ADDITION TO THE FLEET: 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility... aka: Explorer

In March 2020 Mystery Mechanic added the first Ford Police Interceptor Utility (aka: Explorer) to his fleet.  It is a 2016 with about 95,000 miles on it.  He's not sure if he's going to replace the Taurus with it or not.  For now, we are working on making it neater and seeing if it needs any mechanical work.  Weather has prohibited any real down-and-dirty-dirt-removal.

As you can see in this (crummy) cell phone pic, it was originally black and white.  The good thing is the white was a WRAP, so no painting was needed to make it all black!

Still dirty, but doors unwrapped, roof still white...

A bit cleaner... until the rains came...

HOW TO Change a Cabin Filter in a 2016 Ford Explorer / Police Interceptor Utility

The following is a pictorial guide to changing the cabin filter in a 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility, aka Explorer.  From what I have seen, this procedure SHOULD be the same for police and civilian models up to the 2019 model year.

(NOTE: things didn't go quite as planned, so I don't have as many photos to share as I should)

This is the filter I picked up at the dealer, Motorcraft FP-68.  It wasn't cheap... Not sure why it cost more this time than the one I installed into the Sedan!

You will need to semi-remove the glove box door for easier access to the old filter.  Remove everything from the glove box FIRST!  That's right, all the sugar packets and napkins from Dunkin Donuts, etc.  

There is an ELASTIC TETHER that slides into a hole on the right side of the glove box door.  It helps the door from opening too far.  Slide that off.

At the top of the glove box opening, there are TWO PLASTIC TABS THAT POINT DOWNWARD.  They also help to retain the door when it is open.  I pushed them backward instead of forward so as not to break them off, but basically you need to get them out of the way of the glove box door so it will open all the way.

Now, I did NOT take the glove box door off to install the filter.  You MIGHT want to, though, as just as I thought I was done and happy, the door somehow got bumped and part of the hinge popped off.  I'll get into that debacle later...

This is what you see when you look into the glove box opening.  It is just like in the Taurus.  Basically there is a little cover, or "trap door", if you will, that has two latches and two tabs.  Undo the latches, and slide the cover down. 

This is what the cover looks like (front & back), with the tabs and latches where you can see them.

Here's the old filter still in place.  You may need a small screwdriver to help nudge it out a bit so you can get a better grip, then just slide it out.

We don't know if the filter had ever been changed, but it sure needed to be!

The new filter in place.  I added the date and mileage for future reference.

All you need to do now is reinstall the little filter cover, reattach the elastic tether to the side of the glove box door, and close it.

NOW, if you find yourself needing to remove OR reinstall the door, you need to know that there are two white plastic pins which actually come out.  We didn't know that, so when one side of the door popped off the pin, we didn't know how to reattach it.  A peek at the 'net resulted in the realization that one of the two plastic pins was not installed properly.  It was basically jammed into the wrong position.

After much car-repair-Yoga, temper flaring and use of large tools, I got both pins out.  We then put the cover in place, latched it, and slid the pins into place the way they are supposed to be installed... minus the fact we still need to lock them in.  In the photo below, you can see one and how it is slightly off-kilter.  But you get the idea.

This is a shot of an Explorer in a junk yard.  Someone had broken off the glove box door.  You can see the two white plastic pins which act as pivots.  The door is NOT SUPPOSED TO PRESS ONTO THOSE PINS!  Remember that if you find your door has popped off BUT the corresponding attachment hasn't broken off and flown off into oblivion...

And there you have it... your Interceptor will now smell like a daisy!!

(... well... a little better than before, anyhow...)

Massachusetts Police License Plate #1 Spotted!

I managed to snap a decent photo of Massachusetts police license plate #1 on a Boston PD Interceptor... the catch is it was in Concord MA!

HOW TO Change a Cabin Filter in a 2013 Ford Taurus / Police Interceptor Sedan

The following is a pictorial guide to changing the cabin filter in a 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan, aka Taurus.  From what I have seen, this procedure SHOULD be the same for police and civilian models up to the 2019 model year.

First, get yourself a brand spankin' new filter.  We went with a Motorcraft FP-68 (AE9Z-19N619-A).

You will need to remove the glove box for easier access to the old filter.  Basically, you squeeze the sides of the box so that it opens all the way... then it falls out and everything falls onto the floor, which is why you will remove everything from the glove box FIRST!

Prior to starting this project, I watched some videos online so I would know exactly where to look for the filter.  So when I stuck my head under the dash I started to worry, because I didn't see ANYTHING that looked like the slot where the filter lives.  I kept following the vent ducts and didn't see a darn thing... Then I got mad and looked straight forward, and THERE IT WAS.

Basically there is a little cover, or "trap door", if you will, that has two latches and two tabs.  Undo the latches, and slide the cover down.  Now you will see the nasty old filter staring at you.  Slide it out and marvel at the nastiness!

