During travel on fm 1604 (outer loop road around san antonio, texas), I noticed engine overheating. I pulled over and took steps to delay major seizing of engine. Vehicle was spewing steam - looking like hose cracked or loosened. Taken to firestone facility. Firestone unable to repair due to damage being cracked intake manifold! Vehicle repaired at my expense (approximately $1,000.00). In my opinion, vehicle had insufficient mileage to justify such damage. Unable to obtain repair frequency information from ford motor company (fmc) or any other data, including information concerning possible recall efforts after repeated attempts. Unable to receive any response from fmc. In 2004, found out that firestone had issued repair kit to their facilities for cracked intake manifold repairs for various vehicles, including 1997 mercury grand marquis. Fmc continues to comment or respond to my queries.
1997 Mercury Grand Marquis engine complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 126, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving mil code p0420 set. Ford tsb 03-24-5 indicates PCM reprogramming rather than replacement of catalytic converters required. Despite being within emissions warranty coverage period dealer charged $119 for this work, claiming emissions warranty did not cover this work. Defective programming of PCM to cause the check engine light to come on, requiring a visit to dealer. Can't pass emissions test with light on, should be against the law. In any case the reprogramming of the PCM should have resulted in no charge. This failure resulted in a mandated, due to state emissions testing, visit to dealer and a charge for service to fix a manufacturing defect.*ak the PCM was reprogrammed, according to dealer, and currently light is off. It is very easy to program the PCM to send erroneous codes at any time, especially when out of warranty, allowing the car dealers to create a cash flow they might not otherwise have. This should be illegal!
The air intake manifold; the vehicle started to smoke. The anti-freeze completely drained from the vehicle. Consumer managed to drive the vehicle to the nearest dealer. Found the intake manifold was cracked. Contacted ford manufacturer.
Intake manifold failed spilling coolant and disabling car. This was a plastic part that has been replaced by metal. Dealer says large numbers of these failures. Cost over $1,000 to repair. Possible recall for other model lines using exact same engine ie crown victoria.
1997 mercury grand marquis intake manifold. *bf the consumers vehicle had a plastic intake manifold. After so many miles the pressure made the front end of the manifold crack and leak. The manifold was replaced. The consumer was told that many of the same make and models had the same problem. *tc *jb
The intake manifold failed. Vehicle overheated. Consumer stated that they were some plastic pieces in the engine.
The consumer noticed a leak coming from underneath vehicle. The consumer let the engine cool because he thought it was the radiator. The added water and continued to drive, then the temperature gauge started to rise. The vehicle was towed to a mercury dealer. The dealer informed the consumer that the intake manifold had a crack in it. Please provide any further information. *jb plastic tubing inside metal casing was cracked according to the service manager. Service manager also suggested that the water pump be replaced.
A few months ago we found that our was over heating and found that we are leaking water somewhere in the system. We could not find a leak but had to put water into the radiator ever two days. We took the car to the shop to have the pros find the leak. We were told that their was w crack in the intake manifold and that it was a very common defect in ford & mercury grand marquis. They said that the manifold was made of plastic and they would all crack and brake. Every shop that I went to said the same thing and that they a lot of grand marquis waiting to be repaired. A replacement manifold cost $400.00 plus $250 in labor. We were told that if we continued to drive it, it would blow-up. We are afraid to drive the car and the parts are not available. I saw at least 20 grand marquis waiting for manifolds. I was told that ford design them to brake. That's why their made of plastic. How stupid could they be to make engine parts out of pvc. What can I do? I believe that the cars should be recalled and replace the intake manifolds.
While traveling in canada, I noticed white smoke suddenly appear coming from my exhaust. I was about 200 miles from home at the time. I pulled into a service station and later learned that I had a hole in the intake manifold that caused my engine to immediately overheat. I had since, phoned ford motor and inquired on this problem to see if there is a recall. I had learned of many instances of this same problem on many 1997 mercury grand marquis'. Ford informed me that there are no recalls regarding this.
Vehicle is having a problem with the intake manifold which is made of plastic. It leaks and eventually the vehicle stops running. Owner has been left stranded due to the plastic manifold melting and cracking. Provide further details.
Entering the freeway I noticed white smoke behind the car. I watched the temperature. And nursed the car to exit. I discovered a broken intake manifold, the same defect and problem that ford is fixing for police and taxis. I had to have the new style intake installed with the aluminum water cross over. Now three months later I have a blown head gasket. I think that is also a problem caused when the intake broke, and caused the engine to overheat. Ford has been aware of this problem before 1990, but continued to use defective parts past my model year.
The web site with all the complaints is the following.http://comments.fotki.com/trsi/ I don't feel it's far to consumers to make a defective part which can destroy an engine. Help do something for me and others like me.
To whom it may concern, I have a 97 grand marquis with a cracked manifold, but my engine is destroyed. If you have any information or if I can join this class action lawsuit against ford could you please forward it to me.. I've been pricing rebuilt engines and most run about $3000, I have the dohc engine which is very pricey. Any help in this endeavor would be gladly appreciated..plastic junk! I have visited several websites that have many custmers of ford who had problems with the plastic manifold.. I am surprised by only seeing 15 or so complaints about this. Ford has a recall on this part for other vehicles but not mine although it has the same engine as the other vehicles. I don't have $3000 for a new engine and would like some help with this problem..
The intake manifold melted twice without warning. As a result the vehicle became inoperable. Please provide additional information.
Consumer pulled over to the side of the road and there was fluid all over the engine because the intake manifold, whic was made of plastic, cracked. Consumer contacted lincoln mercury and was told that this was the designed features of the vehicle and there was nothing they could do.
