Hello, and Thank You very, very much!

[Sharky]

Hi folks, I'm Sharky, from Panama City Beach, Florida.

I own a beautiful 2003 Grand Marquis, which has become one of my favorite vehicles I've ever owned (out of 38 or so different vehicles).

I had the infamous Panther front-end squeak which was diagnosed by my highly respected and trusted technician as worn ball joints. It seemed odd that a car with only 40,000 (pampered) miles on it would have worn ball joints, but his explanation that the ball joints lack Zerk fittings and are therefore unable to be lubed seemed plausible, and he has never steered me wrong in 6 years of repairing and maintaining my vehicles.

I was ready to put my car in the shop to replace them, but before I did I was Googling around to get more info and check prices on the parts when I stumbled across this wonderful message board.

This post (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=277628&postcount=13) saved me hundreds of dollars and a day of downtime. I want to sincerely thank Blackened300A and this board. After adjusting the hood stops and lubing them with dry silicone, the squeak went away and hasn't returned.

I look forward to hanging out here with you guys and gals to discuss MMs and GMs, and hopefully I can be as helpful as you have been.

Thanks again, and see ya 'round!

[Sharky]

While we are here, can I brag on my car just a little? :cool:

She's a creampuff 2003 GM LS, Silver Birch with Light Flint leather.

I have recently begun spicing her up a bit, with true duals (Magnaflow) by Murry's Tire and Exhaust in Chipley, FL, a fresh set of Bridgestone Potenza G009 tires (also from Murry's), SilverStar Ultras, Stealth turn signal bulbs, AutoSport berber floor mats (dark grey), and XM radio.

The car is flawless and runs like a scalded dawg. I wish I had bought a Marauder, but I didn't know anything about them and would probably have a hard time finding one around here. I have only seen one in town that I can remember.

Any MM or GM owners here from around Panama City Beach? If so, howdy!

[lwblumjr]

While we are here, can I brag on my car just a little? :cool:

She's a creampuff 2003 GM LS, Silver Birch with Light Flint leather.

I have recently begun spicing her up a bit, with true duals (Magnaflow) by Murry's Tire and Exhaust in Chipley, FL, a fresh set of Bridgestone Potenza G009 tires (also from Murry's), SilverStar Ultras, Stealth turn signal bulbs, AutoSport berber floor mats (dark grey), and XM radio.

The car is flawless and runs like a scalded dawg. I wish I had bought a Marauder, but I didn't know anything about them and would probably have a hard time finding one around here. I have only seen one in town that I can remember.

Any MM or GM owners here from around Panama City Beach? If so, howdy!
Sharky,

I live down the coast a hundred miles or so to the west in the Pensacola area. My wife's family lives in the Panama City, FL area and she drives my 2003 300A there upon occasion and I even make it there once or twice a year. You may have seen my Marauder there as I have never seen one there (other than mine.) Was the one you saw black? There are a handful of them here in my area with a few blacks, a silver, at least two DTRs and one blue belonging to Roy Jones, Jr. (He rarely drives his.) My wife and I made it to Marauderville IV in Orlando this past November. Too bad you did not know about it. It was a blast!

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/browseimages.php?c=36&userid=

Here is a picture of 13 Marauders lined up at New Smyrna Speedway ready for our parade lap. After the first lap it was as fast as you cared to go! We had a blast!

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/3/9/MVC-802F.JPG

(Mine's the second one on the inside.)

[Sharky]

Hello, Larry - pleased to meet ya!

As a matter of fact, the Marauder I saw in PC was indeed black. It was southbound on SR77 in Lynn Haven, at the light in front of the Publix shopping center (across from the Lynn Haven post office). It was sometime in the last couple of weeks, and would have been in the late afternoon.

I probably would have attended the MV IV. I've been reading about it here and looking at the pics, and it looks like you guys had a blast. That pic of the lineup literally made my heart pound! Oops, the cat's out of the bag - I'm a certified car nut. :cool:

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the site.

[Cobra25]

Welcome too the Site !

[Bluerauder]

While we are here, can I brag on my car just a little? :cool:

She's a creampuff 2003 GM LS, Silver Birch with Light Flint leather.
Hello and welcome :welcome1: to the MM.net.

Lemmee guess .... you call your silver GM "Sharkey's Machine" right?? Burt Reynolds would be proud. :D

[ckadiddle]

Greetings and Salutations!

