The Crown Vics ETC Blog

UPDATE: 128,000 Miles

2012-02-14T10:04:00.003-05:00

Sportin' snow tires... but where's the snow this year??

UPDATE: 127,000 Miles and an Adjustment

2012-01-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

On 1/4/12, Vic hit 127,000 miles. It also needed a little adjustment after the intake job. There was a nasty smell of raw gas that was getting worse and worse. It was getting hard to sit inside the car! When I stopped to get some gas, I popped the hood and started sniffing. I spotted a lot of standing gas pooling around one coil pack. After sopping up as much as I could with some paper towels, I started to drive back home (about 30 miles). I stopped by Taxi Guy, and he had me drive the car into a bay, did a few quick adjustments, and now I can breathe in the car again. One of the coil packs was not seated right in the intake. I didn't realize just how little there is to keep them in place! Loosen the fuel rail, twist the coil pack around a bit, then tighten things back up! I am told there are O-rings that sometimes don't seat properly, helping such a problem to occur.

New Addition to the Fleet!

2011-12-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

After years of driving hand-me-down cars, Dad finally bought himself a car not 10 years old and rusty! Meet the latest addition to the fleet, a 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis LS. It started life as a rental, then it was sold to a man who traded it in for a Taurus, as the Marquis was too large for him.

The car has about 22,000 miles on it and is pretty clean. There are only a few small scratches on it. We picked it up this morning, and so far, Dad likes it a lot. His '95 Town Car (a hand-me-down from my mother) is at his mechanic's, the interior torn apart due to electrical problems. It is destined for the scrap yard...

The Last Crown Victoria VIDEO

2011-12-31T12:37:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: Intake Time Part 2

2011-12-24T13:17:00.001-05:00

Vic is now the (not so proud) owner of a bouncing baby intake manifold. Also 8 new spark plugs to replace the brand new ones I just had installed, because they were all getting fouled, a new thermostat, and coolant. Engine light is off. I haven't driven it much since I got it back. Hopefully everything went back together without a hitch!

UPDATE: Intake Time...

2011-12-21T13:30:00.001-05:00

Many of you know about the cracking of 4.6 intake manifolds. Mine has been seeping now and then, and now that my engine light is on, today Vic will get dropped off at Taxi Guy for a new intake. I am hoping that the engine light is for a weak coil pack, because that means more seepage. We shall see... Thankfully Taxi Guy can do the job for a LOT less than a dealer. He also does a lot of them, so he does it faster as well.

Snow Tire Time... and 60 Degrees Outside...

2011-12-06T13:51:00.000-05:00

Put on the snows this past weekend... not sure why, as it is about 60 degrees outside!! We had snow before Halloween, but it has been warm since then. I figure I should just get the things on now, just in case it ever does cool down and snow again!

Todd's First Repair at 103,076 Miles

2011-11-29T16:58:00.001-05:00

Today, Todd's '06 P71 had its first non-owner-caused repair... at 103,076 miles. The sick part was the water pump. The only other repair the car has had during current ownership was the wiper motor, which Todd broke, then fixed, himself.

Oh, and one blown tail light bulb.

So, that means he has gone about 90,000 miles without any problems.

1950s Parking Technology!

2011-11-29T14:33:00.000-05:00

OK, the car is a Cadillac, but I couldn't help but share this 1950s take on parking technology!

126,000 Miles...

2011-11-17T15:50:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: Name That Tune-up...

2011-11-06T19:41:00.000-05:00

The other day Vic got a tune up. It was overdue for an oil change, but was also acting strange at low speeds. The transmission slammed into gear twice as well. So I decided to get the spark plugs replaced and change the transmission fluid & filter. So far, everything seems better. Taxi Guy tried to grease up the front end a bit, but I don't think anything short of replacing everything will ever make it quiet again. He also said the intake seems to still be leaking a bit by the #4 cylinder. So we have to keep keeping an eye on that little issue.

We had snow here in MA last week... before Halloween! People were without power for days because the trees still had leaves on them, allowing snow to accumulate and put too much weight on limbs. I am starting to wonder if I should get my snow tires on ASAP!

UPDATE for 10/25/11

2011-10-25T13:10:00.000-04:00

Starting to feel like a coil pack might be going... possibly caused by cracked intake manifold leaking coolant, fouling things. Not sure yet... stay tuned...

UPDATE for 9/20/11

2011-09-20T13:22:00.000-04:00

Vic is in need of some front end work. Things are getting creeky. I am guessing at least ball joints... also time for an oil change...

The new addition

Todd's parents are owners of a new (old) Crown Vic. Their dark green '03 P71 has seen better days, and this past weekend Todd snagged a replacment at auction. It is a gray '05 P71 with about the same miles, but in far nicer condition. We already got a new battery and a set of wipers, but that is the easy part. It needs a set of tires and some coil-packs, as usual. But once those issues are ironed out, it should be a nice car. It is very clean inside and out, though the usual antenna mount holes are larger than usual. The hunt for large enough rubber plugs is on!

Todd's Vic Hits 100,000 Miles

2011-09-14T14:12:00.002-04:00

On September 10, 2011, my boyfriend Todd's 2006 P71 hit 100,000 miles. He bought it in June 2007 with about 13,000 on the odometer. In that time, he has had only one repair: he accidentally broke the windshield wiper motor. Other than that, it's just been oil changes and tires.

100K would have come sooner, but his F350 often takes over transportation duties on the weekends...

Railfanning with the Vic

Ford Plant Closure: Heavy is the Crown

2011-09-13T08:59:00.000-04:00

SOURCE: http://business.financialpost.com/2011/09/09/ford-plant-closure-heavy-is-the-crown/ by Scott Deveau

Much like the cars being built on the assembly line at Ford’s St. Thomas Assembly Plant, the front lobby of the factory harkens to another era.

It looks more like a retirement home than a modern auto plant, with clusters of wing-backed, floral-print chairs surrounding coffee tables, and an old console television mounted on the wall.

There is no longer a receptionist. Instead, there is a computer with a staff listing and a telephone to reach them.

A resume box in the lobby no longer takes application, and instead is filled with the business cards of companies looking to recruit workers from as close as nearby New Hamburg, Ont., and as far as police garage in Knoxville, Tenn.

