2001 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS Engine And Engine Cooling 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.

Mileage: 100,000

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

Mileage: 164,200

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

Mileage: 128,000

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

Mileage: 102,000

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

Mileage: 92,374

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

Mileage: 124,301

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,

Mileage: 18,200

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

Mileage: 31,000

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

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

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

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

Mileage: 36,000

WHEN STOPPING OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE ORIGINAL DEFECT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

Mileage: 34,000

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH TURN SIGNAL AND AIR-CONDITIONING MALFUNCTION. FUSE BLOWS-NO TURN SIGNAL OR AIR CONDITIONING. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND SAFETY/FIRE HAZARD. CERAME DEALERSHIP IN ST. LOUIS, MO HAS NOT BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAS REPLACED ONE WIRE AND A SENSOR. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE 6/23/03.

Mileage: 20,000

CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS AN IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE PROBLEM. SHE STATES THAT SOMETIMES WHEN SHE ATTEMPTS TO START HER VEHICLE, IT ACTS AS IF IT WANTS TO CUT OFF. THEN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SHE IS DRIVING AND HAS TO STOP, THEN THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF. *PH THE CONSUMER TALKED TO ANOTHER CONSUMER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED IN THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE MECHANIC RE-BALANCED AND ALIGNED THE TIRES. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AFTER BEING TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER HAD AN ADJUDICATION TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS FOR THE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK THAT WAS ALSO ONGOING, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL PAN/OIL PAN GASKET AND THE REAR MAIN CRANK SHAFT SEAL. THE IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, THE HOOD WOULD NOT POP OPEN AND THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 125

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN COLD, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE TIMING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE DASHBOARD VIBRATED, HOWEVER DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG, THE TRIM PANEL WAS LOOSE ON THE DOOR, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR CLOSED TOO HARD, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAN TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING A CORNER, DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT FRAME SUPPORTS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS SCRATCHED, THE STEERING COLUMN TRIM WAS REPLACED, THE RADIO HAD A POOR RECEPTION, THERE WAS A PULSATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PH *JB

Mileage: 22,047

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY GAVE A JERK AND ENGINE DIED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT IF THIS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS JERKED SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE DEALER CONDUCTED NUMEROUS TESTS BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE. THE ENGINE HAS NOT DIED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. *JG

THE ENGINE IDLES ROUGHLY AND THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AFTER IT HAD BEEN WORKED ON BY THE DEALER. *YH