1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Electrical System Problems

The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH the instrument panel began started flashing off and on before going black. The contact stated that he was headed to an off ramp the head lights stopped functioning. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had stopped driving the vehicle for several days and then tested the head lights and stated that the functionality had returned. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

Mileage: 225,000

The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH at night, the headlights became inoperable. While driving for approximately 30 more miles and exiting the off ramp, the headlights started to flicker. The headlights momentarily worked but then became inoperable again. The instrument panel warning lights illuminated and were flashing. The contact also detected an abnormal clicking noise from the steering column. The contact stated that the windshield wipers became stuck in the on position. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000.

Mileage: 210,000

THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN FELT DIFFERENT WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY, KIND OF SLUGGISH AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE TEMP ROSE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO LET COOL DOWN I COULDN'T START IT UP AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. NOT WORTH REPAIRING. HAD IT TOWED BACK HOME AND ITS BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY EVER SINCE. *TR

Mileage: 106,243

THE CAR STARTED NORMAL AT WORK AND DROVE 20 MINUTES TO HOME. PLACED CAR IN PARK, AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN IGNITION TO OFF, BUT THE KEY SWITCH ROTATED FREELY WITH NO RESISTANCE. THE KEY SWITCH WAS TRIED AGAIN TO TURN OFF IGNITION BY TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION FULLY WITH NO AFFECT. KEY WAS REMOVED, SWITCH ROTATED FREELY. STEERING COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THEN ATTEMPTED TO STOP ENGINE BY ANOTHER METHOD. LIFTED HOOD AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY - ALTERNATOR KEEP IT RUNNING. OWNER MANUAL SHOWED IGNITION FUSE WHICH WAS PULLED TO STOP MOTOR. SWITCH WAS STILL IN ON POSITION WHEN BATTERY WAS RECONNECTED. THE CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED BY KEY SWITCH. BATTERY DISCONNECTED TO DISABLE AIRBAG UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. REPAIRS: I DID THIS MYSELF. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO COME COMPLETELY OFF. I DETERMINED IT WOULD TAKE 5 TO 6 HOURS OF WORK TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM AND FIX. A DEALER WOULD HAVE CHARGE FOR THIS. AFTER STEERING COLUMN WAS REMOVED THE SWITCH MECHANISM WAS EXAMINED FOR PROBLEM. THIS WAS A TILT TYPE COLUMN. A PLASTIC SHAFT EXTENDED FROM THE KEY SWITCH ACROSS THE TILT AREA TO A PLASTIC SWITCH ACTUATOR IN THE MAIN COLUMN SHAFT. A THIN 1 INCH LONG STEEL BEARING TYPE PIN WAS FOUND STUCK TO SOME GREASE. THE COLUMN WAS TAKEN APART AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE PIN FIT INTO A HOLE IN THE SWITCH ACTUATOR. THIS PIN WAS FORCED BACK INTO THE HOLE, SUPER GLUED, AND STEERING COLUMN WAS REASSEMBLED AND PLACED BACK IN THE CAR. LOOSE SHIFTER BOLT TIGHTENED. IGNITION SWITCH WAS CHECKED. SLIDER HAD RESISTANCE TO BEING MOVED AND SHOWED SOME CONTACT BURNS. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN WITH FIXED SWITCH ACTUATOR WAS INSTALLED. CAR STARTED NORMAL WITH NO RESISTANCE TO IGNITION. TURNS ON AND OFF NORMAL. CONSEQUENCE OF IGNITION ACTUATOR LINK FAILURE IS HIGH DANGER WITH A STUCK ACCELERATOR OR PARKING IN A CONFINED SPACE (GARAGE). ENGINE CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF IN DANGEROUS THESE SITUATIONS OR AN AUTO ACCIDENT. SWITCH ACTUATOR IS POOR DESIGNED WITH PARTS THAT FALL OUT. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE VIBRATION ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ADD WATER TO THE ANTIFREEZE RECEPTACLE EACH DAY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A RUSTLING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS RUBBING TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD GO DOWN, BUT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE BLINKERS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE FAILED. SHE ALSO RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,647 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V336000). SHE STATED THAT THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. AS A RESULT, SHE BEGAN TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE POWER WINDOWS UNTIL THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL HAS BEEN RECONNECTED. AS OF JANUARY 16, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 82,000

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. INSPECTED FUSES AND FOUND BLOWN 15 AMP FUSE. REPLACED AND VEHICLE WORKED PROPERLY. PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. 30 MINUTES LATER, CAR IS ON FIRE. VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *JB

Mileage: 128,000

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. INSPECTED FUSES AND FOUND BLOWN 15 AMP FUSE. REPLACED AND VEHICLE WORKED PROPERLY. PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. 30 MINUTES LATER, CAR IS ON FIRE. VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *JB

Mileage: 128,000

HORN & CRUISE CONTROL STOPED WORKING , REPAIR SHOP SAID WIRING HARNESS IS BREAKING DOWN AT THE TIGHT BENDS .ALSO SAID THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS MODEL AND ITS SISTER MODEL. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THIS AS OF YET. *JB

Mileage: 15,900

DT: WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER CAME OUTSIDE AND SAW THE BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED IT. THEN THE OWNER REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED.*AK THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE WIPER MOTOR, WIPER SWITCH, DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR SWITCH AND ROTORS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH , TAIL LIGHT , CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS AND SHOCKS WERE BAD. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 90,473

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CLOCK SPRING IS DEFECTIVE, AND HORN/AIRBAGS DO NOT WORK. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY

FUEL PUMP, BRACKET AND SPARK PLUGS FAILED.

ONE HORN FAILED.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALSO, REPLACED THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR WHICH HAS ELECTRICAL PARTS. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-025

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY WILL NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE INGNITION WILL NOT TURN. *AK