While the floors of most auto plants in Canada are clean enough to eat off, the St. Thomas facility carries the grime and wear of four decades worth of work that has seen millions of vehicles pass through its doors.
The last Crown Victoria ever built will roll off of the assembly line at the plant Thursday, marking the end for both the Detroit automaker’s iconic rear-wheel drive sedans and its 44-year-old factory. The St. Thomas, Ontario plant is in many ways an anachronism. Not only were the design of rear-wheel cars produced there — the Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car — extraordinarily long in the tooth, so too were the manufacturing processes used to construct them.

It has been continued demand in recent years from police forces for the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, as well as fleet sales of the Grand Marquis and the Lincoln Town Cars produced there that has kept the plant open well past its expiry date.

The St. Thomas plant has been earmarked for closure since 2009, when Ford announced it would shutter the plant as part of massive restructuring effort launched four years ago aimed at improving the profitability of the company.

St. Thomas is the 27th of the 28 plants slated for closure.

Ford, unlike its Detroit rivals General Motors and Chrysler, avoided filing for Chapter 11 in 2009 with the aid of $23-billion in private financing before the recession kicked in. Those funds have helped finance its restructuring since, including the consolidation of its remaining operations at its other facilities, including the one in Oakville, Ont.

Gareth Ford, manager of the St. Thomas plant got his start in St. Thomas in 1989 after his father-in-law-to-be recommended him for the job in its body shop. But at 59, Mr. Ford, no relation, says he’s not ready to retire.

He said he has been offered positions with Ford elsewhere, including in the U.S. But, like many of the 1,200 workers at the St. Thomas plant, is reluctant to move his family out of the area after shuffling them around throughout his career, and with his youngest of three sons still in high school.

“I don’t want to be part of another plant closure,” he said.

While the St. Thomas plant is certainly looking dated these days, it wasn’t always the case. In the 1990s, it won numerous awards for its quality and efficiency. But its fixed assembly line, which only allows vehicles built on the same platform to be produced on the line, has become a thing of the past at Ford, and at most automakers.

Modern auto manufacturing is now focused on so-called flex lines, which allow for three or four different kinds of vehicles to be produced on the same line at the same time, enabling manufacturers to react more effectively to market conditions.

At the same time, the so-called body-on-frame design of the cars produced in St. Thomas, where the sheet metal shell is affixed to a heavy steel chassis, is also no longer used by Ford’s cars. Instead, the new Taurus, Fiesta, and Focus are all built with the less expensive, lighter, and more rigid unibody design adopted by most manufacturers, where the car’s body also helps with its structural reinforcement.

Despite all of these significant shortcomings, Ford’s rear-wheel sedans still have a market. It’s just one that is quickly vanishing.

The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor produced in St. Thomas makes up nearly 80% of the front-line police vehicles across North America, including 1,100 of the 1,400 front-line cruisers used by the Ontario Provincial Police. Meanwhile, the streets outside of the Lincoln Center in New York City every night are still lined with Town Cars, a vehicle that remains the preferred choice for limousine and taxi companies across North America because of its roominess. The St. Thomas assembly plant was originally slated to close at the end of August, but a last minute order from the Middle East extended the life of the Crown Vic and the Ontario plant until Sept. 15.

“The Vic was a known entity. It’s a very tough vehicle,” said Supt. Mal Shivers, who oversees the OPP’s fleet decisions. “But there are some downside to that. In some cases, the new technology put into the new cars hasn’t necessarily been put into the Crown Victoria.”

Supt. Shivers said the OPP is currently deciding on what will replace the Vic, and is looking at two police interceptors produced by Ford that are based on the Taurus and Explorer platforms, the Chevrolet Caprice produced in Australia, and the Dodge Charger, which is produced in Brampton, Ont.

A typical police vehicle carries about 350 lbs of equipment, and need to be filled up on average about three times a shift at about $90 each time. The new cars are expected to be 25% more fuel efficient than the Crown Vics, which get about 14 m/g in the city and 21 m/g on the highway. At the same time, these older model of rear-wheel drive sedans have fallen behind modern efficiency and crash test standards. Before going out of production, they were only being sold as fleet vehicles for rental companies, police forces, taxi and limo companies, not at dealerships to the general public.

As a result, the number of vehicles produced in St. Thomas has fallen from nearly 236,000 in 2000 to 96,000 last year.

Despite the obvious drop off in sales, there has been a lot of finger pointing since the plant’s closure was announced.

It will no doubt serve as another major blow for the region, which is still reeling from Daimler’s decision to the shutter its Sterling Truck plan there in 2009, eliminating 2,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs and hammering the local parts suppliers.

Ford was once again the largest employer in the St. Thomas area as a result, and while 250 of the workers will be kept on until December to help with the decommissioning of the plant, there will be plenty of people struggling to find work.

The 635-acre plot of land it is situated on is an attractive bit of property, minutes from the 401 with rail access and its own water treatment plant. But Ford has yet to make a decision on its sale.
There are rumours that the site might be used to manufacture alternative energy technologies, such as wind turbines, or be converted to a biomass power plant or an industrial complex. But at this point, no decision has been made.

Making matters worse is that a number of Ford’s suppliers in the area, including Lear Seating, have also announced they will closing their own doors as a result of the plant’s demise.
The city of St. Thomas is already showing the effects of the job losses at Sterling with several of the stores on its main strip vacated or boarded up.

But St. Thomas mayor Heather Jackson-Chapman has not given up on jobs returning once the Ford plant is sold.

“We’re very optimistic that something will come in. But we know it’s going to take some time,” she said.
That will be little consolation for the workers who will lose their jobs this week. While the province and Ford have set up a crisis centre to help the workers find jobs, it will be a grind for those unwilling to relocate.
Scott Smith, CAW Local 1520 chair, puts the blame for the loss of the jobs squarely on the federal government. He said the CAW, in its previous round of negotiations, wanted Ford to build a new facility on the site for a smaller vehicle, and even offered a special contract for the St. Thomas workers to help reduce labour costs.

They were stonewalled, he said.

