UPDATE: Wires & Starter

As of 3/28/15

Back in March, Vic was dead in the driveway for a while.  It would crank and crank, but not start.  The first day this happened, the battery sounded like it was dieing.  So we picked up a new battery and I installed it ($170 later…). 

Still didn’t start.

After a bunch of time looking under the hood, we decided maybe it was one of the wires in the front wiring harness that had been repaired in the past.  We wiggled stuff and swore internally.  Somehow, the car started and all seemed well.  Then it didn’t.

One thing I noticed was the car would start only if the engine light lit before cranking.  If that light didn’t go on, the car wouldn’t start.  If it was on, it would start and either stay running, or shut off.

We decided then to look at the starter relay.  It is in a box under the hood, along with 2 other identical relays.  We swapped them around, even added a new one, and we thought (again) that all was well.  In fact, I drove the car about 70 miles the next day.  BUT, on the way home the car started to cut out and restart on me. 

Next day, dead again.

So we messed around with it and got it running, then drove it to Taxi Guy to have him check for bad wiring, etc.  The result?  A bunch of bad sections of wiring harness cut out and repaired.  Problem solved.

… until last week when I drove the car .5 miles to a day-job.  When I went to take it on a coffee run, it wouldn’t start.  Wouldn’t even crank.  One tow later, I had a new starter.

So Vic has been worrying me lately.  But I really can’t complain too much, as I have been driving it for 15 years now.  The poor thing is rotting away and there isn’t much I can do about it.  Soon we will swap on the summer wheels/tires and that will spiff it up a bit.  But the ultra-cheap Bondo jobs are really bothering me…

UPDATE: Snow, Coil Packs, and Bad Wires...

The winter of 2015 has dumped a LOT of snow on New England so far, and the Boston area has been particularly hard hit.  I've lost track of the actual amounts.  Let's just say my father's decision a few years ago to buy a snow blower was a VERY good one!

Vic hasn't moved much this season.  Right now, it is sidelined due to what I am hoping is the same offending wire in the harness by the radiator.  Hard to put into words what it is doing, or rather NOT doing, but basically there is some issue causing the car to crank just fine, but the car won't actually start most of the time.  When I turn the key half way, the engine light flickers... sometimes it stays on like normal, and when it does, the car will start.  BUT, it won't say on.  This reminds me of what happened years ago, and that was a bad wire.  I hope to get this looked at soon, as I am starting to experience CABIN FEVER!!!!!!!!

Todd's Vic has also been under the weather.  Last month we hit the road for the day and it was running real rough.  It was behaving like it had bad gas, or water in the tank, which with all this snow wouldn't be surprising.  We got some dry gas, put it in the tank, and it didn't work.  As we headed for home, it was decided that it could be a bad spark plug or coil pack.  It was a Saturday, but Taxi Guy was still open and we got some A1 service, as usual.  It took him no time at all to figure out one coil was weak.  Less than 15 minutes later, Todd's car had a new plug and coil pack.  The old one was actually steaming when it came out.  It didn't smell like coolant, but now we need to keep track of the intake, as it has not been replaced yet in the car.

One GOOD thing to share.  I picked up 2 headlights for Vic.  One NOS OEM, one OEM used but in great condition.  Nothing I do will keep mine shiny, so I took the plunge and got some on Ebay.  I spent less for 2 nice original Ford ones than what Ford wants for ONE new one!  Hopefully someday they can get installed.........

Vic... Getting Old...

It’s been a while since I posted an update on Vic.  I had to replace 2 of the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice snow tires due to wear and cracks starting to show on the sidewalls.  They were replaced with 2 used ones that I like to call “generic snow tires”.  My boyfriend Todd had them hanging around and were still good, so on they went.  I am not big on having mixed tires on a car.  So far, it seems they have less dry/sand grip than the Goodyears, which are on the front.  Haven’t driven in real snow yet.

The rust situation hasn’t improved much.  It KILLS me driving around with rusty fenders and quarters…

I have had an intermittent issue with the ABS acting up in wet weather.  Slowing to a stop, even a controlled stop, would set the ABS off and make it unsafe to stop due to the added distance ABS causes.  When the problem started up, I would pull the ABS fuse under the hood.  After a few days, or when it was dry outside again, I’d put the fuse back in.  Thing is, it didn’t ALWAYS do it!  My mechanic said it could be a wheel sensor or under-hood ABS component.  Knowing my financial situation, he said to just keep taking the fuse out. 

