150,461 MILE UPDATE: Oily, Tired, and Tense...

Vic 3.0 has been getting some attention lately.  First new shocks/struts, then a new fan belt, then a new fan belt tensioner, and then today a nice (overdue) Mobil 1 oil change and a set of brand spankin' new Goodyear RS-A tires.  

The belt tensioner wasn't planned.  When we installed the new belt, we noticed that it took more effort than usual to move the tensioner to get the belt on/off.  On the belt went, and out into the ether emanated a horrible screech when I started the car.  I assumed the belt just needed to seat itself into position.

Wellp, the next day the sound was SO bad, not just when the car started, but every time I had to use the throttle from a stop.  I dropped by Upholstery Guy's shop and he suggested I get a can of belt dressing.  I took his advice, and it seemed to help.  By the end of the day, the sound was gone.  BUT every time the car started up cold, that screech was there, scaring birds and neighbors.

On to Rock Auto I went, and ordered a Motorcraft belt tensioner.  I planned on installing it myself as all I needed to do was remove one bolt, but Taxi Guy did it for me before I knew what had happened!  (150,327 miles)  Now, everything is nice and quiet.  I almost think I can hear a difference as well.  

As for the tires, I waited and searched and scored a set for a decent price.  RS-A's don't have a high treadwear rating (it's about performance, not longevity) but even so, they made me realize the old set NEEDED to be replaced.  They were all over 10 years old so had some age-cracking, and had worn enough to be good for dry weather speed, but NOT safe for rain.

Now, the last time I put this much money into a car, it ended up being totaled by my mother.  I sure hope nothing happens to this one, too!!  

Vic 3.0's Twin Back In Town

Now that "The Taurus" has left Mystery Mechanic's fleet, having moved on to a new life with a new owner, Vic 3.0's twin is back in town.  

We went out to where it has been stored, uncovered it, hooked up the battery and after two years it fired up first try!  (It is an Interstate Power Fast Series, for those who are curious)  All the tires had 25psi in them so my job was to pump them back up while MM worked on swapping a new wheel/tire onto his Little Red Trailer.  

Vic 3.0b has 139,294 miles and 278 idle hours.  Unfortunately, it also has a little transmission issue that we have to troubleshoot.  A good transmission was swapped into it already, but it still has issues.  Personally, I think we need to look into the torque converter but it could be some other things as well.  It is a good solid car so MM wants to get it all happy again.

OF NOTE, I found a gas receipt inside dated 11/3/19, just before we put it into storage.  The price of regular was $2.28/gallon............................ today, I paid $4.89 at a CHEAP station... average in Massachusetts is about $5.05.

The twins are together again!

149,619 Mile Update: SHOCKING! ... again... really...

Vic 3.0 had new OEM shocks/struts installed by Taxi Guy... without a lift, thanks to two of his being down and a third having a car already on it.  BUT it was done and I no longer need to think about a front coil spring taking out a fender!  Amazingly, there isn't a "night & day" difference, but things like bridge expansion joints are way nicer to drive over.  I'll have a better idea of the difference once the less-than-perfectly-balanced snow tires are off, which should be done today, and new tires are installed (hopefully later this week if Taxi Guy's lifts are repaired). 

So assuming the shocks that got replaced were original, they lasted 149,619 miles and about 14 years.  The ones on 2.0 leaked but these never did.  Then again, 3.0's and Mom's '11 had a front coil spring break, but 2.0 never had than happen despite being driven aggressively for years. 

HOW TO Program Tire Pressure Sensors on a Crown Victoria

NOTE:  I just realized I had one big error in these instructions.  If you tried them before with no luck, try it again!

Vic 3.0 is the first car I've owned with TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system).  But I've watched Mystery Mechanic deal with them on his cars for years.  To be honest, I think it is a pain in the backside.  They don't go off until the tire is so low I can tell it is just by the way the car drives.  Newer cars can actually tell you the current PSI per tire, which is nice, but just like some people who use their own blood pressure cuffs, they can make you paranoid and a slave to the PSI display!

