MM Warranty Work - Need Help

[grzellmer]

All

Need some info on a problem some MM owners have reported but I'll get to that in a moment.

Dropped the MM off at the dealership last Friday. Scheduled the following for fixes

1) Driver seat cracked
2) Power Steering noise (And burned fluid) (TSB found - New parts ordered)
3) Aim Headlights (Replaced last year - installed but didn't aim them)
4) Lifter Tap (TSB found - new parts ordered)
5) Blue smoke at start up.

The dealership has a good handle on 1 through 4, but number 5 has them a bit stumped. Also, I changed the oil roughly 3 weeks ago but now the level is down and they indicate that their mechanic has smelled gas in the oil. The cats also get very hot.

The dealership is doing all they can but as many of us have heard "We don't get that many Marauders". Do any of you know of a ford/LM wrench at another dealership that would be willing to help my LM dealership troubleshoot the problem? I know that they should be able fix it themselves. but I want my car fixed and am not above stacking the deck to help ensure it is fixed correctly.

Thanks in advance for help/comments

Gary

[CRUZTAKER]

The dealership has a good handle on 1 through 4........Gary
They do? Number 4.:bs:

What exactly are they doing for number four? And please, PM me with their phone number.

I am not goofing on you Gary. As far as the Blue Smoke, others will advise you. There are several threads regarding blue smoke on startup HERE (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/search.php?searchid=292486)

I'm serious about the PM though. Most dealers have declined to do any work on this, including mine, suggesting that there has not been a positive fix documented. I want to speak to your service manager.

[chicago_cop]

Need some info on a problem some MM owners have reported but I'll get to that in a moment.

Dropped the MM off at the dealership last Friday. Scheduled the following for fixes

1) Driver seat cracked
2) Power Steering noise (And burned fluid) (TSR found - New parts ordered)
3) Aim Headlights (Replaced last year - installed but didn't aim them)
4) Lifter Tap (TSR found - new parts ordered)
5) Blue smoke at start up.

The dealership has a good handle on 1 through 4, but number 5 has them a bit stumped. Also, I changed the oil roughly 3 weeks ago but now the level is down and they indicate that their mechanic has smelled gas in the oil. The cats also get very hot.

The dealership is doing all they can but as many of us have heard "We don't get that many Marauders". Do any of you know of a ford/LM wrench at another dealership that would be willing to help my LM dealership troubleshoot the problem? I know that they shoot be able fix it themselves. I just want my car fixed and not above stacking the deck to help ensure it is fixed correctly.

Thanks in advance for help/comments

My 03 had blue smoke out the back only one time, and has never done it since 10K miles ago. It went away by it self??????????

[Murader03]

The blue smoke on start up has been around since day one on the DOHC in the 1st '96 Cobra and anything else it's been installed in since. It is not a new problem, it's just hasn't been a killer of engines. I must admit that since my engine was replaced last April I haven't seen it with this one. But, it happened several times with the original engine. The original engine had about 56K when it was replaced, this one has about 15K now. I never saw any abnormal oil usage either with the '96, '99 Cobra or with my current MM.

As for the cats getting hot, that's their job, to heat up and burn off the poluntaints (sp?).

[Marauderman]

Both Sarge and Zack have spoke here recently that the Blue Smoke thingy is nothing more than "not getting on it" enough while out driving it around...basically, the more you have fun the less blue smoke build-up upon start up--and you know what--they are right--I tried their unscientific experiement and they're right--the normal driving around town vs the punching it whenever you can within limits--does eliminate that problem --just as they said---well...thats my :twocents: .........Tom

[Mike Poore]

:bagpiper:
The times it's happened to my Dec. '03 build '04 was when it had been started, and run a few minutes, then shut down, and re-started in a few minutes. There's a puff of smoke from the right side, but only under those conditions. In your case, smoke every time, and fuel smell, along with oil loss, is not a trivial condition INMHO. Cracked piston perhaps, but valve seat seems more likely, since the cats are getting unusually hot. Sounds as if you have a willing and friendly dealer/service mgr. and hopefully they can sort it out. You don't mention mods (wise) but if there are any, get everything back to stock (chip/reflash?) before a factory guy gets a crack at it, which is the case if there's a possibility of engine replacement.:twocents:

[SergntMac]

Both Sarge and Zack have spoke here recently that the Blue Smoke thingy is nothing more than "not getting on it" enough while out driving it around...basically, the more you have fun the less blue smoke build-up upon start up--and you know what--they are right--I tried their unscientific experiement and they're right--the normal driving around town vs the punching it whenever you can within limits--does eliminate that problem --just as they said---well...thats my :twocents: .........Tom
Thanks, Tom.

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php/photo/6163/password/d746d272dfed711f349d5453ed3b71 f7/sort/1/cat/500/page/5

This is a not so great pic of a piston from my MM. It has three rings, the two upper rings are for compression and the third lower ring is a two piece sectional "oil" barrier ring that keep what's in the crankcase in the crankcase. Above the pistion (no pic) are valve guide seals that also keep oil out of the combustion chamber.

These two components need friction to function properly, its what makes them work, and they function better when exercised. Both have to "seat" over time, and will not properly seat and seal if the engine doesn't get regular exercise. The bottom ring also serves to keep gasoline out of your oil, so, if it's dripping down, eventually, the gas can eat away at cylinder walls, leading to more leak down.

IMHO, it's not a permanent condition, but we treat it that way once blue smoke is detected. We seem to back away from the exercise, and it just seems to slowly get worse. You can stem the tide, maybe even cure the smoke, with more exercise.

I'll be picking up my MM today or tomorrow and I'll be spending the first 500 miles getting everything to settle in just right. Randy's break-in advice is "do anything you want, drive it as hard as you wish, just don't cruise for long periods at a steady RPM, the rings have to seat." I'm taking his advice, can't wait for my first on-ramp.

