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marquis99 · 11-05-2007, 06:54

Okay newb with quick question: I found a 99 Grand Marquis Park Lane with 43,000 on it. Everyting seems to be very clean. Here is the issue. It sat for 2 years in probate from an estate. The oil has now been changed and it has been started up. Everything is working correctly except A. it idles high, even after running for about 10 minutes. B. the check engine light is on.

The car is going for cheap money because the people who inerited it look like they could use some quick cash. It's a one owner car driven by a disabled vet it's entire life. Any thoughts?

BTW, I don't have access to a mechanic any where near the car. I won't be able to read the codes till the next day, assuming I buy it.

Any help will be appreciated - Karl

dryelf327 · 11-05-2007, 09:02

Your question depends on how much they're asking for it. Chances are, there is nothing major with the car. With low mileage like that, that car is practically brand new. People push these 4.6L's well over 200k miles easily. When a vehicle sits for a long time things tend to malfunction like sensors and what not. Chances are one of them or multiple ones are tripping codes, but in terms of the power train, I'd put money that says that vehicle is mechanically sound.

Nathan in MN · 11-05-2007, 11:20

Yeah, chances are the thing is fine, mechanically, as dryelf said. Just check it over as you would any normal used car. Can you get the codes read before you buy it? That would give you an idea of how much it's going to cost to repair.

What's the asking price?

marquis99 · 11-05-2007, 22:20

For better or worse (jury is still out on that one) its mine now. Engine runs as smooth as silk, but idles high. Pulled the top off of the air filter housing and partially blocked the MAF, idle dropped immediately. Don't yet know if that means anything. Will look at vacuum lines etc. and have it on a code reader tomorrow.

Tranny has a slight 4-3 shudder on the highway. Tranny fluid/filter will also be changed tomorrow.

Hopefully this squares me up and I'll be good to go. I'll probably flush the coolant also.

On the plus side: Body is perfect, 1 non smoking owner, 43,971 miles on the clock. Interior barely looks like it has even been sat in. KBB private party value in my neck of the woods ~$5100, my price, under $3000. I figure if I throw a few hundred at it to make it all right, I'm still ahead of the game.

dryelf327 · 11-06-2007, 11:19

The shudder is infamous TC lockup shudder. Make sure you fill the tranny back up with Mercon V. Additionally, just in case you didn't know (you might), but the '99s and certain other model years have a TC drain plug. Don't just do a pan drop and only get 4 quarts out of 14. You'll see the plug at the bottom of the bell housing. Pull the rubber stop, and then have someone manually turn the motor over untill you see the bolt plug in the TC. Un-do that bad boy and let it drain as well. The TC holds quite a lot of fluid. I would clean the MAF sensor as well do see if that aleviates the issue with high idle. Congrats on the new purchase!

Nathan in MN · 11-06-2007, 16:35

Slight thread hijack, but what other years have the TC drain?

dryelf327 · 11-07-2007, 13:18

Honestly, I'm not sure. I believe it was the '02 models when Ford did away with it. I know both my '98 and '99 have one. I would assume, at the least, all 4r70w equipped Panthers have one up to '02. So 96-02 perhaps.

Nathan in MN · 11-08-2007, 08:36

Seems like a good thing to have, though I suppose they did away with it so they could save a nickel per car.

97 Merc · 11-18-2007, 11:06

My old mans 97 Grand Marquis has it