But Steve Peters, the local Liberal MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, argues Ottawa and the province also tried all they could to keep the plant open, including Ontario offering $150-million to Ford to help retool the plant. Those funds, however, eventually found their way to Oakville, where the automaker assembles the Ford Flex and Edge, and Lincoln MKX and MKT on its more modern flex line.

“Both the federal and provincial government made representations to Ford to try to persuade them to keep the plant open,” Mr. Peters said. “We went to meet with the Ford officials a year, or a year and a half ago, to make one last pitch. But their decision was made.”

Once the St. Thomas plant closes, Ford will employ roughly 6,000 workers in the country, compared to 10,000 at General Motors, 6,500 at Toyota, and 4,700 at Honda.

Tony Faria, a professor at the auto research centre at the University of Windsor, said it’s unlikely that the governments would have been able to dissuade Ford from closing the plant. The restructuring efforts were aimed at reducing excess capacity, and consolidating the remaining manufacturing at its more modern plants, he said.

“If Ford announces any plant in the U.S. that they’re willing or interested in going into for significant retooling for a future vehicle, or to preserve jobs, whatever state it is in is going to offer financing to cover part of those costs,” he added.

And while the facility had harnessed the best practises in lean manufacturing in the 1990s, that simply isn’t enough anymore, said David Cole, chairman of the Centre for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.
Unless you can build three or four products on the same line, and have at least two, preferably three, shifts running, it is unlikely that an auto plant will survive, he said.

“The plant where [Ford] used to build the old Taurus and Sable was one of the most efficient plants in North America, and it’s gone. It’s under the runway at the Atlanta airport,” he said.

“The new manufacturing model is much more oriented towards being lean and agile, rather than just lean. Lean was the Sable and Taurus plant. But it wasn’t agile.”

UPDATE: Sticky Situation...

2011-09-09T18:36:00.000-04:00

Recently the rear edge of Vic's headliner has been starting to sag. Such a thing is not allowed, so I visited Bob at Belmont Seat Cover for some advice. Now, everything is fixed and the car looks a little less dumpy from the rear. Bob said that most modern cars don't have the sag issue, but that the Crown Vics are prone to it because the headliner fabric isn't wrapped around the foam liner. In other words, it stops right at the edge of the foam. Add years of heat, and things can "delaminate".

Repair in Progress

Sales Surge for Ford's Doomed Crown Vic, the Top Police Car

2011-09-07T12:08:00.002-04:00

Which Ford car shows the biggest sales gain by far this year? The one that the blue oval brand plans to kill.

It's the Crown Victoria, the last hulking, rear-wheel, body-on-frame sedan out there that's bought almost entirely by police agencies as cruisers, with the hand-me-downs going to taxicab operators. Last month, sales were up an amazing 140.8% compared with August 2010. So far this year, Ford has sold 40,082 of them, up 70.4% over the same time last year.

Only the smallest Ford car, the Fiesta, shows a greater percentage increase in sales in the past year, but it was just getting started as a new model, so it's not a fair comparison.

Asked about what's causing the old Crown Vic, due to stop production at the end of the year, to see such amazing sales, Ford sales analyst George Pipas said the automaker "is getting some replacement volume at the end of the cycle." We translate that to mean that police agencies, loathe to make the change, are snapping up every last Crown Victoria they can before they are forced to switch to an alternative they may not like.

Ford is trying to switch police agencies into a version of its Ford Taurus, but it's front-wheel drive, a feature they may not like. Chevrolet is selling the Caprice, a variation of an old Pontiac, but it's not American made. It is being imported from Australia. And Chrysler makes the fierce-looking Dodge Charger, but some agencies complain that it's too small.

By the way, when Crown Vic goes, so, too, will the Lincoln Town Car -- and many limousine operators are none too happy about that as well.

SOURCE: Sales surge for Ford's doomed Crown Vic, the top police car

Acton MA Crown Vic Cruiser

2011-09-05T15:34:00.001-04:00

Submitted by Acton PD

Fixing a 1999 Lincoln Town Car Mirror

2011-08-31T17:08:00.001-04:00

My mother's 1999 Town Car is equipped with the heated, electrochromatic driver side mirror. When she got the car not long ago, the glass was rather dark, and had some strange scratch-like marks on it. Finally, it got to the point where she could barely see anything in it.

She asked me if I could find her a new mirror. There are lots of aftermarket mirror setups, but they would need to be painted to match the car. I have no hands-on experience with heated mirrors, so I wasn't sure if any old used mirror glass would work, and I couldn't find used ones online anyway.

What I ended up doing is ordering a custom cut mirror from http://www.automirrorglassonly.com/. The glass itself is made by Burco Inc, here in the good old USA. There are lots of different items available for different cars, but all Mom wanted was a mirror she could see out of. She didn't care if it was heated or not. So for he car I got the simple glass overlay.

All I had to do is clean the existing mirror, affix the four self stick pads to the new glass, and apply it to the original glass. It was a perfect fit, and you can hardly tell it isn't original. The directions state that the heated option will still work, though not as efficiently. Thankfully, as stated before, Mom doesn't care... So far, she is very happy with her mirror, and I am a hero.

http://www.automirrorglassonly.com/

http://www.burcoinc.com/

UPDATE: Bilsteins Finally Toast?

2011-08-20T10:29:00.000-04:00

This week I took Vic on a roughly 170 mile ride. When I got home, I realized something: Vic needs some attention. The car seems to be rocking/weaving/swaying side to side a tiny bit, enough that I semed to constantly be correcting the steering wheel. The tires are fine. None of the wheels seemed any hotter than the others (brake caliper?). Yesterday I went for another ride, and I think I may know what's up.

The last clue is how the car feels going over bumps: BAD. I am even getting rear wheel-hop. Meaning? I think the rear Bilsteins are finally toast. A peek at the WUWV? pages show that the rear shocks were installed on 4/27/01. That is over 10 years ago, and they are only now worn out. The fronts were replaced only recently by Taxi Guy with police shocks.

Since I am still a member of the unemployed (thanks Obama...) I don't think I will be going with Bilsteins again. I would LIKE to, but for now I will go with two more Ford police shocks. I think I will also have the front end checked, then get an alignment, just to make sure everything is set for the winter.

