The Worst Thing Happened On Sunday [Archive]

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423REED

01-02-2006, 07:24 AM

I was washing my 2004 Marauder DTR Sunday afternoon, mostly just to get the salt and dirt film off of the body. It looked great after I finished. I live in a condominium building with underground parking. As I was attempting to back my baby back into its space, my wet left foot slipped off of the brake pedal and I slammed the rear end into into the building wall! I immediately checked for damage and the seam between the poured concrete slabs caught my rear bumper at the bottom and at the top edge and scrapped the paint off. I also have a slight rub-off of the paint on about 6" on the leading edge of my rear deck lid spoiler. Luckily for me, there was no other physical damage to the car.
*
I then went to start up my car and all it would do is crank, but it would not start up. I then remembered the fuel pump shutoff switch that is mounted in the trunk of all cars today. It must have shut off the fuel automatically. So, I followed the instructions in the owners manual and re-set it. Then my Marauder started and ran great. But now I have the "check engine light" lite illuminated up on my dash. I'm sure that this is just a result of the no fuel flow situation setting off the OBD-II system. I'm going to take my baby to L-M on tuesday and have the light checked and turned off. My first thought was while I was at L-M, to buy a bottle of ford touch up paint. But then I decided that when I get the extra money, I'm going to take my Marauder into L-M and have the scratches professionally repaired. Their body shop did a really beautiful job on my rear spoiler last August. And I absolutely want my Marauder to look perfect again, like it has been for the last year and a half. Am I the only person who feels this awful about having this type of accident. I mean, thank god that it wasn't really serious, or that someone could have been hurt. But, I just feel awful in the pit of my stomach. I love my Marauder! My wife can't really understand that. She say's that it is just a car. That shows how little she knows about it. I love my Marauder. It'll never be just a car to me!
*
I'm sure some of you guys out there have gone through this before, but I haven't. I'll feel better as time goes by, but I feel like I let my Marauder down by being so stupid as to allow myself to make such a dumb mistake. My Marauder has always been 100% perfect in every way since the day I drove him home. It's never let me down. My little 4-1/2 year old grand daughter Madison nick named it Big Red. She always wants me to take Big Red whenever she goes with grandma and me. It's a member of my family. It's been the best car I've ever owned in 40 years of driving and owning cars! Now it's slightly flawed because of me. Thanks for listening. I just wanted to share my grief with someone who really understands.
JIM - ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL.
______________________________ ___
2004 - MERCURY MARAUDER 300A - DTR
1994 - FORD TAURUS SHO - DK GREEN

Hotrauder

01-02-2006, 07:37 AM

Jim, you hit the important note. NO ONE WAS HURT. Your wallet may be dented a little but your baby will soon be good as new. Your damage level is very very minor and of no lasting consequence. Thankfully. Cut yourself a little slack. A good lesson fairly cheaply learned. We had a lady a while back go rocketing through a bus stop shelter. Bodies everywhere. The other side of the spectrum. Be thankful and optimistic. Dennis:D

ckadiddle

01-02-2006, 07:41 AM

Sorry about your oops. It could have happened to anybody.

Mike Poore

01-02-2006, 08:03 AM

SID210SA

01-02-2006, 08:18 AM

423Reed, I remember when the first dent went into my car...It was the worst feeling ever...My Mother swung open the passenger door when we went out to eat and I heard a THUD!! My jaw dropped and my Mother just sat there and I looked as if someone had just died...the door hit a small boulder and left a very small dent and two chips in the paint...I was horrified and she was so applogetic...I told her it was ok, as it was just a dent but I was devistated so I know exactly how you feel....But the good thing is no one was hurt in your accident and cars can be fixed...

Joe Walsh

01-02-2006, 09:02 AM

But, there's more, and time for a good 'ol rant. :soap:

I'm forever hitting the gas and brake at the same time and blame the poor layout of the gas and brake pedals with the "adjust" setup. TallBoy and I have been PMing about ways to fix it, without success. Either the brake petal needs to be slightly relocated, or, the gas pedal. I think it's gonna be the gas pedal because there's a lot of space to the right of it, and fabricating a spacer of some sort seems to be the easiest solution.

I think the person who fabricates a kit will be able to sell a bunch of 'em and I'll sign up to buy the first one.

In my opinion, this is really a dangerous situation, and frankly scares the daylights out of me.

WE NEED TO DO THIS .....ANYONE?

