HwyCruiser
02-09-2005, 07:23 PM
I just got my '03 MM back from the service dept to get the camshaft bearing caps re-torqued and to swap in the new powdercoated valve covers. Sorry this is a long one, but I just feel moved to share the details...
First off, I've been suffering from some gawd-awful valvetrain startup chatter since mid-summer. The kind of chatter that made me wince every time I started her cold. Some had posted that it was just an oil pressure issue. Oh, and let's not forget the dreaded ticks. Yes, those have been around ever since I bought her last winter. Fuel injector chatter? Okayyyy, but those some loud fuel injectors.
...and then people started to post that after they re-torqued that caps both problems went away.
A glimmer of hope. I went to my service manager with this, explained what was going on and what others in our Marauder community have done to solve these problems. Guess what? He said no problem, bring her in and we'll fix her up - on warranty!
My head quickly spun to valve covers. BTW, I ask, how much would a set of valve covers run? 'Cause you know, that would be a good time to add some color in the engine bay. We went over to the parts counter, he clicked them up on the computer and told me what the list price was... and then what he could sell them to me for. Wholesale!
Let me say this about my dealership: This is the second car I've bought off their used lot in three years, the salesman is still there and we know each other by first name. The Marauder was the business manager's car, so we know eachother too. I take both the Marauder and my wife's Escape to their service department exclusively. I also have miscellaneous parts shipped there from time to time and they put them on right the first time. Let's just say I've been a "good customer" for them. ;)
Anyway, I order the covers on the spot and went over to the paint shop and asked around who was a good powdercoater in town. After one of the painters made a phone call, he said his guy recommended Custom Coaters in North Kansas City over anybody else local.
So after the covers came in I took them over to Jesse at Custom Coaters, he looked them over and showed me some color charts. After much anguish I settled on a color. He told me what he would have to charge me - wasn't cheap, but after seeing some of his work and checking out the shop I decided to fess up good cash for a good job.
When I got them back I was still in anguish over my color choice, but the deed was done. Here's a pic of the results, sitting on a workbench in my basement waiting for the install appointment:
http://www.crownvic.us/~hwycruiser/marauder/pictures/vc_bench.jpg
I just had to put the coil covers on to see the contrast. It was looking a little better to me. I was still a little leary about how they would look on the engine. Was there enough black to tone them down? Oh well, like I said the deed was done.
So I drop her off, leaving my baby in the hands that have taken such good care before. Today I get the call that the car's ready to pick up. I run over during lunch. The roads are still full of slush after the snowstorm last night. She was sitting inside all night - thank you fellas. I go sign the ticket, $28.81 for an oil change and inspection just because while she was in, pick up my keys and went out to greet her.
I pop the trunk. The original covers are neatly in boxes. I get in, knocking the snow off my shoes, and I turn the key to "On". Cold engine. I tighten up and turn her to "Start". She starts up blissfully quiet. Just the rumble of the exhaust and the purr of the engine coming to life.
I get out to pop the hood. I jump back in awe. The sun is out, in all it's glory, hitting the engine bay that made me squint my eyes. Oh my that's beautiful is my first reaction. I stare some more. Nothing objectionable comes to mind. I put the hood back down and drive her straight home and into the garage. Back to work.
I hurry back home after work to see if I was just rationalizing. Dump the minivan off in the street and straight inside to the garage. I pop the hood again. I like it. I like it a lot. I get in and turn the key. Without wincing I fire her up. No hiding would-be chatter inside the garage. Nothing, just the rumble of the exhaust and the purr of the engine.
Today was a good day. Friday will be even better... its supposed to be clear and in the 40s... a good day to listen for a lack of ticks. But I can tell you that all I hear is injectors working quitely at idle, not the ticks I rationalized as just loud injector noise before. We shall see.
Oh yeah, here's a pic of the covers installed. I know, the least popular choice in the poll excluding dark green, but I had a vision. What do you think?
http://www.crownvic.us/~hwycruiser/marauder/pictures/vc_installed.jpg
I think I'll go open the garage door, start her up and just sit for awhile listening to the rumble of the exhaust and the purr of the engine. Today was a good day.