Are my theories correct?? Tune in later and see!!

Emergency 9-1-1 Show, Springfield MA 8/14/11

2011-08-10T12:40:00.006-04:00

Emergency 911 Show

Part of the 27th Annual Tune By Tuna Car Show

Smith & Wesson, 2100 Roosevelt Ave, Springfield MA

Sunday, August 14, 2011 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

AWARDS FOR:

ü Best In-Service Police Cruiser

ü Best Out-of-Service Police Cruiser

ü Oldest Police Cruiser displayed

ü Longest Distance Driven Police Cruiser

ü Police Cruiser with Most Emergency Lights

ü Best College Police Cruiser

ü Best Police Department SPECIALTY VEHICLE

ü Best Police Motorcycle

ü Best Fire Apparatus In-Service

ü Best Fire Apparatus Out-Of-Service

ü Best Out-of-Service Ambulance

ü BEST IN SHOW!!!

SHOW FLIER: http://www.tunebytuna.com/files/tuna911_11.pdf

2005 U.S. Park Ranger Crown Vic Cruiser

2011-07-28T17:04:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: My Trunk(lip) is Sealed...

2011-07-28T16:20:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I saved myself some cash by taking a drive to a local junkyard. After a walk over oil soaked mud mixed with car bits, I got to the Crown Vic/Marquis section. I was after a trunk gasket. Mine finally ripped in one spot due to age and twice-yearly attacks from tires being moved in the trunk...

Anyhoo, most of the cars had the trunks shut and no keys. The few with open trunks had gaskets worse than mine. But I remembered one rather new Marquis up by the front entrance, and after walking back over the mud and oil, found that car had a minty gasket.

Ford Price: $68.00 Junk Yard Price: $10.00

I did, though, install it wrong. Turned out someone had put mine in wrong, and when I copied that one, it didn't fit right. But I fixed it this morning, and so far, so good.

Police test-drive new cruisers to replace venerable Crown Vics

2011-07-25T15:30:00.001-04:00

EDMONTON — In his pursuit of a new police cruiser, Const. Scott Anthony folds his six-foot-10 frame into the driver’s seat.

“I’m the tallest guy in the service. If I can fit in the car, so can everybody else,” said Anthony, the lead driving instructor in the officer safety department with the Edmonton Police Service.

“But I also have to take into consideration the officers that we have who are shorter in stature, too,” he said. “Do the seats adjust properly so that everybody ... from the shortest member we have all the way up to me can operate that vehicle safely?” Anthony asked............. READ WHOLE ARTICLE: Police test-drive new cruisers to replace venerable Crown Vics

One of the Last Crown Vics Rides the Rails...

2011-07-21T16:23:00.000-04:00

Below is a poignant photo. What is it exactly? If you are not into trains, you most likely don't know. This is what is called an autorack. Railroads use these large freight cars to move new automobiles around the country. Currently, Norfolk Southern Railroad delivers autoracks filled with Fords to an unloading facility at Ayer MA. The cars are then put on trucks for delivery to dealers.

Why am I posting such a crummy photo? Well, today's autoracks make it harder to vandalize the new cars. You can't see what's inside that well, but you can often make out what type of car is behind the metal sides... in this case, one of the last Crown Victorias. Try as I did, I couldn't get a decent photo to share while the train was moving. But if you click the image and see it full size, you can see a white Vic inside...

... and THAT is how some of the last Vics are being moved to new homes!

124,000 Miles...

2011-07-20T17:43:00.002-04:00

Lexington MA Police Vic at Touch a Truck Day 7/15/11

2011-07-15T16:48:00.000-04:00

Took a peek at Touch a Truck Day in Lexington MA this morning. After finally finding a parking spot in Lexington Center (right by the famous Minuteman statue), I found myself in a sea of parents and little kids. It became obvious I would not be getting any clear shots of the Lexington PD Vic. I also became obvious I would look very silly waiting in line to sit in it! I snapped a few shots anyway, while kids crawled all over the fire truck and big town vehicles...

Saying Goodbye to the Crown Victoria Police Car Sad for Some...

2011-07-11T14:05:00.001-04:00

April 14, 2011 By Colin Wood

The iconic Ford Crown Victoria squad car, which has remained relatively unchanged since its introduction in 1992, will stop production late this year and be replaced by Ford’s new line of Police Interceptors. The automaker says the new model, based on the Taurus, will be more fuel efficient, safer and come with more horsepower under the hood.....................

READ WHOLE ARTICLE: Saying Goodbye to the Crown Victoria Police Car Sad for Some

UPDATE: Charge it...

2011-07-05T14:26:00.000-04:00

Wellp, turns out Vic's battery was indeed almost 3 years old. I bought it in August 2008. Thankfully, the dealer gave me a new one under warranty since I had the original receipt. It suddenly popped into my head that during one visit to Taxi Guy when Vic was broken, there were jumper cables attached to it while it sat. So it actually first died while it was in the shop, then I drove it a few times, then it sat for almost a week, resulting in the really dead battery.

UPDATE: Might as Well Jump...

2011-06-24T17:51:00.000-04:00

Had to jump Vic today... no idea why as the battery isn't that old, maybe 2 years. Hopefully there isn't an underlying reason...

Greenlight Collectibles: Hot Pursuit Series 7 in 1:64

2011-06-22T14:44:00.000-04:00

Greenlight has a selection of Crown Victoria cruisers in 1:64 scale within their Hot Pursuit series. The latest set has cars marked for Texas Highway and Iowa State police. They also have a new Ford marked Taurus cruiser!

Past series include cars for New York state, Virginia state, Wayne County, and more. I myself have a few of these, and they are very nice quality. A recommended addition to your collection!

A Secret Treasure Trove of New York City Taxis

2011-06-15T18:41:00.002-04:00

This brand-spankin'-new yellow New York taxi-ready Ford Crown Victoria fleet I stumbled across yesterday, springing up like a patch of daisies through the cracks of the concrete urban jungle of Hoboken, New Jersey, is both poignant and beautiful.

It's poignant because, after 20 years of production, the Ford Crown Victoria will finally shuffle off this mortal coil at the end of the 2012 model year..........