As you can see, the cabin filter DOES actually DO something!  This vehicle started life 130,940 miles ago as a police cruiser in New Hampshire, which may explain all of the pine needles and dried leaf bits...

I wrote the mileage and date onto the new filter, just to be anal...

 

Make sure there's no leftover nastiness in the air-box, and install the new filter.

Now you can reinstall the glove box.  This means you can reorganize all of the old registrations, inspection receipts, and sugar packets.  NOTE that the left side of the glove box has some sort of plastic limiter which fell apart when I tried to reinstall the box.  One end has a tab that slides into a slot on the box.  This part connects to a second part with an odd elastic fitting.  I think I got everything back together correctly.

Swapping Rear Seats in a 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan

This post is for anyone wondering what the rear seat area of a 2013 Police Interceptor Sedan looks like!

My boyfriend started out by removing the bottom seat cushion to look for a missing seat belt latch.  A while ago, he bought a totaled cruiser for parts, including a fabric rear seat setup to replace the vinyl setup his car came with from the dealer.  So he decided to finally put the fabric seats in while he had the chance.

Interestingly, I noticed that the vinyl seats that were in the car were dated 3/2/15, making them newer than the car's build date of February 2012.  The fabric seats from the parts car were dated 7/24/13. 

Seat bottom latch

Seat back latch

In case you were wondering, the bottom cushions latch into two plastic parts on the floor that have a little release lever.  The backs have two bolts on each side to remove (13mm & 15mm) on the corners.  Then you need to somehow find the two red fabric tethers that release the upper latches, allowing the cushion to be removed.  Have fun with that...

You now have a good look at the structure that helps make these cars safe.

Once the seats were out, it lead to the removal of the center console base so he could put wiring in place for a scanner head unit, to be installed later.  Word of advice when removing/installing the metal parts:  find a socket that is magnetic!  Also, keep track of which bolts came from where...

Once the wires were firmly in place under the metal console, attention was turned to under the hood, where the differences between the Taurus and Crown Victoria became evident.  You can hide a small child under the hood of a Crown Vic.  In the Taurus, figuring out how/where to snake wiring will make you stare and ponder for about a week.  The wiring project was left for a later date...

Here you can see how far the trunk floor extends into the passenger compartment

Note the date written on the metal brace "2/15/13"

Foam of the bottom cushion

The vinyl seat back that was in the car...

... and the cloth one installed.  Looks like it needs a clean!

Ford and GM May Cut Several Sedans From Their Lineups

SOURCE:  http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2018/04/06/ford-taurus-and-chevy-impala-might-die-and-can-thank-suvs.html

Ford and General Motors may cut several sedans and small hatchbacks from their lineups, as Americans continue flocking to hotter-selling crossovers and SUVs.

A report in the Wall Street Journal cites sources at the two automakers saying they will discontinue certain models within a year or two. On the chopping block are large sedans like the Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Impala and subcompact sedans and hatches including the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic.

The automakers won’t speak on official record, but the news isn’t far-fetched. Crossovers and trucks typically account for more than 60 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales. According to WardsAuto, through March dealers stocked 34 percent of their inventories on just crossovers, compared to 29 percent a year ago. Traditional sedan buyers have instead switched to similarly-sized crossovers, lured by a higher seating position, more cargo space, and the wider availability of all-wheel drive.

Traditional sedan buyers have switched to similarly-sized crossovers, lured by a higher seating position, more cargo space, and the wider availability of all-wheel drive.

The Taurus hasn’t changed in any significant way since the 2010 model year, but the Chevrolet Impala completed a major makeover for 2014. Still, sales in 2017 were simply so-so. The Taurus, at 41,236 sold in 2017, is propped up by its popularity among police departments. It’s been on an annual decline since 2013, the peak of this generation’s sales, when Ford moved 79,960 units.

Save for a small bump in 2010, the Impala has been on a much longer decline, from a high of 311,128 cars in 2007 to just 75,877 last year. The Fiesta and Sonic have been crowded by other small crossovers in their own lineups, like the Ford EcoSport and Chevrolet Trax. Sonic sales dropped to 30,290 cars in 2017, a 68-percent drop from its all-time high three years earlier. The Fiesta, at 46,249 cars, has lost 27 percent of its volume in the same time.

But for savvy new-car buyers, seeking these less popular models is one sure way to strike a good deal.

Warren MA PD Far From Home...

Warren MA Interceptor Utility about 47 miles from home, in Acton MA in a snow squall...

2006 P71 RETIRED... replaced by a 2007... and 2008...

Yesterday Todd retired his mom's 2006 P71.  After being squished twice by town trees, attacked by parking lots, and never washed, it is heading to a potential third life as a local taxi.  Stupid me forgot to look at the odometer...

The car was officially replaced a couple of weeks ago by a 2007 P71 with about 168,000 miles.  This one has the nice charcoal velour interior (I'm jealous).  At the same time Todd picked up a 2008 P71 with about 126,000 miles.  Both were never marked for police service, and judging by the options and condition, never saw mainline service.  They are basically twins other than one has a black grille.