- JD
First off, I've been suffering from some gawd-awful valvetrain startup chatter since mid-summer. The kind of chatter that made me wince every time I started her cold. Some had posted that it was just an oil pressure issue. Oh, and let's not forget the dreaded ticks. Yes, those have been around ever since I bought her last winter. Fuel injector chatter? Okayyyy, but those some loud fuel injectors.
...and then people started to post that after they re-torqued that caps both problems went away.
A glimmer of hope. I went to my service manager with this, explained what was going on and what others in our Marauder community have done to solve these problems. Guess what? He said no problem, bring her in and we'll fix her up - on warranty!
My head quickly spun to valve covers. BTW, I ask, how much would a set of valve covers run? 'Cause you know, that would be a good time to add some color in the engine bay. We went over to the parts counter, he clicked them up on the computer and told me what the list price was... and then what he could sell them to me for. Wholesale!
Let me say this about my dealership: This is the second car I've bought off their used lot in three years, the salesman is still there and we know each other by first name. The Marauder was the business manager's car, so we know eachother too. I take both the Marauder and my wife's Escape to their service department exclusively. I also have miscellaneous parts shipped there from time to time and they put them on right the first time. Let's just say I've been a "good customer" for them. ;)
Anyway, I order the covers on the spot and went over to the paint shop and asked around who was a good powdercoater in town. After one of the painters made a phone call, he said his guy recommended Custom Coaters in North Kansas City over anybody else local.
So after the covers came in I took them over to Jesse at Custom Coaters, he looked them over and showed me some color charts. After much anguish I settled on a color. He told me what he would have to charge me - wasn't cheap, but after seeing some of his work and checking out the shop I decided to fess up good cash for a good job.
When I got them back I was still in anguish over my color choice, but the deed was done. Here's a pic of the results, sitting on a workbench in my basement waiting for the install appointment:
http://www.crownvic.us/~hwycruiser/marauder/pictures/vc_bench.jpg
I just had to put the coil covers on to see the contrast. It was looking a little better to me. I was still a little leary about how they would look on the engine. Was there enough black to tone them down? Oh well, like I said the deed was done.
So I drop her off, leaving my baby in the hands that have taken such good care before. Today I get the call that the car's ready to pick up. I run over during lunch. The roads are still full of slush after the snowstorm last night. She was sitting inside all night - thank you fellas. I go sign the ticket, $28.81 for an oil change and inspection just because while she was in, pick up my keys and went out to greet her.
I pop the trunk. The original covers are neatly in boxes. I get in, knocking the snow off my shoes, and I turn the key to "On". Cold engine. I tighten up and turn her to "Start". She starts up blissfully quiet. Just the rumble of the exhaust and the purr of the engine coming to life.
I get out to pop the hood. I jump back in awe. The sun is out, in all it's glory, hitting the engine bay that made me squint my eyes. Oh my that's beautiful is my first reaction. I stare some more. Nothing objectionable comes to mind. I put the hood back down and drive her straight home and into the garage. Back to work.
I hurry back home after work to see if I was just rationalizing. Dump the minivan off in the street and straight inside to the garage. I pop the hood again. I like it. I like it a lot. I get in and turn the key. Without wincing I fire her up. No hiding would-be chatter inside the garage. Nothing, just the rumble of the exhaust and the purr of the engine.
Today was a good day. Friday will be even better... its supposed to be clear and in the 40s... a good day to listen for a lack of ticks. But I can tell you that all I hear is injectors working quitely at idle, not the ticks I rationalized as just loud injector noise before. We shall see.
Oh yeah, here's a pic of the covers installed. I know, the least popular choice in the poll excluding dark green, but I had a vision. What do you think?
http://www.crownvic.us/~hwycruiser/marauder/pictures/vc_installed.jpg
I think I'll go open the garage door, start her up and just sit for awhile listening to the rumble of the exhaust and the purr of the engine. Today was a good day.
- JD