[CRUZTAKER]

Thanks for the mail Gary!

They are gonna help me out.

How weird would it be if I had to drive half way across this great country of ours just to find a dealership willing to fix my car. :shake:

[grzellmer]

Thanks for the mail Gary!

They are gonna help me out.

How weird would it be if I had to drive half way across this great country of ours just to find a dealership willing to fix my car. :shake:


Cruz

You need to update the group on what the dealership said. You and I aren't the only ones with the tapping from the valve covers.

So, What did they say?

[CRUZTAKER]

S/M was in meetings. I am waiting for a return call. In the meanwhile, another fellow is looking up some of the info for me.

I will indeed post what I learn.

[Marauder2005]

About the cracked leather seat? What did they do? Replace the seat?

[Krytin]

Randy's break-in advice is "do anything you want, drive it as hard as you wish, just don't cruise for long periods at a steady RPM, the rings have to seat." I'm taking his advice, can't wait for my first on-ramp.

This was the advice I got 28 years ago when I rebuilt my first engine - and it has proven true time and again over the years (and engines)! Mac is right-on about getting the rings to seat - the material they make 'em out of is tougher than when engines ran on leaded gas - you really have to "exercise" the engine during break-in to get everything to seat/seal right!

[grzellmer]

Seat cover is being replaced. (Don't ask me how they accomplish this.)

On seating the rings. If "Vigorous" driving is required then why don't they mention this in the @#$@& owners manual. I also have a problem with Ford telling me that its "normal" for my $30K+ car to lay down a big blue cloud of smoke when started. My 11 year old Suburban with 110K miles puts out less blue smoke. At some point the "haven't been driving the car hard enough" argument sounds like we're just making excuses for Fords mistake.

Not flaming anyone or their comments, just making a few points. :)

Gary

[Fourth Horseman]

At some point the "haven't been driving the car hard enough" argument sounds like we're just making excuses for Fords mistake.

Not flaming anyone or their comments, just making a few points. :)

Gary

I agree, Gary. I'm not sure I buy that either. I occasionally romp on my car, but I've only ever hat it WOT twice since I bought it (June 2002) and I don't have any blue smoke at startup. Though I have had just about every other common Marauder problem you care to name, and several other problems as well.

I can't say for certain on the blue smoke at startup issue, maybe I've just been lucky or maybe I drive the car just hard enough just often enough, but this 'solution' really sounds strange to me.

[SergntMac]

On seating the rings. If "Vigorous" driving is required then why don't they mention this in the @#$@& owners manual. I also have a problem with Ford telling me that its "normal" for my $30K+ car to lay down a big blue cloud of smoke when started. My 11 year old Suburban with 110K miles puts out less blue smoke. At some point the "haven't been driving the car hard enough" argument sounds like we're just making excuses for Fords mistake. Gary
"Vigorous" is your drama, not mine. Check page 6 of your owner's manual for instruction on "the break in period."

The MM was designed to be used as a normal automobile. Short term infrequent use is actually harder on any automobile, than a daily drive on the highway for 10 miles or more. Once you start 'em up, make 'em sweat a bit, things last longer from regular exercise. Rings, seal, gaskets, all of it. Make it flex, breath, elasticity depends on it. When things don't get used, they get dry, brittle, leak and the first time you DO kick it in the azz, the brittle breaks. I know that if I haven't had time to drive mine in a few days, I need to exercise it a bit before I put it away.

This is not a wisecrack towards anyone here, but I know for a fact that some owners here are much too protective of their MM, and that will take it's toll over time. To be honest about it, if I was looking to a good deal on a used MM, and my choice was between a 300A with 5K and one with 50K, I'd be more interested in the mature MM.

[MENINBLK]

S/M was in meetings. I am waiting for a return call. In the meanwhile, another fellow is looking up some of the info for me.

I will indeed post what I learn.

Any news yet ???

[CRUZTAKER]

Dropped the MM off at the dealership last Friday. Scheduled the following for fixes

1) Driver seat cracked
2) Power Steering noise (And burned fluid) (TSB found - New parts ordered)
3) Aim Headlights (Replaced last year - installed but didn't aim them)
4) Lifter Tap (TSB found - new parts ordered)
5) Blue smoke at start up.

GaryOK. Item #4, here's the deal.

According to the servicing dealership, Gary is experiencing cold start only issues and hearing what sounds like 'lifter tap' which is essentially the expansion and contraction of the catalytic converter heat shields. There is a TSB, #04-2-1, regarding this issue and his cats will be replaced.

Poor choice of words on 'lifter tap', this in fact has nothing to do with our all too common 'valve guide tap' and left side head replacement. Sorry, got mine, and your hopes up.

We are still at ground zero on the tapping, no fix...just a blow off.:mad:

[grzellmer]

OK. Item #4, here's the deal.

According to the servicing dealership, Gary is experiencing cold start only issues and hearing what sounds like 'lifter tap' which is essentially the expansion and contraction of the catalytic converter heat shields. There is a TSB, #04-2-1, regarding this issue and his cats will be replaced.

Poor choice of words on 'lifter tap', this in fact has nothing to do with our all too common 'valve guide tap' and left side head replacement. Sorry, got mine, and your hopes up.

We are still at ground zero on the tapping, no fix...just a blow off.:mad:

Cruz

I hoped they were fixing the problem as well. I was out of town for the last couple days. Picked up the car last night. Same tap still present. Dealership assumed my problem was during cold startups. Its not. Plan to return to discuss it with them on Monday. (Seat cover fix problem as well. Power seat doesn't move after new cover installed.)

Gary