I am starting to wonder if the actual issue is a wire somewhere, because it hasn’t happened since we swapped on the winter tires.  Time will tell…

Another issue has been the speedometer.  Sometimes the speed stays at “0”.  If I jiggle the key, it will try to work.  Another issue that only happens now and then.  Worn ignition lock?  Is it the chip in the key?

Over the holidays, Vic didn’t move.  When I finally took it for a ride, it was bucking a lot.  I chalked it up to moisture in the gas tank.  Put in some dry gas, and over time it got better.  I had a new bottle of Stabil that was supposed to go into my Javelin, and decided to add a little to the Ford as a precaution.  So far, so good.  Todd’s ’06 was also running rough, and we now wonder what garbage is being put into the gas around here lately…

No way... really???

Filled up the tank, reset the trip odometer, and look what I saw:

Now, that is NOTHING compared to, say, a 2014 Ford Focus, but for a 16 year old full size sedan with a 4.6 V8... In fact, that distance-to-empty is the highest I've seen so far. 

UPDATE: Slow Leak...

One of my tires has had a slow leak for a few days, and today Todd took it off the car and sure enough, there was a screw head in the tread.  After removing it, it took three attempts to get the hole plugged, thanks to all tire patch kits seemingly being Chinese garbage.  But, plugged it is, and at laft is the offending bit of metal...

UPDATE: Ready for spring

Vic is ready for spring.  Snow tires are off and alloys are on!  Which means I can take corners faster now... The front snow tires are trash, with cracks on the sidewalls.  They will be junked as soon as I can get them off the rims.  The warm weather Goodyear RS-A's still look great.  Mobil 1 oil/filter change was done on the 18th.

Thing is, the rust on the front fenders really is getting on my nerves.  People now comment on it.  It kills me to drive a car that no longer looks perfect...

Also, I think that the rear shocks need to be replaced.  It's hard to describe why I think so.  Chaulk it up to having driven the car for 14 years now.  I just know.

Yes, hard to believe, but Vic and I have been together for 14 years.  Last month, I ALMOST replaced him with a P71, but we got outbid.  I will have to make a move at some point, though, because as the car wears out, and I get poorer, I may not have the money to replace it in the future.  The economy stinks, and in Massachusetts you can't get a decent job without a college education now.  Employers can pick and choose from a vast amount of applicants. 

Quite frankly, I no longer want to work FOR someone.  I'd love to work for MYSELF.  Because as I always say, the only person you can really count on is YOURSELF.

142,000 Miles

Vic Faces the Cold With a Friend

Vic faces the cold with a friend...

UPDATE: Sealed and Delivered...

Windshields for late Vics come with the black rubber trim already attached, unlike the '88 Grand Marquis I had, which involved prying off chrome trim.

About a month ago, I noticed that the black trim on Vic's windshield was loose at the top-center.  After all these years and multiple windshields, I've never had this happen.  I've seen the trim come off the bottom of the rear windows, but not like this.  At first, I thought it would snug back down and that would be that.  But that wasn't that.  I could see that water was seeming under the trim, instead of rolling over it.  Just a little, but enough to make me worry.  I couldn't decide if I should try and fix the problem myself, or call up my glass people.  Instead I decided to wait and see if the cold weather, ice & snow caused the trim to lift more.

It did.  So did a car wash.  Water got under the trim, iced up, and lifted it off.

So I made the call, and on a windy 17º day, a man from Precision Glass came out to see what could be done.  I didn't stay out there to watch, but I did periodically peek through the kitchen door to see what he was up to.  He seemed to use the same stuff that is used to do the actual window installation.  Sort of a black goo that they warm up in the van so it will flow.  It took him about 15 minutes, wasn't messy, and so far, has worked.  And it didn't cost me anything, either, which was a BIG help.

I need Vic to last as long as possible, and I didn't want water getting into the window frame and causing rust.  It has been too cold to really get a good look at the work he did, but so far, so good.

Just another chapter in the life of Vic...

UPDATE: Wipe Away My Tears...

Tomorrow is the first day of winter, and we have already had a decent amount of snow in the Boston area.  It looks like a lot of it will be melted before Christmas, but that won't help my rusty fenders any...

Crummy pic of chewed hose

Last week while helping someone shift around his AMC collection, we found out that the hose that carries wiper fluid from the tank to the sprayer was in 2 peices.  It looked like something actually chewed it!  There has been a rat problem in our area for a while, so this made me want to kill the stupid things even more than before.  The next morning was supposed to get snowy, so that meant I had a small window of time to do the repair.  My boyfriend picked up some used hose from Taxi Guy and I knew what I would be doing the next morning.

