New 'Rauder questions/problems

[Mark McQuaide]

It's been almost a week now, put a couple hundred miles on her, including a new year's eve trip into Phila for dinner, and I'm addicted to this thing. Merging into US1 traffic on the way to work this morning, what a rush! Had to let off before I broke triple digits...

Anyway, a couple problems I want to run by the board:

1) Wouldn't take fuel this morning. Pump kept kicking off, couldn't get it past 7/8 full. Anyone else experience this?

2) Passenger wiper doesn't make full contact with the windshield towards the end, also doesn't park all the way down. Can anyone recommend replacement blades?

3) Upon starting the motor, something kicks on and makes a loud grinding sound under the hood for several seconds, then kicks off.

4) Leather wrap on the steering wheel not secured in the back side of the spoke.

5) Sub rattle. I checked for the knockout, it's out.

That's all that wrong so far, minor details compared to what is right with this car which is a lot!

[Macon Marauder]

Mark,

1) Fuel - I haven't had this problem.
2) Wiper - Nope
3) Noise - Could it be the compressor for the air suspension in back?
4) Leather - Nope.
5) Sub - I may have a problem here, too. Just haven't spent much time on it yet...

Glad you're enjoying it!

[SergntMac]

Mark...

Fuel gauge...mine is never full, always just about, and drops to 3/4 in under 50 miles, stays there a while, then normal down to low fuel light

Wiper...same here, wipes okay, but look sucks

Noise...Ditto, air compressor

leather..."still checking, please hold"

sub...can't help you here, I listen to the growl, sorry.

[JamesHecker]

I've not experienced a problem fueling. Could the problem have been the gas pump?

Several people have the same problem with the wiper. Do a search on "wiper". Should get you lots of info.

I get some startling noises under the hood myself sometimes. Some at start up, others at shutdown. I've not checked it out.

I've not heard of anyone having a leather wrap issue, but there have been numorous issues of fit and finish annoyances.

The sub woofer is another area that has had a great deal of discussion on the board. I luckily have had no problem with mine.


Although I have had a few minor annoyances with mine and several issues have been noted on this board, the car is great fun to drive and I am thrilled that I have it.

Hope yours gives you years of great driving experience and welcome to the board.

[LincMercLover]

1) Make sure the motor is off while fueling. Also, sometimes a good shake of the hose and trying againg will get ya some more gas.

2) Wiper contact: They're crap wipers, DEAL WITH IT! :p LOL, sorry... But only way to fix that is talk your dealer into a set of heavy duty Motorcraft ones (the part number's around here somewhere) or go get ya some new blades. Bosch Silicone seems to be popular.

3) Yah, that's your air springs pumping up. If you look in your side mirror REALLY carefully, you'll see the ground move! :D

4) Talk to your dealer... I dunno about that one. They maybe able to re-tuck it.

5) Take out the back seat, C-pillar covers, and rear package tray. Install little foam pads around the outboard lip. Reinstall. Or... take to a dealer if you can't bare taking your baby apart. ;)

[Wags]

Fuel level - always just under the full mark when full, when low fuel light comes on, it always just takes ~16 gal. to fill. Steering wheel - I just got mine replaced a few weeks ago. It was coming unwrapped on the righthand spoke. The dealer didn't even try to repair it, they just ordered a new one.

Wags

[RF Overlord]

Mark...

1. No fueling problems...

2. Stock wiper blades suck...NAPA Teflons work MUCH better...

3. It's the air compressor...I leave mine off as we don't carry much weight or tow things...

4. No probs with steering wheel here...

5. Dealer fixed my sub rattle...mostly...

Welcome...and enjoy!

[LincMercLover]

Umm... doesn't it say somewhere to not drive the vehicle with the air off?!?!

[mtnh]

The air system will lose air over the course of hours, so keeping the compressor off for days will result in a gradual lowering of the rear end. That IS a nice compressor, though, sounding much more macho than my 96's with towing package.

Mike

[RF Overlord]

LML:

I don't remember seeing anything telling me it was bad to drive with the air off, but I'll re-read the owner's manual...I DO recall reading about not putting the car on a lift with the air ON...or something...now I'm confused...oh well, if it's the LAST resort, I'll have to read the instructions...thanks, bro

[MassMarauder]

Only have 150mi on mine....but
1. Haven't filled it yet.
2. Ford wipers have always been a disapointment to me.
3. Probably the compressor.
4. Yes. Mine is not secure on the right side. Going back to dealer.
5. sub is rattling.....Knock out hasn't been removed. Might try fixing it myself.

LOVE the car though.