I agree Mike...I took my Marauder out for a spin the other day and having not driven it for about a month, I immediately noticed the gas pedal's positioning in relation to the brake pedal and transmission tunnel.....
It should be farther to the right. There is lots of room to the right of the gas pedal before you hit the tranny tunnel.
I wear size 12 shoes, so I always drive with my right foot tilted to the right to avoid rubbing it on the underside of the dash panel/steering wheel column.
The Marauder's gas pedal position forces me to drive with my foot straight up.
When I wear sneakers, which all have a really wide sole for stability, I sometimes find myself partially depressing the brake pedal while I'm trying to push down on the gas pedal.
I know.....I'm a clutz....but it IS aggravating.

BTW: Jim, I'm sorry to hear about your mishap. I think if the entire bumper cover is repainted you will be as good as new.

Blackened300a

01-02-2006, 09:07 AM

I can relate about being crazy about this car and any marks on it. This Halloween I spent the night at my GF's house in Long Island, I left her house at 5:30am to head to work, As I get to the Drivers side of my car I see a Giant egg splatter all over the Drivers side front door and the fender :mad2:
I immediately pop the trunk and grab my spray cleaner with a towel, but its too dark to see what Im removing and its smearing all over the car.
I say the hell with it and head to work. I use our shop hose and wash the side of the car off and after I remove all the egg, I see a Egg shaped scratch Etched into the paint on the Drivers side front door and the Metal is showing!
Now Im Beyond pissed and aggravated :mad2:

I ended up taking off from work to head to the body shop up the block to see what they can do.
They wet-sanded and polished the door which took the scratch out 98% and saved me $300 for a re-paint.
Come Spring time Ill end up having to bring the car in to be painted cause It still Bothers me even though you really have to look close to notice it.

Sorry to hear about your Damage, It could have been a lot worse!.
BTW, After I changed the Fuel filter in my car, I just started it up and didnt hold the throttle down for a little bit, It set a low fuel pressure code and the check engine light went on, After a few days, It reset itself and never returned.

Vortex

01-02-2006, 09:09 AM

I was washing my 2004 Marauder DTR Sunday afternoon, mostly just to get the salt and dirt film off of the body. It looked great after I finished. I live in a condominium building with underground parking. As I was attempting to back my baby back into its space, my wet left foot slipped off of the brake pedal and I slammed the rear end into into the building wall! I immediately checked for damage and the seam between the poured concrete slabs caught my rear bumper at the bottom and at the top edge and scrapped the paint off. I also have a slight rub-off of the paint on about 6" on the leading edge of my rear deck lid spoiler. Luckily for me, there was no other physical damage to the car.
*
I then went to start up my car and all it would do is crank, but it would not start up. I then remembered the fuel pump shutoff switch that is mounted in the trunk of all cars today. It must have shut off the fuel automatically. So, I followed the instructions in the owners manual and re-set it. Then my Marauder started and ran great. But now I have the "check engine light" lite illuminated up on my dash. I'm sure that this is just a result of the no fuel flow situation setting off the OBD-II system. I'm going to take my baby to L-M on tuesday and have the light checked and turned off. My first thought was while I was at L-M, to buy a bottle of ford touch up paint. But then I decided that when I get the extra money, I'm going to take my Marauder into L-M and have the scratches professionally repaired. Their body shop did a really beautiful job on my rear spoiler last August. And I absolutely want my Marauder to look perfect again, like it has been for the last year and a half. Am I the only person who feels this awful about having this type of accident. I mean, thank god that it wasn't really serious, or that someone could have been hurt. But, I just feel awful in the pit of my stomach. I love my Marauder! My wife can't really understand that. She say's that it is just a car. That shows how little she knows it. I love my Marauder. It'll never be just a car to me!
*
I'm sure some of you guys out there have gone through this before, but I haven't. I'll feel better as time goes by, but I feel like I let my Marauder down by being so stupid as to allow myself to make such a dumb mistake. My Marauder has always been 100% perfect in every way since the day I drove him home. It's never let me down. My little 4-1/2 year old grand daughter Madison nick named it Big Red. She always wants me to take Big Red whenever she goes with grandma and me. It's a member of my family. It's been the best car I've ever owned in 40 years of driving and owning cars! Now he's slightly flawed because of me. Thanks for listening. I just wanted to share my grief with someone who really understands.
JIM - ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL.
______________________________ ___
2004 - MERCURY MARAUDER 300A - DTR
1994 - FORD TAURUS SHO - DK GREEN

No offense but it sounds like maybe you are too attached to your car.