The '08 was SUPPOSED to be to sell, but Todd being Todd, has it registered and has been enjoying driving it.  Let's face it... they are just nice to drive!

Both new (to the fleet) cars had hubcaps with all the FORD logos missing.  While neither of us has ever heard of this being an issue, supposedly other folks HAVE had them fall/wear off.  A search for used ones with the logos intact proved we are a minority... most didn't have any logos.  But a couple of decent sets were found in the end...

OH, I almost forgot... Todd actually won 2.5 cars at auction.  The .5 was a 2014 Interceptor Sedan that we took some parts out of and then junked.  Cost him about $100.

End of an Era: Nells Vic 1.0 RETIRED

Wellp, welcome to a new year.  I won't go into how crappy 2015 was, and my feelings about what 2016 will be like (HINT:  Crappier.)

Instead, I will FINALLY update the blog with something I have been putting off for months.

As visitors to the main site may already know, Vic has been retired, and will furthermore be referred to as Vic 1.0.

What started on April 6, 2000 ended on July 20, 2015.  On that day, I gained ownership of my boyfriend's 2006 P71 Crown Vic.  Plates were swapped, and suddenly I was driving a blue car instead of a gray one.  You can read a bit more about the change HERE.  

Being a new year with a new/used car, I shall begin with the traditional mileage count, which can now include the car's idle hours:

Vic 2.0 was a Ford demo, and never saw police duty.  So most of those hours were from us railfanning, or from Todd sitting in a cold/hot parking garage trying to eat his lunch.  

One thing that even I can't get over, is the fact that neither myself or Todd has snow tires on yet!  It has been a very mild autumn, and our first bit of snow arrived on 12/29/15.  For some reason, we just keep putting the tire swaps off...

Vic 2.0 at Sleepy Hollow, Concord MA (11/18/15)

Todd is now driving a 2013 Ford Interceptor Sedan, also known as a Taurus police car.  It is the AWD V6 version, non-turbo.  He seems to like it a lot.  I'd like some carpet and a fabric rear seat, but so far it has been ok.  It is rather peppy.  It has grown on him more than on me...

2013 PI goes railfanning (9/5/15)

Brand New 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility Spotted

Brand New 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility spotted at Gateway Ford in VT (6/6/15)

Ford's 2016 Police Interceptor Utility Goes RoboCop

(SOURCE:  FoxNews.com 2/11/15)

Ford’s police fleet has a new recruit.

The 2016 Police Interceptor Utility bows at the Chicago Auto Show this week featuring fresh looks and some nifty new tech. The Explorer-based cruiser has firmly grasped the mantle handed to it by the classic Crown Victoria Interceptor since it went on sale in 2012, and now accounts for over half of the police cars sold in the USA, outselling even Ford’s own Taurus-based Police Interceptor Sedan by a 2 to 1 margin.

The new model gets updated front and rear bodywork and lights, plus a freshened interior design that includes plenty of police-specific equipment like utility belt-friendly seats and an interior dome light that can be switched from white to red for better night vision. There’s also an optional surveillance system that can detect potential bad guys sneaking up on the vehicle from the rear like and alert the passengers while automatically closing the windows and locking the doors. It's almost like having RoboCop on board.

All-wheel-drive is standard, and departments can order the Police Interceptor Utility with either a 304 hp 3.7-liter V6 for regular duty, or a 365 hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 if they need to tow or see a lot of high speed action in their precinct. In either case, they’re both pursuit-rated and the vehicles automatically switch into a special Pursuit Mode if they sense that they’re being driven hard, which changes the transmission logic to stay in gear during maneuvers and optimizes the all-wheel-drive system to facilitate action-movie style J-turns.

Look for one approaching in your rearview mirror this summer, and please pull over when you do.

Brand New Littleton MA Ford Police Interceptor SUV



While heading home today, I found myself looking right at a brand new Ford PI SUV, belonging to the Littleton MA police.  Since it was parked in good light, I decided to ask the sergeant inside if I could take a photo of it.  Littleton always used to have Crown Vics, but then they started buying Dodge Chargers.  The Sgt. told me they are trying the new Fords now, but that he wasn't fond of the SUV.  He said it is slow, and doesn't like the seats.  So that makes one officer I've asked so far who doesn't like the new Fords.  Seeing as he is the first one I have asked, that isn't a very good track record!  Time will tell...



Littleton MA, 1/10/13 - © Jonelle DeFelice



Brand New 2011 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptors For Sale WINCHESTER MA

Seeing as Bonnell Ford in Winchester MA sold me Vic way back in 2000, and it is Thanksgiving, I am giving them a bit of a plug here.

As of today, they have 7 brand new 2011 Crown Victoria Police Interceptors in stock, for sale only to  government agencies.  If you would like more information on these vehicles, please contact Allan Eydan at (781) 729-9700... and tell him Jonelle sent you!