VIDEO: The Last Crown Vic

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.

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…

Mass State Police... Lives Matter!

From the Mass State Police Facebook page:

Police Lives Matter

Yesterday morning, Trooper Robert McCarthy found this inscribed on his cruiser, parked in his driveway. He doesn't know who did it, but when asked if he would begin an investigation to find out, he stated they will get a "pass on this one."

The Massachusetts State Police would like to thank all of our supporters, and continue to express that ALL lives matter.

US closes Ford steering probe without recall | Fox News

US closes Ford steering probe without recall | Fox News


DETROIT –  U.S. safety regulators have
closed an investigation into steering problems in more than 500,000 Ford
full-size cars without seeking a recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began
investigating problems in the 2004 through 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and
Mercury Grand Marquis and Marauder cars in July. The agency was looking
into complaints that a heat shield could rust, dislodge and cause the
steering shaft to jam.


Investigators reviewed 18 complaints about the problem and found that
it occurred infrequently, only in 1.6 vehicles per 100,000. The agency
says one report of a rollover crash on a highway entrance ramp could not
be verified.

The agency also says six of the complaints came from one state police
agency which fixed the problems and hasn't had any further trouble.

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...