2001 Mercury Grand Marquis Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated he noticed coolant fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact started the vehicle and noticed that the high engine temperate warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted but was not able to diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 100,000. The contact stated that the vehicle is at the service dealer awaiting repairs.

PLEASE NOTE: This complaint/issue pertains to many nearly identical plastic intake manifolds sold as OEM, new or replacements for cars made in the last ten years- Dangerous perhaps fatal fires are likely not getting reported due to the nature of the cause. My car has a plastic manifold. When a fuel injector or fuel regulator fails, raw gasoline can collect in the plastic bottom. If more than a few drops collects, turning over the engine can cause, and did in my car, a massive explosion. Fortunately the blue & white cloud of smoke that filled my two-car garage did not ignite. Had it ignited my son and I might not have survived and our home may have burned. Not that your organization takes all complaints seriously, particularly when thousands of cars might be involved, but these cheap plastic manifolds present a real danger I believe could have already caused deaths and property damage. If you are a political entity I suspect you will ignore this. But at least a warning should be give to the public. We are replacing the fractured manifold but the replacement part is still plastic, too thin to survive what cars in the past would have survived easily.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE COIL PACK ON CYLINDER NUMBER EIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY THAT WAS PLACED ON THESE VEHICLES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DAVIS FORD (2111 N MAIN ST, CANTON, IL 61520, (309) 647-1111) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO ENFORCE THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MALOUF FORD LINCOLN, INC (2210 US-1, NORTH BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP, NJ 08902, (732) 951-0300) WHERE IT WAS SUGGESTED THE PLASTIC DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO A CASE MANAGER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO CALL THE CONTACT BACK OR MAIL A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. *JS

THE 1996-2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS WITH A 100% PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IS KNOWN FOR ENGINE OVERHEATING, EVEN WITH NORMAL USE, AND A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE FRONT OF THE MANIFOLD. THIS WILL OFTEN TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT. THE ENGINE COOLANT LEAK IS FROM A FACTORY DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES CRACKING ON THE FRONT COOLANT PASSAGE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IN A VERY SHORT TIME, THIS LEAK WILL LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I THINK THE CAR PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY FORD WHEN THEY NEW ABOUT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD.

LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD WANT'S $500.00+ FOR A NEW ONE. I CAN GET ONE FROM EBAY FOR $150.00. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY LOUD AS IF THERE WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AFTER CHECKING FOUND THAT THE REAR SPARK PLUG ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF ITS SOCKET AND IT BROKE THE IGNITION COIL, GAS WOULD SPRAY OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG CAVITY CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION, I HAD TO BUY A REPAIR TOOL KIT AND A NEW COIL AND SPARK PLUG TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DEALER (NICK MAYER IN WEST LAKE, OHIO WOULD NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A USED CAR WITH NO WARRANTY SO THEY WOULD NOT WORK WITH ME, IT ENDED UP COSTING ME OVER $100.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAD BEEN FORCE TO CORRECT. *TR

2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. CONSUMER STATED FAULTY THERMOSTAT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT, PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING BOLTS WOULD NOT READILY UNSCREW. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT IF MORE FORCE WAS EXERTED, THE PLASTIC-LIKE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH WHICH THE BOLTS FASTENED, WOULD CRACK/BREAK AND REQUIRE A VERY EXPENSIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO WAIT ON THE REPAIR AND CONTACTED THREE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS FOR SECOND OPINIONS. ALL THREE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD BE CAREFUL, BUT THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT CRACK THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT. *JB UPDATED 08/10/10.*JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND BUSTED, RESULTED IN TOWING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IS WHERE THE THERMOSTAT MOUNTS INTO THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERS FEE WOULD EXCEED THE LOCAL MECHANIC'S FEE. THE CONTAC HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATE 12/14/09 *CN UPDATED 12/1/6/09

TEMP GAUGE IS NOT CONNECTED. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO CONNECT IT TO. *TR

SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM INTAKE WENT INTO THE CYLINDER #4 AND RAPPED AROUND ONE OF THE VALUES CAUSING THIS VALUE TO STAY OPEN SO CYLINDER #4 HAS NO COMPRESSION. *TR

MY SISTER AND I'M WRITING THIS REPORT ON HER BEHALF. HER CAR IS A 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. LAST MONTH, (FEB '07) WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S ENGINE SHUT DOWN SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME SHE HEARD A "BEEP" AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON- CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND ANOTHER SHE CAN'T RECALL. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO, THE ENGINE WOULD START NORMALLY. SHE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, SAWGRASS FORD IN SUNRISE, FL. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND SHE AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE LAST TIME THEY FOUND A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND REPAIRED IT. (THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN GIVING PROBLEM, BUT SHE TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR THE SHUT-DOWN PROBLEM). YESTERDAY (MAR 1, 2007) THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 4 TIMES ! EACH TIME SHE HEARD THE "BEEP" AND WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. SHE WAS ON HER WAY HOME AND IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS ANOTHER CAR ALMOST RAN INTO HER. THE CAR IS TO GO BACK TO SAWGRASS FORD (FOR THE THIRD TIME) ON MONDAY, MAR 5 '07. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED, NOT DRIVEN, AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AS POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ARE LOST ON SHUT-DOWN. INTERESTINGLY, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 GRAND MARQUIS IM MAY AND JUNE 2005 . I REPORTED THIS TO YOU (NHTSA) AND YOU WROTE ME BACK, ASSIGNING REF.# 10141074. MY PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A SINGLE DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUG ! THE PLUG WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR HAS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY SINCE. THE REAL PROBLEM WAS WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS CONFUSED AND OVERWHELMED BY ONE BAD SPARK PLUG. IN 2005 I WROTE NUMEROUS LETTERS TO FORD AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. ENGINE SHUT-DOWNS ON MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. SINCERELY,

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TWO COIL ASSEMBLIES AND ONE VALVE ASSEMBLY.

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHICH RESULTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT LOCKING UP. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER GOT OUT OF CAR AND ROCKED IT BACK AND FORTH FOR A FEW MINUTE. HET GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TRIED TO MOVE BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE GEAR SHIFT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF THIS THEY BOTH UNLOCKED AND THE CAR WAS OK FOR 5-6 MONTHS. *BF

THE HEAD GASKET ON THE CONSUMER'S 2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LEAKED OIL. *NM *SC THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY METAL CHIPS LEFT BETWEEN THE HEAD GASKETS AND BLOCK. *JB

RE: DEFECT IN THE FORD MOTORS, INC. ENGINE PRODUCED AT ROMEO ENGINE PLANT, ROMEO MICHIGAN. *BF THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL OUT OF THE RIGHT, REAR AREA OF THE HEAD NEAR THE VALVE COVER. SIX MONTHS PRIOR, THE CONSUMER'S WIFE SMELLED OIL BURNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE CHANGES HIS OWN OIL, AND NEVER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STOPPED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER STATED DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS.*AK

ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT. IT DROVE ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED SOME SERVICES THAT WERE NON EFFECTIVE TO THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL/FLUID DOWN ONTO THE CATALYLIC CONVERTER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. *AK