[looking97233]

1.Fuel? Havent had the problem.
2.Wipers? The story I got from my local dealer was: the blades came with a cover on them to protect them. Cover was not supposed to be removed untill the vehicle was purchased. But most of them had the covers removed before they left the factory. The covers have a tempory blade built in to them. The rubber compound of the blades is soft, so sitting around and not being used for a long time will cause the blade to harden and lay to one side thus not wiping the windshield properly and also cause it to be lifted from the wind shield at speed. I got mine replaced under waranty, the new ones work good, and I was shown the covers that should have been left on the origional ones untill I bought the car and how the origional baldes had taken a "set" to one side and no longer were straight. I live in Oregon where there is zero chance of the vipers not being used for long enough to have this happen but, some of you who live in sunny places may still have problems with them. My thoughts: Go to the dealer, squeak until you get greased.
3. Sound like the air suspension compressor.
4.Havent had any proplem with the steering wheel.
5.Have an appt. next week for the dealer to install sound dampining material under the packing shelf under waranty.

[SergntMac]

Jeeze...I guess I should listen to my radio/CD player at least once, before my warranty dries up, yes? But...her growl...

wow...

[jefferson-mo]

OK GUYS HERE GOES.......

1. dont know about that one...haven't had taht problem
2. my wipers are fine(it never rains in SoCal)--while your at the dealer have them replaced
3. air suspenison comp
4. have it replaced at the dealer(we don't fix anything anymore--we just replace)
5. the sub issue...the problem other than the obvious thing about blockages and grounds disconnected---is that the sub can't breathe
if you hold your hand on the package tray the noise goes away but on mine so does the bass. It's almost like the trim is acting like a diapraghm. I had my friends at La Jolla Audio(www.lajollaaudio.com)(un der construction) look at it and he was amazed they would release this from the factory sounding this bad. His idea is to actually make a grille over the sub and make it look as factory as possible. I'll speak with my service manager to see about getting Ford to pay for the reapir/redesign. He also suggested submitting a report to the designers through our QCDealer site.
I intend to do this anyway 'cause I like it loud and that flapping sound is REALLY annoying

I'll take pictures and post as soon as I can


Jefferson

[tvdone]

Had the same fuel problem but then the check fuel cap light came on. Dealer replaced it but then it came on again. Dealer replaced it again. and since then no problems fueling. I recall this was a common complaint earlier in the year.

[joflewbyu2]

replaced the wipers with Trico exact fit 22-4 (approx. $9 each). fit is perfect and wipers have replaceable inserts ($3 for both). radio sounds very good. play with dsp to see which setting you like - rear seats puts sound obviously from rear and most bass, all seats echoes a little while still having bass and front driver has least bass response but best staging. hear the air pump everymorning for a few seconds upon starting the car. no problems found during my 500 miles and 2 weeks.

[Bigdogjim]

Mark: Welcome! For problem # 2 try bosch blades. It made a difference +. # 3 is your air suspension compressor.
Where in Pa. I am about 35 north of phila. I know there are other MM around the pa-nj-ny-de area but I have not spotted any yet.?
Happy motoring!
Big Dog

[Mark McQuaide]

Hey Bigdog,

I'm in New London Twp, which is in far southern Chester County. I haven't spotted one on the road either - I'll post any sightings! I commute up 202 to King of Prussia every day if you're in that neighborhood.

[Bad Boy Merc]

Has anyone had steering problems? Got my baby in July and noticed a constant pull to the right, along with steering wheel vibration, which was noticable at all speeds above 50 MPH. Took it to the dealer a few days later where they spent three days and a few calls to the factory in fixing the pulling problem. They balanced the front wheels but the steering wheel shake is still there. I drove it to Nebraska in August and took it to a dealer back there for the second oil change and to work on the steering wheel shake problem. They rebalanced the front wheels, which improved it but it still shakes. I suspect that the left front tire is out-of-round based upon what the mechanic told me. I haven't driven it this winter do to the constant rain here in Washington but I will be taking it back to the dealer and demanding that they fix the shake problem this time. I wondered if anybody else has experienced this problem and if so what fixed it?
rapid robert

[mercjerc]

Damn that pump is loud. Is this normal or an issue?

[Bigdogjim]

mercjerc: Not sure how loud yours is? You only hear it for a few seconds then after that nothing? If you think it's real loud go to the dealer and check it against another Marauder..

[RF Overlord]

Jason:

My driveway has a slight uphill rise to get onto our street...when my wife is backing out, and turning the wheel, I can hear the pump for a few seconds if I'm standing outside, but I can't hear it from inside the car, doing the same maneuver...

[RCSignals]

rapid robert, Where in WA are you?

[Pantherman]

Robert Washburn, your car should not pull and it should not shake. Have the dealer check radial runout. Don't accept anything more than .040 inch. If it's a bit over, they should be able to fix it by reindexing the tire to the wheel. If it's significantly over, you have a bent wheel or bad tire.

[cruzer]

On the fuel guage problem---I had a problem on an earlier GM--was told to be sure the ignition was off when refueling---been following the procedure ever since and had no problems--they said it had something to do with flowing fuel putting pressure on the sensor ?????