Anyhoo, things were a mess at the Homestead this past month, resulting in my scrambling to get snow tires onto Vic before the first snow storm in Massachusetts.  MM has one Ford tire programmer that works on all our Fords (so far) and I finally borrowed it yesterday.  He told me the proper procedure for programming my snow tire rims to the car.  I will now attempt to remember the steps:

1) Put key in ignition

2) Push down/tap brake pedal ONCE

3) Turn key to the ON position (so that dash lights go on but the car doesn't start) 3 times fast, return to ON position when done

4) Push down/tap brake pedal ONCE 

5) Turn key to the ON position (so that dash lights go on but the car doesn't start) 3 times fast, KEEP KEY TURNED so that dash lights stay on but car doesn't start.  Horn should beep once.  That means the car is ready to read the programmer.

6) Go to the FRONT LEFT (driver side) WHEEL

7) Hold down the button on the sensor programmer and hold it 180º from the valve stems (aka:  directly opposite).  The horn will beep when that sensor has been programmed.  Then go CLOCKWISE around the car, doing the same to each wheel.  

8) When you are done, turn the ignition off and remove the key.

The TPMS sensors on Crown Vic rims are strapped on opposite of the valve stem, NOT like newer cars that have them integrated into the valve stems themselves.

ALSO, at least on a 2008, it takes a while for the TPMS to let you know if your wheels are not programmed.  MM has a newer vehicle with a set of snow tires on rims with faulty sensors, and it takes exactly the same distance for him to get a TPMS light on the dash as it did on Vic.  

HOW TO Replace Crown Victoria Hood Struts

Last winter, I made a mental note that Vic 3.0 needed its hood struts replaced, as the hood wouldn't stay open, especially on really cold days.  Well, that mental note was forgotten until a year later when temps again started to go down.  I finally ordered new struts from Rock Auto and installed them in December, just before my entire family got COVID... (not a fun experience...)

If you have never replaced these struts on a Crown Vic, it is really pretty simple.  You will need something like a thin flat screwdriver (some sort of hook tool would be even better) and maybe a hammer.  

The struts attach to posts on the car via a type of spring-clip.  To remove the old struts, put the screwdriver (or hook tool) under the metal clip.  Pop it off the top and bottom posts.  To be safe, you may want to place something like a wood board against the hood to prop it open.  Do NOT use your head... 

You can now pry the old strut off the mounting posts.  Take the new strut and LOOSEN the spring clips.  DO NOT REMOVE THEM!  I accidentally popped one off and it took extra tools and anger to get the thing back on.  All you should do is LOOSEN them so that you can push the strut onto the proper post.

Make sure the strut is firmly pushed onto the posts, then push those clips down against the strut.  In other words, re-seat the clips.  The strut should now be firmly attached to the car, and your hood will no longer slam down onto your noggen.

I noticed that the original struts were made by the same people who made the replacements, Stabilus.  I like to use OEM parts when I can afford them, so I was happy about it.

The correct Stabilus part number is (T)SG404024.

Reattaching a Power Door Lock Actuator in Mom's 2011 Ford Crown Victoria

A while ago, my mother asked me what a certain noise was in her 2011 Crown Vic.  She also said the passenger door lock wasn't working.  It didn't take long for me to figure out the big rivet that holds the power door lock actuator to the door itself had broken off.  When that rivet breaks, the power lock won't function correctly as it needs to be firmly attached to the door to work.  This happened years ago to Vic 1.0, and my old mechanic used a nut & bolt to fix it.  

I decided I wanted to do the job right, so I sourced the correct rivets, and FINALLY forced myself to do the job recently on a hot summer day, borrowing a capable riveter and a few tools from Bob at Belmont Seat Cover.  