READ WHOLE ARTICLE: A secret treasure trove of New York City taxis

UPDATE: Wired...

2011-06-15T18:37:00.000-04:00

Vic is back on the road. Once again, the culprit was a broken wire. This time, it was somewhere along the driver side fender-well, leading to the main fusebox under the hood. So I don't need any fancy computer bits. It still cost some $$$, but FAR less than I expected. So, we are back in action... thing is, I think I need an alignment now!! It may be due to the tows, or it is all in my head...

UPDATE: Not again...

2011-06-14T15:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Vic took a ride via flatbed across town to a Ford dealership. "Taxi Guy" did everything he could think of to get the car going, but said the dealer would have different diagnostic equipment that would be better.

As of this second, the problem is NOT with the keys or computer... it is (yes, say it with me...) a broken wire. Yup. Again. But I am waiting to see if this is indeed the issue. Why did the first shop have so many issues keeping the car running with different keys? Was it a coincidence?

We shall see... stay tuned...

More Mythbusters and Crown Vics...

2011-06-12T18:35:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: The Key to My Madness...

2011-06-08T16:50:00.000-04:00

Vic is still in the shop. And the issue seems to be with the transponder keys/immobilizer system. I don't know all the details yet, but it seems that as of 30 minutes ago, only one of the three keys I gave the mechanics work. The car works normally with that one key. BUT, in order to make more keys, or finish programing the computer, or SOMETHING like that, I need one more key that works. I just used Todd's car to drop off one more key that I had forgotten about. I hope that one works, or else I will have to go to a dealership or locksmith to get the car's computer reprogrammed.

... or something like that...

UPDATE: Dead in the Driveway

2011-06-07T09:55:00.001-04:00

Well, I guess wax can be hazardous for a car's health... I just tried to start Vic, and all it does is crank. I don't hear the fuel pump kicking on, so that is what I am assuming the problem is. Hoping to get it towed to "Taxi Guy" today. One thing is for sure, after yesterday's cleaning session, it will be the shiniest looking Vic in his shop!!

UPDATE: Vic is on a flatbed, headed for the shop...

UPDATE: Pampering Vic...

2011-06-06T16:08:00.000-04:00

I finally got a coat of wax on Vic today. Needed it BAD. It rained for a month, then there were green worms falling out of trees onto it, then bird mess, then little black poo from the worms, then pollen. Now, it seems to be just pollen, so the car got a wash, then Meguiars polish and wax. I didn't do a clay-job this time, as I just wasn't up to it. It is a shame the sides of the car don't gleam as much as the hood, roof, and trunk. There was a time when they did... (sigh)...

Crown Vics & the Mythbusters!

2011-05-22T18:50:00.000-04:00

The Mythbusters have used old police cars and taxis on their show before, but this episode (Spy Car 2) used three different Crown Vics. Thought I'd share these clips from the Mythbusters website!

Auto Erotica: Commonly good

2011-05-20T13:39:00.001-04:00

READ: Auto Erotica: Commonly good - The greatest cars are not the flashiest or most-expensive...

The Crown Vic tops their list!!

UPDATE: Mulch & Rust...

2011-05-03T18:45:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I piled 3 bags of topsoil and 5 bags of mulch into Vic's trunk. As you can see, there was room for more in there... I was smart this year... I cleaned out the trunk first!

POR-15 paint applied

After a little yard work, I decided to break out the POR-15 and attack the rusty fenders. I used the filler version to fill the front passenger fender, which now has a real hole in it. Things didn't go quite as planned with the filler on the opposite side, but anything is better than nothing at this point. Then came the paint version. I brushed it onto most of the rust spots, including the bottom edge of the driver's door. I bought the silver version, and it actually blends in well! The directions do state that UV rays will effect the coating, so I will have to apply a paint next. Next, I went and spilled 3/4 of the paint. All I could see was a puddle of money... ooozing off the table outside and onto the driveway... (sigh)

Filler...

Paint applied on lower door edge...

I'm not expecting a miracle with this technique, but at least it makes me feel like I have tried to get more time out of Vic...

4/19/11 UPDATE: 122,425 miles

2011-04-19T16:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Patriot's Day here in Massachusetts. Todd had the day off, so we managed to finally get Vic's oil change done. We also got the "fair weather" wheels back on. Yes, Vic no longer looks like a cruiser. It is back to it's usual flashy-wheel self until next fall.

The odometer now reads 122,425 miles. It got a nice new Mobil 1 filter and fully synthetic oil. I noticed that the trunklid weather seal has finally torn in one spot. No doubt the twice-annual tire haul to Todd's driveway has hastened that issue.

Eleventh Anniversary!

2011-04-07T19:17:00.001-04:00

Today marks my 11th Anniversary with Vic. In a time where most people don't keep ANYTHING longer than a few years, I have to say I am pretty proud. It has just over 122,250 miles, so that means I have put about 98,760 miles on it.

Today, I noticed that the headlights were getting cloudy. So I grabbed our ancient can of rubbing compound and some Meguiar's PlastX plastic

polish. They look a lot better. I forgot to take a "before" photo, but at

left is an "after" shot.

I'm sure they would look even better if I had some kind of buffer, or one of those kits where you can use a regular drill. I decided to use what I had. My headlights are not 11 years old, but about 10, as a nice service writer replaced them for me when the car was still under warranty.

Mud Season...

2011-04-06T14:36:00.000-04:00

After a ride along the dirt roads of mid-western MA...

3/13/11 UPDATE

2011-03-13T21:36:00.000-04:00

Vic needs an oil change BAD! We never got around to it before winter, and I am shamed of how old the Mobil One is! I won't even share it with you folks... THAT is how bad it is! But with most of the snow now melted here, hopefully we can get it done as soon as Todd's driveway is dry.

I bit the bullet and ordered some POR 15 today. I've heard it is pretty good stuff. I will use it to try and get the rust on the fenders to at least slow down. May touch up a few other spots, too. Need to try and buff up the headlights, as I noticed they are really starting to show their age. The chrome on the grille is starting to bubble a bit. Oh... poor car...

Interesting Non-Vic Ford...

2011-03-13T21:29:00.001-04:00

OK, this isn't a Crown Vic, but it sure is nifty! Spotted in Westford MA... at a Dunkin Donuts... ehem...