[jim geary]

Lotta good info on this site Sharkey. Your gonna like it here.You may have to
search from time to time for your awnsers but it's still fun. Enjoyl

[jgc61sr2002]

Welcome to the MMsite.:D :welcome:

[Sharky]

Hey, thanks for the welcomes! :cool:

This place is a gold mine of tips and info on the Panther platform, and apparently it's inhabited by friendly folks as well. :beer:

[greggash]

Sharkey....glad you could join us.

[Sharky]

Sharkey....glad you could join us.

Thanks! :beer:

[Marauderjack]

Welcome Sharky:beer: :beer:

I am not sure if the 03 GM has the same steering front framework as the MM (Cast Aluminum) or the steel one used in all the CV's I had (Up to 2000)??:confused:

If you have the steel steering arrangement there are "Steering Stops" (Ball & Socket) that will "CRUNCH" when maneuvering with the wheel turned against the stops.....A dab of grease corrects this!!!;)

The other "Squeek" is the hood latch.....pop the hood when it is squeeking going slowly and see??:confused: If it stops simply apply some grease to the latch/hook mechanism.....FIXED.....for awhile!!:cool:

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack:bandit:

[Meteorite]

Sharky,
Here is a picture of 13 Marauders lined up at New Smyrna Speedway ready for our parade lap. After the first lap it was as fast as you cared to go! We had a blast!

(Mine's the second one on the inside.)
How fast did you care to go?

And what kind of waiver did they make you sign?

That is so cool; I'd love to do that.:burnout:

[lwblumjr]

How fast did you care to go?

And what kind of waiver did they make you sign?

That is so cool; I'd love to do that.:burnout:
Sharky,

My Marauder is stock and I hit 75 in the straights and I heard some of the supercharged guys say they hit 85 in the straights. A waiver was signed and everyone knew that insurance companies would frown upon any claim arising from this event so everyone agreed to some specific rules. The outside line was the fast line. If anyone wanted to pass they had to wait for a safe opening, flash the driver ahead with their lights and then go around. It worked very well. We all hope to do it again in the future.

[magindat]

How fast did you care to go?

And what kind of waiver did they make you sign?

That is so cool; I'd love to do that.:burnout:

We had a super secret plan to keep things safe. Looked like we had rehearsed!

I caught a glimpse of 85 before standing on the brakes for the turn.

Larry was right behind me!

[Meteorite]

My Marauder is stock and I hit 75 in the straights and I heard some of the supercharged guys say they hit 85 in the straights. A waiver was signed and everyone knew that insurance companies would frown upon any claim arising from this event so everyone agreed to some specific rules. The outside line was the fast line. If anyone wanted to pass they had to wait for a safe opening, flash the driver ahead with their lights and then go around. It worked very well. We all hope to do it again in the future.
That is great!

So, I think I know my vote for where the next Marauderville should be held!:D

[Sharky]

Thanks for the additional welcomes, guys!



Welcome Sharky:beer: :beer:

I am not sure if the 03 GM has the same steering front framework as the MM (Cast Aluminum) or the steel one used in all the CV's I had (Up to 2000)??:confused:

If you have the steel steering arrangement there are "Steering Stops" (Ball & Socket) that will "CRUNCH" when maneuvering with the wheel turned against the stops.....A dab of grease corrects this!!!;)

The other "Squeek" is the hood latch.....pop the hood when it is squeeking going slowly and see??:confused: If it stops simply apply some grease to the latch/hook mechanism.....FIXED.....for awhile!!:cool:

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack:bandit:
I have only been under the car on a lift once, but if I recall it does have the cast aluminum front end. It doesn't make any noises at full steering lock (yet) but the squeak goes away if the hood stops are adjusted and lubed. The fix seems to last a couple of days before it returns. I have tried silicone, hi-temp lube (some seriously tenacious stuff, but too sticky) and white lithium grease (the least effective). Silicone works wonderfully, but it doesn't last long.

This is gonna drive me crazy until I find a permanent cure.

It's a shame that something so seemingly minor could mar an otherwise perfect driving experience. :mad:

[Sharky]

Ha!!

I wandered into The Garage and lo and behold, there was this thread (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=26084) with info on how to fix the problem.

I'm so glad I found this message board - you guys rock. :cool: