles and within a year it developed this most unusual problem. what happens is the voltage spikes and drops - sometimes very rapidly - and the lights flicker in concert with the varying voltage. the problem developed slowly. it first started in the fall and would only do it occasionally, a day or 2 at most and then be ok for weeks. it would stop in the late spring, be fine all summer and start up again in the fall. i have tried many things to fix it (i'll list them later) but nothing has any permanence. it is now a daily occurance and the issue has escalated to the point where it now activates the red battery warning light which flashes in time with the oscillating voltmeter. the voltage spike is quite high - approaching 16 volts. in fact sometimes the red batt light issue an audible clicking.
there's a list of what i've done in an attempt to fix the problem:
replaced all fuses, circuit breakers and relays
replaced the starter (thinking the soleniod could be the problem)
replaced the alternator many times (on the 3rd one since april)
added several ground straps
added new wire directly from alternator to battery, removing the existing wire from alternator to starter (i have read the this wire is a fusable link)
replaced sepentine belt ( this made the problem worse)
replaced the battery twice ( just a few days ago - car great great for about 50 miles)
opened and cleaned every connector i can find
 
cleaning the connectors had the car run good for almost a week. a second cleaning had not effect
i desperation i went to my local mechanic ( i worked for him many years ago). he had the car for a day, told me it was fixed (the stator wire connection) charged me 40 bucks. as soon as i drove away it acted up again. his opinion is to rebuild the alternator though him or "keep going to advance. sooner or later you will get a good one from them"
 
i had advance check the alternator on the car. voltage high 15's - 75 amps, battery was good but low on charge(this prompted me to replace the battery a week ago)
they replaced the alternator. made no difference in the problem.
i called ford and even discussed the problem with a local ford dealer's service manager but they were of no help. they claim they have never heard of any cars with this problem. i just cannot bring myself to take this to the dealer.
 
so, can ANYONE out there help me? i am at my wit's end and really dread the thought of turing this over to a dealer.
thanks everyone

#10 of 13 Re: Grand Marquis starting nightmare [marquisman] by shlbycindy

Jan 05, 2010 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: marquisman (Mar 12, 2007 11:09 am)
I had the same problem and no one could figure out what the problem was. The local Ford dealership wanted to charge me $70 to hook it up to check the computer but said it was probably the fuel pump or fuel pump sensor. My Mercury is a 1999 model with 74,000 miles on it. It is a one owner car and has received excellent service. My parents gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago when they bought a new car. They bought it new. Anyway the dealer was going to charge me an additional $300 for that. They told me all this without even looking at my car. I finally took it to an automotive shop that hooked it up and it wasn't the fuel pump. It was the computer. My car sounded like a car that was out of gas when I tried to start it. To see if this is your problem turn the key enough for the radio to come on, leave it on about 10-15 seconds then try to start the car. Mine would start that way after 2 tries. The mechanic said the computer is responsible for the fuel pump sensor and if it is not functioning no fuel will be released to the engine but it will release enough for the car to start if you do the key the way I said earlier. Also I had to take both keys to the mechanic when they replaced the computer because they have to be reprogrammed to the new computer. I hope this helps. My car runs like new again and I'm happy. I'm not an elderly woman but I love this car. I'm a woman that knows little about cars but I do know enough to look on the internet to get advice and when that fails I go to my dad. : ) I hope this helps.

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