OPERATION: VIC PIC

2011-03-09T18:26:00.000-05:00

I NEED YOUR HELP!

I am slowly launching what I have dubbed OPERATION: VIC PIC. This is an effort to get some up to date cruiser photos added to the main website. Please click the link in the sidebar to read more. Or head over to the main website and read about it there.

See a Whelen Light Bar Being Made...

2011-02-27T11:18:00.000-05:00

If you can, try and catch the recent episode of How It's Made... went to Whelen to show how they make an LED lightbar. Interesting... I didn't see a video clip on the Science Channel website, but it is "Episode 7 - Season 9:
Find out how audio tubes, light bars, model aircraft, snare drums are made"

Surprise AZ Police Department - Beat the Heat!

2011-02-08T14:40:00.000-05:00

SEE IT AT: Surprise AZ Police Department Beat the Heat

What a great idea!!

2/6/11 UPDATE

2011-02-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

Today is Superbowl Sunday. A great evening to go for a peaceful drive, since there will be NO traffic. Just make sure you get home before the game is over...

Vic has been a little unhappy lately. I always knew there was some body work done to the corner of the front bumper. After all these years, it is failing. I think the latest snow banks did it in. The paint has chipped off, and there is a line of red filler showing. Not sure how I will deal with that come spring...

Here are some cheesecake photos of Vic from January:

1/12/11

1/21/11

1/27/11

Sexy, huh?

Got Snow? You Need One of These!!

2011-02-02T11:22:00.000-05:00

Folks, so far this year we have had 1-2 snow storms each week. In fact, I just came in from trying to clean up a mess of snow and water. While I am warming up, I'd like to suggest a product. Yes, I am plugging something. The Sno Brum. Why? Oh a few reasons...

One is that it works. And I like things that work. A Crown Vic is a large car, and you need something that can reach when you try and clear snow off of one. No more trying to use a small snow brush or broom. As long as you don't put the thing down on dirt or sand, and use a little care, you won't get any major scratches on your paint.

I first used these when I was a working stiff at car dealerships. Half of the brooms bought each year got stolen by employees. Yes, they work THAT well! I have cleared snow off brand new Porsches with these. Granted, not all people care about dents and scratches...

My Sno Brum has a metal handle. My father and mother's have wood handles. They also come with a telescoping handle.

Another reason I am suggesting this item is because I am really sick and tired of people who don't clean snow off their cars. You know those people... the ones driving down the highway with only their windshield cleared. The trucks with sheets of ice blowing off onto people's cars... those beings. To them, this is a not-so-subtle hint...

Vic Hits 120,000 Miles

2011-01-06T15:38:00.000-05:00

Todd's P71 Packs on the Miles...

2011-01-02T12:51:00.000-05:00

Todd's 2006 P71, December 28, 2010:

12/22/10 UPDATE

2010-12-22T11:42:00.000-05:00

We finally have snow here in the Boston area. Yesterday Vic got covered in salt for the first time this season. I was not looking foward to the idea of the evil stuff coming into contact with the fenders... Spotted a marked Taurus in Wayland MA the other day... Didn't get a good look at it, not sure if it is an actual '11 Interceptor or just a regular Taurus. Too much traffic to turn around for a look...

A Vic Takes a Hit...

2010-11-29T17:40:00.000-05:00

This thanksgiving, Todd's mother had a little ooopsie with her Vic. Somehow or another, she managed to hit a parked car. Long story short, we drove out to help her, and upon arrival, found her car perfectly drivable, with the worst damage being a blown airbag. The parked car that got hit was a recent Nissan Altima. All I know is, I would NOT want to get hit in an Altima!! The trunk lid had popped open, the trunk floor looked all pushed in, and the bumper was all smashed upwards. It had to be towed away.

Todd just drove his mother's Vic home. No drips. No front end damage.

DAMAGE: small hole in left marker light, small hole in grille, bent license plate, plate holder wrecked, bumper wrecked, crack in header panel, blown driver's airbag. So far, the car is perfectly drivable.

But that Nissan..............

(Hood does shut... Todd had it popped open for inspection)

11/22/10 UPDATE

2010-11-22T19:53:00.000-05:00

Vic's snow tires are on. Still need that oil change. Was planning to attend recent MA state vehicle auction, but it was a good thing I went to the preview... all they had was junk! Poor P71's all smashed up and picked apart... There were only about 3 whole unmarked cars, and they didn't look all that great. The sight of all those dead Vics was depressing...

Beloved police partner headed for retirement

2010-11-14T11:27:00.000-05:00

Beloved police partner headed for retirement - Ford to phase out Crown Vic in 2011

Graphic Comparing cruisers

He takes his police cruiser to the car wash at least three times a week. He dangles a yellow “Vanillaroma’’ scent tree from the console to mask the stench of stogies smoked by the overnight patrol officers. And sometimes, late at night when the city is quiet, Montalbano, the son of a cop, will take the 250-horsepower sedan out onto Interstate 93 and hit the gas until he is flying down the open road.

“For years, my father would say ‘You’ve got to take it on the highway and open it up,’ ’’ Montalbano said, grinning as he sat behind the wheel of his Crown Vic during a recent night shift.

Like his father and thousands of other officers across the country, Montalbano is a diehard Crown Vic devotee. For more than 30 years, the hulking, blunt, long-nosed car has been an officer’s battering ram, mobile office, dinner companion, and stoic partner. But now, that love affair is headed toward the scrap yard.

In 2011, the last Crown Vic will roll off the Ford assembly line to make way for a new police vehicle — the 2012 Ford Interceptor, a sleek cruiser with all-wheel drive, better gas mileage, and new gadgets, such as rearview cameras and radar sensors that detect vehicles in surrounding lanes. As the Crown Vics wear out, police departments will have to look for new options, and that realization has left some officers feeling despondent.

“Ford is making a big mistake,’’ said Quincy Officer Mike Foley, who has been driving Crown Vics for at least 12 years. “I will probably shed a tear when the last Crown Vic goes down the assembly line.’’
The first Crown Victoria was rolled out in 1955 as a regular sedan, but it was not until 1978 that police departments began using the car in their fleets. Over the years officers fell in love with the car’s rear-wheel-drive action, its ability to withstand hits and keep going, and the feeling of safety the large frame provided.