Problems with intake manifold on 1997 mercury grand marquis.*mr the intake manifold cracked which caused antifreeze to be sprayed onto the engine. The consumer observed that the replacement manifold had an additional protective metal plate located around the front face of the manifold directly opposite the alternator. The consumer believes that the addition of the metal shield is proof that the manufacturer was aware of the poorly designed original design therefore he feels they should have been recalled. The consumer request reimbursement for the cost of a new intake manifold.
While driving vehicle overheated and stalled. Vehicle was towed to consumer's house. However, consumer restarted the vehicle, and drove it to the dealership. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they noticed that intake manifold cracked, and need to be repaired. Manufacturer was aware of this problem, but was only paying for the repairs on fleet vehicles. *ak
Plastic intake manifold on my 1997 mercury grand marquee melted on arizona freeway . By the time I could safely pull over, my car had lost it's coolant and caused the engine to be damaged beyond repair, mercury knew if this problem but did not notify me. The result was a new engine at a cost of $4871.45 I feel that the ford motor should have paid for some portion of this repair. I had taken my car in for all the scheduled maintenance at the required intervals and was never made aware of this condition.
Air from air conditioner turned warm; temperature gauge went up to its highest level; pulled off to the side of the road. Got out of car and observed steam as well as leaking antifreeze. Called for tow truck which took car to the nearest auto repair. Technician not available. Car then towed to ford mecury dealership in bakersfield, ca where the problem was diagnosed as a crack in the manifold. Replaced the manifold at a cost of $1600!!!!
Driving down the road , I noticed a coolant smell coming into my 1997 grand marqui. I then pulled over to find coolant steaming from under the hood. Took it to the dealer the next day and they found a cracked plastic intake manifold that is going to cost around $1000 to fix. Since then I have checked the internet site and found this is a common problem in these cars with 4.6 engine. I also found out this problem was being fixed by ford on fleet cars only at no charge. Why is this not being paid by ford when it is obviously a manufactuer defect and why are the fleet vehicles being taken care of for nocharge?
Plastic intake manifold has a crack in it located in the front part fo manifold, behind the alternator.
I own a 97 mercury grand marquis we were losing radiator fluid. Found that our plastic intake manifold was cracked where the alternator hits against it. Ford motors answer is a kit that will run me $621. This should be a recall item, please help.
Driving with my family, on an interstate at 65 MPH, we suffered a catastrophic loss of engine coolant. Thank god, I managed to safely pull over to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed 25 miles to the nearest ford dealer to natural bridge, virginia. I was dumbfounded when I learned that the manifold was made of plastic; it actually blew apart, releasing all the engine coolant at once. Additionally, I learned that not only did ford engineer an inferior major engine component, but they made my family the guinea pig to field test this junk! To add insult to injury, they made me pay for it. My cost included: towing $125, manifold replacement for $800, and an unplanned hotel stay including meals for approximately $225 with a total cost of $1150 which does not include the loss of a days pay. If the ford motor company think they derived an advantage by not paying for this failure, I believe they should think again. Until I have been reimbursed in full I will not own another ford product nor any product in which ford has a business interest. I'm glad I found this web site. I hope it alerts others to the bad business practices that the ford motor company happens to be practicing!
I was driving in heavy stop and go traffic when I started to smell anitfreeze. Within a few seconds, steam start coming from around the hood, obscuring my vision. I was able to maneuver off the road and called a tow truck. Had the vehicle towed to a nearby dealer where it was diagnosed as a crack in the plastic intake manifold. The manifold was replaced with an improved part where the coolant was routed through a metal section of the manifold. Total cost of the repair was $1145.62 plus $80 for the tow.
1997 mercury grand marquis intake manifold failure.
Intake manifold from factory faulty-made of plastic that tends to crack when vehicle gets hot. Mechanic told me that this is a common trait in fords 4.6 liter engines and their customer service dept. Refuses to acknowledge. This problem is going to cost each customer approximately $750.00 to fix.
Cracked intake manifold is leaking antifreeze.
While driving at 50 MPH smoke started coming from under the hood. The plastic intake manifold cracked, and water went all over the engine. Dealership installed an aluminum intake manifold.
1997 mercury grand marquis ls, 81,000 miles; the intake manifold failed unexpectedly with a crack in the plastic coolant crossover. The coolant sprayed all over inside of engine compartment. I understand that ford recalled these type vehicles from fire, police and other service related agencies. I wonder how many crashes this defect has caused? Wonder why ford doesn't consider its other consumers? We have to pay for this in more ways than one; I.e., money, emotional trauma, lost time from work, etc.! Wonder where you find out if there are any class-action lawsuits? Going there now!
The intake manifold is a composite on ford, lincoln, and mercury. It has a defect in manufacture that ford knows about. Ford allowed all police vehicles, taxi cabs and limos repair coverage of this problam but not pleasure vehicles. The manifold leaks on a parting seam from the mold of it, on the front of the manifold, just below where alternator is mounted. Several mechanics have stated the area is too thin and the stress from the mounted alternator causes it to crack. One repair man said he tapped on it and the piece broke because it was so thin. I would like to know why we can't get the repairs done like the police, taxi and limos without cost. There 14 complaints on these cars in 2003 that are on record, 3 in 2002 and 1 in 2001 all on 1997 cars. The repairman said he has been repairing 2001 and 2002 police cars for the same problem free of charge. I have photos showing the leak. I should be reinbursed for the repairs and if necessary a class action suit against ford company. This is a defective part and should be recalled. Ford is aware of this problem and have made a drastic move to correct this problem with aluminum.
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