Mad4Macs

01-02-2006, 09:23 AM

No offense but it sounds like maybe you are too attached to your car.

Blasphemer! Take that back right now!

:lol:

CRUZTAKER

01-02-2006, 09:29 AM

IWhen I wear sneakers, which all have a really wide sole for stability, I sometimes find myself partially depressing the brake pedal while I'm trying to push down on the gas pedal.

You all are not alone!

I will never back my MM into the barn with timberlands on again. I rear park inches off the barn side wall. I once had my boot get stuck between the brake and accelerator and literally did a reverse burnout sitting against the barn wall.

I freaked and turned the key off as my boot was firmly jammed.

Something wierd about our pedal spacing. :dunno:

As an edit:
The car ended up pushing the barn side door off its hinges while only scuffing the bumper cover all along.

Sully008

01-02-2006, 10:13 AM

JIM - Don't stress too much. People make mistakes. I remember the first time I put a scratch in my MM. I was opening the rear door with my keys in hand and as I swung the door open, slid the pointy end of the key along the door. I've now got a 4" scratch in the clearcoat. All my fault.

As for the adjustable pedals, I've nearly hit both at the same time, and I only wear a size 8. I do remember a "recall" of sorts on my Taurus, which also had adjustable pedals. Here's an article from a couple of years ago. You might be able to have your dealer look into it:

The source: (http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2002/04/22/039198.html)

U.S. regulators investigate Ford adjustable pedals

DETROIT, April 22 Reutershas (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Reutershas) reported that U.S. federal safety regulators have opened an investigation into adjustable brake and accelerator pedals on more than 400,000 Ford Motor Co (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Ford%20Motor %20Co). sedans after complaints that the pedals were built too close together.
The probe adds to a raft of recalls and quality problems at the world's second-largest automaker in recent months, just as it launches a turnaround plan to staunch losses and build profits of $7 billion by the middle of the decade.
The investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Highway%20Tr affic%20Safety%20Administratio n) covers 2000 and 2001 model year Ford Taurus (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Ford%20Tauru s) and Mercury Sable (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Mercury%20Sa ble) sedans with pedals attached to an electric motor, which allows drivers to shift the pedals forward or backward.
NHTSA said it received 22 complaints that the pedals are so close that drivers are prone to step on the brake and accelerator accidentally at the same time. The complaints include reports of five crashes.
One owner said her 2001 Sable (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Sable) was crashed three times by three different drivers -- including a Ford (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Ford) dealership mechanic -- due to the problem, the agency said.
Ford sells the power pedals as standard equipment on the Sable (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Sable) and as optional equipment on the Taurus (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Taurus). Several other Ford (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Ford) vehicles, including the company's Explorer (http://www.theautochannel.com/search/search.html?words=Explorer) sport utility vehicle, also offer the feature.

Shora

01-02-2006, 10:17 AM

As I was attempting to back my baby back into its space, my wet left foot slipped off of the brake pedal and I slammed the rear end into into the building wall!

My Marauder has always been 100% perfect in every way since the day I drove him home. Now he's slightly flawed because of me.

First, I am glad that you are OK and that nobody was hurt. Thank you for sharing this story with us as most, if not all, of us can relate. I wish you the best in getting Big Red as good as new and as soon as possible.

However, what do you mean by saying that your "left foot slipped off of the break pedal"? You should not be using your left foot for breaking. Both the gas and break pedal need to be operated with you right foot.

Secondly, you keep refering to your Marauder as a "him". Cars are feminine like Mother Earth so you might be hurting her feelings calling your beautiful (and not handsome) DTR a male.

Again, I do not mean to bust on you even more. You have had a rough day already. Best wishes fixing "her" up.

jawz101

01-02-2006, 01:43 PM

I have to say that I get just as upset when the car gets damaged. I have a gallery dedicated to one such accident.
As for the pedals. I go barefoot as much as I can. They do suck.

HwyCruiser

01-02-2006, 02:37 PM

Sorry, but you're going to have to turn your keys in. Nothing personal, but if you can't be careful you just can't have nice things.

J/K... :lol:

I had an awe shlt spring before last when I was Zanio'ing my MM in the garage. I had the garage door and back door open because it was breezy out and I wanted to stay comfy while I detailed the Marauder.