Today, most cars in police fleets across the country are Crown Vics, which cost between $21,000 and $25,000. In Massachusetts, they are bought through a bidding process. Of the 3,000 vehicles owned by Massachusetts State Police, 1,700 are Crown Vics. In Boston, they account for more than half of the department’s 908 vehicles.

Departments have flirted with other models, such as the Chevy Impala, which is fast but was dismissed by many officers as too small for their bulky duty belts and equipment. The Caprice, which resembled the Crown Vic with its rear-wheel drive and large frame, was wildly popular with law enforcement, but when Chevrolet abruptly stopped making the model in 1996, police departments returned in droves to the faithful Ford.

“We’ve seen a lot of models, but none of them hold a candle to the Crown Vic,’’ said Montalbano, a 13-year veteran.

He recalled the story of one Crown Vic that was almost destroyed after a bank robber smashed into it. Six months later, the car was back on the street, its engine purring, the body gleaming and without a scratch. Foley remembered a head-on collision with a teenager speeding down Quincy Shore Drive. Foley said he walked out of the car, not a scrape on him.

“It’s a great car,’’ said Medford police Officer Harold MacGilvray. “You can’t kill them.’’
But with average drivers now going for smaller sedans, it did not make economic sense for Ford to continue producing the large car for a specialized market, said Ed Sanow, editorial director of the magazines Law and Order and Police Fleet Manager.

“Law enforcement is so traditional. While they would miss the Crown Victoria, they would miss anything that they’re used to,’’ said Sanow, a sheriff’s deputy in Indiana. “It’s a real struggle to get the message across that volume drives choices. If there is no volume for the car, I’m sorry, the police version of that is going away, too.’’

Around 2005, Ford put together an advisory board of law enforcement officials from across the country, including Sanow, to provide feedback on new police models.

State Police Sergeant Mark Caron, who also sat on the board, recalled deep resistance when the members learned the Crown Vic would be replaced entirely.

“I thought there was going to be a mutiny at one meeting,’’ said Caron, the department’s fleet administrator.

Then the officers got to try the two Interceptor models, one a sport utility vehicle and the other a sedan based on the Taurus. They drove the cars on highways, over rough terrain, and through police obstacle courses. They tested the high-tech accessories. They sat in the roomy seats, which are sculpted to fit an officer’s utility belt and gun holster.

Caron said he quickly changed his mind.

“It hugs the corners, it really handles well, and it fits like you a glove,’’ he said of the Interceptor. “What I’ve been telling my guys is once they get into the new car and drive it, I think they’ll like it.’’
Lieutenant Jeffrey Silva of the New Bedford Police Department said the Crown Vic will eventually become a nostalgia piece.

“I think we would all agree that we’re trading in the radio, if you will, for the flat-screen TV,’’ he said. “While no one wants to go back to the radio, our parents and grandparents probably would tell you they miss those Saturday evenings and Sunday evenings with the family all together, huddled by the radio, listening to different programs.’’

It is hard to predict what will replace the Crown Vic. Its demise will encourage police to consider choices beyond Ford’s two new models. Dodge is rolling out its own police car, and Chevrolet is bringing back the Caprice, a potential comeback that has many officers excited.

“This is going to be wide-open bare-knuckled competition. No holds barred,’’ Sanow said. “I don’t know how this is going to turn out. If you’re a car guy . . . this is fingernail-biting exciting.’’

Asked whether a new model will give police an edge in sneaking up on perpetrators, who have learned to be aware of Crown Vics, some officers scoffed.

“Everybody knows what the police are driving,’’ said Boston police Sergeant Detective James Fong, who drives a unmarked Taurus on patrol in his district in Brighton. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look in the police lot and see what they’ve got.’’

Whatever hits the road, letting go of the past will be hard, Caron acknowledged.
He predicted he will have to harass many troopers who will undoubtedly drag their feet when they are told to turn in their worn-out Crown Vics.

“We’ll put black flags on the building here,’’ Caron joked. “We’ll have to put black shrouds around the Crown Vic.’’

11/5/10 UPDATE: Tired...

2010-11-05T20:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spent money I didn't want to spend to get two new snow tires for Vic. They will go on the rear, while the best used ones will go up front. Vic has been feeling a little "loose", so I may take it in for a check-up soon. Also needs an oil change...

10/26/10 UPDATE: Windowerks...

2010-10-26T14:43:00.000-04:00

Well, today, out of nowhere, my back window started working. No idea why. Thing is, it only goes down about half way, then it starts to bind. When I got home, I took the door panel off and sprayed grease along the track the window rides on. This helped a lot, but if I put it down too far, it stays there. I can grab the glass and pull up, and it will start again. I think maybe while struggling to install the window motor, I may have messed up the regulator a bit.

Oh, and Vic hit 118,000 today...

10/21/10 UPDATE: New Windshield

2010-10-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

Vic got a nice, new, pit-free windshield this morning. I just couldn't stand in any more!! I was going to get it replaced last year, then said "EH! I'll wait until winter is over...". Well, the other day the sun hit the glass just right, and all I could see was pits... no road... Soooo, yesterday I made the required phone calls, and I can't wait to take a drive tomorrow and actually see where I am going! One thing I find interesting is that for the first time, they put in the newer style that has the black dots by the rear view mirror.

10/5/10 UPDATE

2010-10-05T14:54:00.000-04:00

Well, Fall is officially here. And with Fall comes thoughts of snow tires. I need to replace two of my Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice tires. I have been asking local tire shops when I can expect to be able to order some, and no one seems to have a real good grasp on when snows will start to ship.

Mom's Town Car is back from the body shop. The less said about their work, the better. Let's just say that if it were MY car, I'd be on the phone with the insurance company demanding they do something about it. At least I know not to go to them myself...

Vic is up to about 117,500 miles now. Front left fender is starting to get more rust bubbles.... poor thing...

9/22/10 UPDATE: Window Pains...