If you need to do this repair, some of the tools you'll need are a T25 torx, a 7mm socket, panel remover tool, patience.  The rivets I went with are Auto Body Master part number PM49930, purchased at Checkered Flag in Ayer MA.  There are others out there that will work, but I didn't need 100 of them!  Make sure they have a dome-like appearance like the originals.  

I didn't take photos when I started the project as I was just plain too distracted.  But taking the door panel off is a bit easier with this panel than the 1998 style ones, other than needing something other than a Phillips screw driver.  The most important thing to remember is, if someone hasn't already, DO NOT break the plastic tab off the switch panel!    This is very easy to do if you don't know about the problem.  Once you break it, the panel will never sit snug again without "persuasion".  And unless you have a black interior, finding a replacement will no longer be a simple task.  

Below are some "maps" to help you with this job.  Again, I didn't think to take pics until it was too late, but something's better than nothing!

Once you remove all hardware, simply lift the door panel up and off the door itself.  Feel around and you will find the lock actuator is just sort of hanging, thus banging around in the door, driving you nuts, and also making it so your power lock won't function correctly.  You will see the cad-plated bracket with a hole in it, perhaps even the remnant of broken rivet like in Mom's door.  You can clearly see the hole in the bracket, and how it should line up with the hole in the door.  I used some sticky black goo to help hold the two together while we prepped the riveter.  Then, POP went the rivet and the repair was all done!

Next, I taped up the black shield thingy and slipped the door panel back on... forgetting to line the lock knob up properly with the hole in the panel like I do every single time!!  Plug the switch panel back in, carefully pop it back on, and you're good to go.  

Winter Embarrassment...

In the almost 3 decades I have been driving, I have been driving full size rear wheel drive V8 sedans.  I know how to drive them in winter.  I have been stuck in snow less than a handful of times.

AND SO it is with some embarrassment that I type up this post!

The other day, it was in the upper 40s and sunny here in Massachusetts.  That meant snow was melting BUT still hiding ICE underneath.  I pulled into a dirt lot to take a photo of an unusual locomotive.  It never came (assumed it stopped down the tracks to work) and what ended up happening?  I decided to leave... 

Now, even though Vic 1.0 has been gone for a while, I STILL can't get used to the larger turning radius of Vic 3.0 (due to the wider track).  I misjudged a 3-point turn and the front wheels pushed into a berm of snow just before the side of the road.  I had to stop to make sure no cars were coming.  And that was what did me in.  Normally it would be no big deal, BUT Vic had enough time to sink through the watery snow and onto the ice hiding under it!

It took:

• about a half hour of time
• a bunch of sand
• a cheap emergency shovel
• an old pair of plastic get-me-unstuck mats (one of which disintegrated)
• much embarrassment 

... to get the car free.  I couldn't even rock the thing, as the snow tires simply had nothing to rock against!  Sand did NOTHING.  A slight push would have helped but I was alone and few cars drove by.  

OH, and while I was stuck there... the locomotive stopped RIGHT next to me.  I took a break and nonchalantly took my photos. 

In the end, basically, once I saw that the rear tires were burning through the ice, I knew EVENTUALLY I'd hit dirt and that would help.  FINALLY I was able to get free in reverse (unusual, especially with directional snow tires).  I stood there, looking at the aftermath, thankful the road in front of me is lightly traveled, and hoping the train crew didn't notice I was stuck.

Chalk it up to "experience".  Also chalk it up to "ice is NOT snow"!

At least I got a photo... not the best BUT I got it...

138,999 Mile Update: Get Your Snow Blowers Runnin'...

Long time, no update!  Some quick little things to share... 

138,999 - 2/3/21

10/17/20 - Vic visits the Welch's corporate office in Concord MA... those are indeed Concord Grape vines!

11/23/20 - Changed license plate bulbs

1/6/21 - Just what to do after getting the car washed... park in a muddy parking lot... snows are on...

RWD + Snow Tires = gets to park closer to the store entrance

136,735 Mile Update: Start Me Up!

Long time, no update! Vic has been putting along just fine... until yesterday.