I had an old screen door that I was meaning to move to the basement leaning up against the wall when a stiff breeze came through and pile drove the screen door right into the passenger front fender. The door handle hit the fender with a sickening smack.

It left a dent the size of my palm and I was pissed, mostly at my laziness for not taking care of that stupid door when I had it in my hands the first time. One visit to my L/M body shop and a $80 paint-less dent repair bill later she was 100% better. It's amazing what these guys can do. I hope your repair goes well.

Mike Poore

01-02-2006, 04:58 PM

[quote=HwyCruiser]Sorry, but you're going to have to turn your keys in. Nothing personal, but if you can't be careful you just can't have nice things.
quote]

Yeah, Jim, I agree. Just put 'em in an envelope, and I'll stop by, on my on my next Ohio trip, and pick it up.
Um, you'll have the body work done, by then, right? :rofl:

FordNut

01-02-2006, 05:18 PM

Personally I haven't had any problems with the pedal positions.

To fix the Check Engine Light, disconnect the battery for about 5 minutes or so then reconnect it.

Sorry about your mishap, reminds me of when the orange barrels jumped out in front of me...

hitchhiker

01-02-2006, 08:03 PM

No offense but it sounds like maybe you are too attached to your car.

Not at all. I would ____ anybody who screwed with my MM!

:D

Redster

01-02-2006, 08:12 PM

Felt the same way when I scratched mine with the ladder while changing a light bulb in the garage.
I think my wife understands, she refuses to drive it. She has driven my Audi a few times, but now refuses, she calls it Christine. She turned on the alarm, then got out, and didn't know what to do. A passerby had to explain to her how to turn it off with the key. I did the same thing when I first got it.

South Hills

01-02-2006, 08:29 PM

Jim, sorry to hear of your incident, and many of us here feel likewise about our Marauders. My wife, like yours, just doesn't get it. But that's okay.

Good luck getting her as good as new!

Phil

cougarmandan

01-02-2006, 09:03 PM

First of all, I am super careful when I am driving my cars. I get so pissed when my wife leave bird poop on her car or leave trash laying in the floor board. I can't stand to have nice things that near to perfect. I remember when my Mark 8 was still just a few month in my ownership and I was backing out of my wife's yard (then she was my girlfiend). She lived in a duplex with a long pile of gravel for a driveway. I hit the gas to pull it out, about 20 feet into my reverse acceleration, bam! I wasn't playing around either, I was going pretty fast. I saw nothing, and was like WTF. GD WTF! I ran into a fire hydrant. It left yellow inlayed scratches that I never could polish out. I was supprised how little damage it did. Try that with a 67 Cougar, you know, when they built cars and you will be replaceing a bumper, bumpermounts, having body work where bumper hit the quarter panels and repaint. Now days you buff out the scratch or maybe repaint. Its really amazing. Its disappointed for a while, but your ego heals. Then you notice the scares less and less as time passes.

Vortech347

01-02-2006, 10:42 PM

While arguing with my wife I accidently backed into an ATM island with my stang. Scratched the hell out of the lower rear bumper. I was so livid my wife didn't know if I was still sane or not.

**** happens. To some more frequently than others!

cougarmandan

01-02-2006, 11:16 PM

Its seams like bad things often happen when I am angry. That when the wrong things get said, that's when th adrenalin kick in and we overuse our muscles, and make quick supid decisions like throw the high dollar phone at the brick wall. Nothing can make me angry like my wife can, especially when it comes to money.

On a side note, Speaking of adrenalin. Did you know that Adrenalin is a trade name or brand name of a medication. I believe its a registered trade mark of Parke Davis, that has merged over the year and currently is part of Pfizer. The chemical name is epinephrine. Its a neurotransmitter. Its not stable in water and lasts for less than 1 second. It chemical structure is the basis of just about all stimulent diet drugs, decongestants, and many ADHD drugs, methamphetamine, etc. All useless information that you never need to know. I just think its funny how we use the trade name of Adrenalin since its actually epinephrine.

JMan

01-03-2006, 04:58 AM

The inertia switch being tripped would cause the module to increase the duty cycle (Fuel command) to the pump above normal levels. That would set a code in a brief period of time. My car did that after a fuel filter change - how's that for brief. If you wait for a day or two, the light will go out on its own. That will save you the frustration of going to the dealership. I'm sorry about the mishap, but it could always be worse. Best of luck on getting it all ship-shape again!

J

Haggis

01-03-2006, 06:27 AM