2010-09-22T16:34:00.000-04:00

I finally bought and installed a new window motor for Vic's rear-passenger door. Thankfully, Todd (aka: Mystery Mechanic) had bought me a bunch of tools a long time ago. The bolts holding the old motor in were those star/hexy things. I put the right bit in a ratchet, and out the bolts came. The hard part was getting the pump off the regulator. After much prying, off it came. Installing the new motor was a lot simpler. Though there was one drawback...

The window still won't work. That means I will most likely STILL have to take it somewhere to get it fixed. Not happy...

Mom's Town Car is in the body shop having it's side-swipe repaired. I wonder how it will come out...

Old & New Parts

Works better with a ratchet...

9/6/10 UPDATE: What's Next???

2010-09-06T19:23:00.000-04:00

After a week of awful car-luck, things got worse Saturday. Todd's parents were set to leave Maine for home after their annual stay. But they couldn't leave... because the transmission in their '03 P71 stopped working. Todd and I had to borrow a car trailer, bring it 80 miles to home, re-wire part of it, then drive north 3 hours. It took a while to get the dead car onto the trailer and tied down. We left at about 2:30AM. Some time after 4AM, one of the 4 tires started coming apart. I noticed the sparks in the darkness. We found a rest stop and... well... stopped. It just so happened there was a man on duty with a roadside assistance truck (a very small one). Eventually, we decided to just take the bad wheel off, chain up the axle, and drove home with only 3 tires on the trailer. Both of us were falling asleep at the wheel... Yes, I had to drive for a while. By the time I got home, my dad was getting out of bed. I fell asleep so fast, I barely remember putting on my jammies.

Getting more gas... with 4 trailer tires

The bad tire...

9/3/10 UPDATE: Bad Things Happen in 3's

2010-09-03T14:12:00.000-04:00

Holy Cow! The moon must be perfectly aligned with some planet or another to have such bad luck! It all started with my Mom's 1999 Town Car leaking coolant from somewhere. We dropped it off at my old mechanic, but by the end of the day, Dad's 1995 Town Car was smelling like smoke. So his went there that night. Next morning, knowing things happen in 3's, I expected something to happen to my car. It did. While driving Dad to work, the car was running awful and the engine light went on. Bad coil pack, which my mechanic fixed. BUT, I was told it burned out because of COOLANT leaking onto it. In other words, there is a very good chance I will need an intake as well.

Fast foward a bit, and Ma's car is home. She and Dad are on the way to a doctor appointment... and he car starts stinking of coolant. Now it is getting a new heater core. Half the car is ripped apart. I think Dad's needs a new instrument panel (digital), if we can find one...

Which brings up the question: how long do you keep a car? All three have over 100,000 miles and are over 10 years old. We won't even go into rust...

My parents are renting a car for a few days. For the first time in years, a Chevy is spending the night in our driveway...

8/30/10 UPDATE

2010-08-30T20:23:00.000-04:00

Today Vic got a new set of tires. Since it may be the last it will get, I decided to FINALLY try out some Goodyear RS-A's. They are the H speed rated version. Some folks love these tires, some hate them. My boyfriend Todd has had many sets, and feels usually they are good on dry pavement, can be OK in the rain, but are AWFUL on wet Boston roads. I am hoping that since I don't drive in Boston, I will be OK. Time will tell. And I can't pass judgement until the new-tire-squidgies are worn off. I tend to go through tires rather quickly, so the low tread-wear rating should be interesting to follow. Todd's current V-rated set has lasted a very long time!

Still have to deal with the window motor in the back door. Also, I realised that the same dealership that worked on that door didn't do the coolant change I got charged for. I need to get up the nerve to talk to the service manager on that...

(yes, that is rust on the wheelwell...)

5/25/2010 UPDATE

2010-08-30T19:49:00.000-04:00

I have been meaning to type an update for some time, so here it is. Vic is still chugging along, and that is a problem. Why? Because it continues to rust. What do you do when you have a car you like, runs fine, but is starting to look a little rough around the edges? I have some decisions to make in the future...

Todd and I figured out that my non-funtioning rear window is most likely due to a bad wiper motor. I keep forgetting to order a new one. Looks like a trip and a half to replace, too!

Vic now has its summer wheels on, and they still look pretty darn nice. Thing is, the Goodyears are wearing out. So again, I have to think about if it is worth buying yet another set of tires. I have some money saved up for some, but with my unemployment benefits almost over, I don't think I will be able to do 4 new ones. I'd hate to only have 2 new ones. I hate mis-matched stuff...

I recently did a cheap engine-bay spiff. The results are below, along with a shot of Vic getting its 2010 inspection sticker. Readers may recognize Dad's old '95 P71, which used to belong to Todd. Our mechanic is still using it for parts runs, etc. So it is still alive. So is it's twin in central MA, though it is soon to be retired due to rust.

Compare to engine views from the past!

All inspected and legal for another year

2/5/2010 UPDATE

2010-08-30T19:38:00.000-04:00

The other day Vic hit 110,000 miles. Snapped a photo of the event while on Rt2. And we are coming up to our 10th anniversary. Time flies...

1/25/2010 UPDATE

2010-08-30T19:37:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago while wasting time looking for trains to photograph, Vic's battery light came on. Instead of heading home, I figured it would be OK as long as I kept the car running. I was wrong. Long story short, the alternator went... again... Somewhere in my long running log you will find it already being replaced. I should have done it myself again, but I was about 35-40 miles from home, and only 1 mile from a Ford dealer. So I got a ride home, and Vic got a new alternator, a coolant flush, and the DOOR AJAR issue fixed. That was a bad door latch. Of course, now the door's window doesn't work. I may be able to fix that myself, but it just goes to show you can't go anywhere without something else breaking...

1/6/2010 UPDATE

2010-08-30T19:36:00.000-04:00

It's a new year, and I sure hope it gets better soon. Poor Vic is being eaten by salt. I repainted the winter steel wheels with semi-gloss Rustoleum before it got cold outside, and so far they are holding up.

Forgot to mention that this summer Dad's '95 P71 (ex-Mystery Mechanic) was retired, and he now has Mom's '95 Town Car. Mom now has our mechanic's '99 Town Car.

Mom's new/used 1999 Town Car

Unemployment means more miles... WHY??