I had noticed it sounded a little funny the last time I had started it up. The "funny" seemed familiar. I filed it away in my brain for future reference, and it came in handy not long after... like yesterday morning when I was about to go out and run some errands. Not to mention my mother wanting to also get out of the driveway.

I turned the key, and CLICK. Wouldn't start. Wouldn't crank.

Tried it a second time, DITTO.

All the dash lights went on like normal, and I could hear the fuel pump go on, so when it did start on the third try, I knew it was most likely the starter going bad.

A phone call later, I was on the way to Taxi Guy for repairs. I lucked out and got the job done along with an overdue oil change before the evening rush hour!

Thing is, I swore I had already had the starter done in 3.0. But Taxi Guy said it looked original, so it must have been 2.0. I believe that makes one for each Vic. And given the wide variety of miles on each car, they must wear out with age.

Why share a photo of Vic 3.0 next to some boring office building?  Well, that building is the headquarters of Welch's, as in Concord Grape jam and juice, and those green things behind Vic are actual grape vines growing from cuttings of the original vine!  I knew I was probably on camera so I didn't pick any of the grapes, but I did pick one up off the ground and it smelled just like their juice.

Vic 3.0 Gets Social!

6/15/20:  Vic meets O.J. ... I mean Vic meets a Ford Bronco...

7/30/20:  Vic meets some white and green speck of something that thinks it's smart...

8/10/20:  Vic parks next to a Fiat...

132,509 Mile Update: It Will Now Snow...

Yesterday, Mystery Mechanic and I noticed Vic 3.0 was riding pretty badly on the highways and byways of Massachusetts.  We've been keeping an eye on one snow tire that he picked up at a junk yard (not something I myself trust).  The tire must have sat for a long time in one position, possibly low on air, because one patch of tread has a roundy-softy-wornish-rotted look.  It made it feel like an out of balance tire, probably bouncing off the pavement ever so slightly over and over.  After yesterday's trip, we said "BAH!  Might as well put the RS-A's back on".  It's March and we have had pretty much NO snow in the Boston area all season.

Which means we will get whacked with a major Nor-easta' next week.

Once all the snows were off, we also noticed another one for the junk-pile... that one has cracks on the rear sidewall that look scary.  So next season I will have to do some shopping!

On the 9th, Vic finally got it's oil change, after 9 months and about 3,500 miles.  The mechanic pointed out that there were traces of "animal activity" under the hood.  Sure enough, while we had the air compressor going today, I took a peek myself and there were piles of nuts and birdseed on the intake manifold.  It took a while to blow it all out. 

The exhaust leak is still there but hasn't changed much.  Still need to source that issue out.

Doesn't look like much, but this patch was enough to make the car ride badly.

Vic 3.0 Chats With a Relative

I was walking back to Vic 3.0 from a Dunkin' Donuts and what did I see parked rather obviously next to me?  Oh, notice who had the snow tires on and who didn't!

Vic 2.0 Lives!!!

IT LIVES!!!!

I dropped by Taxi Guy's shop this morning and what did I see?  Vic 2.0 with a new nose!  Yes, Vic 2.0 lives!!!!

129,000 Mile Update... AAAW NUTS!!!

Two days ago, I was out and about doing errands, and noticed something about Vic 3.0 didn't look right.  Upon closer examination, I found some roasted peanuts inside the passenger side marker light!  Either a chipmunk or possibly a mouse must have found the hole left by the PD when they took out the strobe units, and started hoarding their nuts in there. 

One drawback to feeding the local wildlife...

When I got home, I took out both units, removed the nuts, and taped up the holes.  After cleaning off the rubber gaskets and waxing the paint they press onto, I reinstalled them and hopefully that will be the first and last time it happens.  Vic 2.0 drove around for years with the same holes and never got used as a "larder". 

While I was under the hood, I sprayed WD-40 into some holes I found in an effort to rust-proof the front fenders.  Will it work?  I doubt it, but it made me feel like maybe I can stave off fender rust for at least one day.