What Todd thought would take a half hour took me 2 hours with freezing hands and feet, and the loosening and tightening of many bolts.  But finally the job was done and just in time, as it has snowed a couple of times since.

I also have to think about changing out 2 of my Goodyear snow tires.  Two are fine, but two are older and are showing cracks.  Todd gave me some more generic snows last year, and I think I may have to put them on for safety sake. 

Vic Hits 140,000 Miles

Vic has hit 140,000 miles.  Average fuel mileage 22.4MPG.  Snow tires went on 12/4.  Fronts may be too old, thinking about swapping out with 2 more generic snows I got from Todd.  Fenders still rusty.  Hoping Santa will bring me a bag of money for Christmas...

Vic at the Wayland MA Depot on what was once the Mass Central RR line

UPDATE: Chitchatter... Part 2

Car is back in the driveway.  Taxi Guy drained the transmission and torque convertor, then added 12 quarts of MerconV fluid.  He drove it around, then added a 13th quart.  I didn't have time to hit the highway on the way home, so I don't know if this sloved the chatter issue yet.  Will know within a couple of days...

As a side note, Vic now has 138,389 miles on the odometer. 

UPDATE: Chitchatter...

We just dropped Vic off at Taxi Guy for a transmission service. Last week, the car chattered twice while on the highway. I'm told that one possible repair is to completely drain the transmission and torque converter, then use a different type of fluid. We shall see if this does the job. If not, a replacement vehicle might be inching closer and closer, which isn't good, as I am still trying to find work. Stay tuned...

137,080: Oil & Front Brakes

 Vic got a much needed oil change at 137,070 with Mobil 1 synthetic oil and filter, and yesterday we put on front brake pads.  I say "we", but Todd always ends up doing the work!  My job seems to be calming him down and fetching tools.

I will have to pay attention to things as I drive the car, though, as one of the two pistons in the driver side caliper seemed to be almost seized.  The two on the passenger side were both a little hard to compress.  Not surprising, given the age of the car and the salt it has seen.

This time, I decided to go with a heavy duty pad by Wagner.  I learned something, too.  I was wondering what the groove in the new pads were for.  Apparently, they are like the wear bars on tires.  When the groove is gone, you need pads.  Supposedly it also helps dissipate water.

136,000 Miles

UPDATE: 135,387

Vic is home and feeling a little better.  Taxi Guy replaced the rear brake pads and fuel filter, but didn't repair the emergency brake, as it would be a $400 job (rear axles have to come out to do the shoes).  So he didn't do the e-brakes, but did fix the exhaust leak. 

Thing is, it wasn't the gasket.  The flanges on the pipes were rotted away!

So he did a little welding so that there was something to put bolts through.  Otherwise, we'd be looking at actual pipes, or at least replaced flange parts.  So what he did was weld on some thick washers, and... well, just take a look at the photo. 

Now that Vic is 15 years old, I wonder if soon I should replace it.  The fenders are rotting, rear wheelwells are rotting... but it runs great.  Interior is almost mint.  A hard decision to make, but once things start rotting away, well... that isn't a good sign...

UPDATE: Crown Vic Monster Truck

Yesterday I decided to run a quick errand, and half way to my destination, I started hearing a rumble.  At first, I thought it was the Subaru in front of me.  Then when I pushed the gas pedal, I came to the realisation that the sound was coming from MY car. 

Exhaust gasket #2 has failed.  And Vic sounds like a Dodge truck with an 8 foot lift kit, chrome everything, and lots of decals.

If you look back through the WUWV archives, you will see that Todd and I replaced one back in 2006.  So it took 6 years for the other one to rot away!  I think I still have a replacement gasket in the trunk, as I bought two, figuring I'd need the second one done soon.  Six years isn't exactly "soon". 

Taxi Guy is on vacation, so Vic will have to wait until later this week to get fixed.  I guess this will be a good time to get rear brake pads, and see if the e-brake can be sorted out... again... I have had that emergency brake setup fixed a billion times, and it always stops working. 

As for Todd's '06, it had been acting strange.  Todd kept having to turn back during his morning commute because the car would barely run.  But when we took it out on weekends, on longer drives,  it was fine.  Finally, it got so bad one day the engine light went on, so now there was a code to read.  The problem?  The throttle position sensor.