1998 Mercury Mountaineer: check engine light

Filed May 6, 2007 · Electrical · 89,560 miles · MI

Being the space is limited, I have the same problem with my car as follows: my check engine light has been coming on. I have had various shops use their computer to find out why the light was on and have paid for cleaning valves, sensors, and hoses as well as having new sensors installed. The first instance occurred at 90,000 mileage on my vehicle. Today, the shop where I now take my vehicle for servicing used their computer to see why the check engine light was on yet again and it generated a tsb from ford, article 04-7-5 which supersedes article tsb 03-25-1. This article states the issue as "some 1998 explorer/mountaineer vehicles equipped with the 5.0l engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code(s) p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold-bank 1) and/or p0430 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold - bank 2). The action listed for correction of this problem is stated as "to service, reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) to the latest calibration using wds release b28.3 or higher. Replacement of catalyst's is no longer necessary to address the most common causes of this condition." this sounds like a problem ford installed on these 1998 mountaineers and I believe ford should bear the cost of reprogramming the computer in the vehicle for the vehicle to function properly and safely. The worker at the shop took the time to explain to me what this article meant and the possible ramifications to the functioning of my vehicle because of the problem caused by ford not having the correct computer program running in the vehicle. My mechanic is telling me that this vehicle has 3 catalytic converters and will cost about $3000 for the parts alone. Because of this problem my vehicle will not pass emissions or inspection. I went 1 year with this problem and now it is back again.

Filed Aug 3, 2006 · Electrical, Locks · 63,000 miles · OH

I bought my vehicle about 3 years ago. It had 60,000 on the odometer. The back windshield wiper never worked, and does once in a while and the radio light never stays on. Once in a while it will show the station or the time. My drivers side door handle has always been loose. My engine light came on a year after I got it and it will not go off. It say egr flow insufficient and yet I have replaced all of those and had the computer reset. The passenger side door does not lock unless I lock it by hand and then you can't open it. The back seats sometimes lock and other times won't. My seat was recalled and I took it, and now it is broken. These cars are not made very well and I think we should get letters on the recalls. I haven't received but one letter and I took it immediately, but I see there have been other recalls and I wasn't notified. What should I do now?

Filed Jul 12, 2006 · Engine · PA

My check engine light has been coming on. I have had various shops use their computer to find out why the light was on and have paid for cleaning valves, sensors, and hoses as well as having new sensors installed. The first instance occurred at 90,000 mileage on my vehicle. Today, the shop where I now take my vehicle for servicing used their computer to see why the check engine light was on yet again and it generated a tsb from ford, article 04-7-5 which supersedes article tsb 03-25-1. This article states the issue as "some 1998 explorer/mountaineer vehicles equipped with the 5.0l engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code(s) p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold-bank 1) and/or p0430 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold - bank 2). The action listed for correction of this problem is stated as "to service, reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) to the latest calibration using wds release b28.3 or higher. Replacement of catalyst's is no longer necessary to address the most common causes of this condition." this sounds like a problem ford installed on these 1998 mountaineers and I believe ford should bear the cost of reprogramming the computer in the vehicle for the vehicle to function properly and safely. The worker at the shop took the time to explain to me what this article meant and the possible ramifications to the functioning of my vehicle because of the problem caused by ford not having the correct computer program running in the vehicle. My mechanic is telling me that this vehicle has 3 catalytic converters and will cost about $3000 for the parts alone. Because of this problem my vehicle will not pass emissions or inspection. I went 1 year with this problem and now it is back again.

Filed Nov 9, 2005 · Engine · 65,475 miles · NJ

My check engine light has been coming on. I have had various shops use their computer to find out why the light was on and have paid for cleaning valves, sensors, and hoses as well as having new sensors installed. The first instance occurred at 65, 475 mileage on my vehicle. Today, the shop where I now take my vehicle for servicing used their computer to see why the check engine light was on yet again and it generated a tsb from ford, article 04-7-5 which supersedes article tsb 03-25-1. This article states the issue as "some 1998 explorer/mountaineer vehicles equipped with the 5.0l engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code(s) p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold-bank 1) and/or p0430 (catalyst system efficiency below threshol - bank 2). The action listed for correction of this problem is stated as "to service, reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) to the latest calibration using wds release b28.3 or higher. Replacement of catalystst is no longer necessary to address the most common causes of this condition." this sounds like a problem ford installed on these 1998 mountaineers and I believe ford should bear the cost of reprogramming the computer in the vehicle for the vehicle to function properly and safely. The worker at the shop took the time to explain to me what this article meant and the possible ramifications to the functioning of my vehicle because of the problem caused by ford not having the correct computer program running in the vehicle.

Filed Sep 21, 2004 · Visibility · IL

The consumer was concerned that every year she has to replace the heat sensor. Last year she had to replace it before the vehicle could pass emissions because the check engine light came on. This year the same thing happened. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the problem was the heat sensor. *ak the consumer stated that she replaced the original tires due to the recall on the tires (defect number : 01x001000). The inside of the tread came apart. *tc

Filed Mar 9, 2004 · 68,000 miles · WI

The check engine light on my 1998 mercury mountaineer has come on 10 times in the last 2 1/2 years. All times, except one, were due to the catalytic converter. The converter has been replaced, yet the problem continues. I've contacted mercury every time, & get no satisfaction. The last time I was told "parts wear out...deal with it." my dispute isn't that something is wrong, it's wanting to know why it can't be fixed. No one can give me an answer.

Filed Jun 27, 2003 · Engine, Transmission · 33,568 miles · OH

1998 mercury mountaineer transmission repairs. *mr there was no third gear and the transmission had to be replaced. Engine light stayed on and the egr sensor had to be replaced. *tt