More Marauder Problems...

[MarauderBZ]

Hello all...Just took it in for the 5,000mile service interval. Got a call from the service manager who informs me that both front wheel bearings are bad. I've noticed a slight squeaking sound in the front end at times, guess that's it. Best part....no parts in stock..it'll take a week to get them in. After this and everything else, the "FOR SALE" sign is getting slapped on this thing directly after this problem is repaired.

[TripleTransAm]

Sorry to hear that.

One of the reasons I like to be conservative in my camber settings on my F-cars is that I believe excessive negative camber can contribute to early wheel bearing failure. Obviously I cannot confirm this with precise testing, but I've seen too many coincidences of folks who tweak their camber for that super sharp cornering feel and wheel bearing wear and tear.

Reminds me... gotta get my alignment verified ASAP.

[Ross]

BZ, hate to see another MM owner bite the dust, but sometimes you have to make a tough call. Do us a favor, and if you sell the car to an individual, tell him about us here. And don't be a stranger just because you're letting the car go.

[merc406]

Your dealership must live in the dark ages, they never heard of overnight delivery?

[MarauderBZ]

I think my dealership does live a little backwards at times, especially when it comes to having alot of parts in stock.
Ross, Thanks! I'm most likely going to run an ad for it locally and see what happens from there. I'd hate to trade it in and get a severe beating on it. Only problem I have, is if I sell it, what the heck am I going to get in place of it? I love the car, but it's been one problem after another, quality control seemed to have bypassed mine in some areas I guess.

[AlabamaSS]

Originally posted by MarauderBZ
I think my dealership does live a little backwards at times, especially when it comes to having alot of parts in stock.
Ross, Thanks! I'm most likely going to run an ad for it locally and see what happens from there. I'd hate to trade it in and get a severe beating on it. Only problem I have, is if I sell it, what the heck am I going to get in place of it? I love the car, but it's been one problem after another, quality control seemed to have bypassed mine in some areas I guess.

Sorry to hear of all the problems.
If I were you, I would find a good used 1996 Impala SS with around 50-70 k miles on it. Believe it or not they can still be found at some used car lots and you can get an extended war. That is what I did.

Besides...what did you think I was going to suggest for you to buy?..HA! HA!
;)

[Ross]

BZ, before you sell it, you might want to check in your local yellow pages for a lawyer who specializes in consumer law. Most states have Lemon laws that may help you if you have had a certain number of problems within a certain period of time with a new car. Every state is different, but it probably won't cost you anything to take your records of complaints and repairs for an initial consultation with a lawyer who does that sort of thing in your state.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by MarauderBZ
I love the car, but it's been one problem after another, quality control seemed to have bypassed mine in some areas I guess.


Have you considered another Marauder? It does not seem hard to find owners of completely trouble-free cars, it's just tough to accept that sometimes we got a bad apple out of the bunch.

Might not be the smartest thing to do, financially-speaking, but with a little careful background research on a prospective replacement, you can consider the $$-difference as being an investment on resolving all your current problems that are keeping you from enjoying the car.

By the way, what kind of problems have you experienced?

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by AlabamaSS
Sorry to hear of all the problems.
If I were you, I would find a good used 1996 Impala SS with around 50-70 k miles on it. Believe it or not they can still be found at some used car lots and you can get an extended war. That is what I did.

Besides...what did you think I was going to suggest for you to buy?..HA! HA!
;)

Yes somehow the problems of a 7 year old car are much easier to take :)

[Geo]

Although I don't have a Marauder just yet (I have an 94 Impala SS that I will be buried in if need be) I know form my expreriences with my SS when it was new that it had aplenty of problems that warranty had to cover. Sure the dealer was also many times incompetent as I had to hang around the service department almost the whole time the car was in there and had to many times suggest (with accuracy) how to diagnose as they had no clue (the Impala club had been formed while they were still making the SS and I was in there many times with a briefcase full of info and the Service Foreman would quite often overlook my papers so he could command his job better).

Alternatively I had many conversations with the owner of the dealer in his boardroom about the the thickness of my service files and how the dealer was losing money on my service bills (the car would be there for weeks sometimes). He wanted me and my car to find a luckier place to go. Honestly, I aggreed.

So what I am saying is that sometimes the dealer experience can make the whole "owning a new car experience rotten". Then again I have an old 78 Malibu that I might take down there one day for warranty work (GM will always honor the brake backing plates to be changed because of extensive rust formations). HAHA that'll be a trip to see the workorder with a bunch of zeros; at least I am not bringing the Impala down. Some of the guys in the service department thought it would be a good idea to put a bomb under the hood of the Impala and call it even.

I actually knew that as the car got older and all the "bugs" were indeed worked out, that the car would be better and it has been, not a single major inconvenience since 1997.

So I say maybe give your Marauder another chance, bond with her like she's your own. My SSs alignment was out from the factory. I know because I had them check it out. I'm an alignment freak and with 255 tires you know right quick if it;s out. Furthermore, if it is out and you don't do anything about it the tires will wear wrong and will actualy feel normal again as the tires are making up the difference. That's why when you get an alignnent that's accurate after the car's alignment was off, it seems to pull. This means the alignment is good and the tires have to re-wear properly which may take several weeks. You wouldn't see this type of thing with smaller width tires, only large ones like P235 and more.

Hang on to her I say because one major flaw that is fixed under warranty could be a blessing. It could be that now the car is perfect. I have never seen a new car be perfect. You'll have other woes with any new car you buy. Warranties are blessings from God. Hope that everything that can go wrong will go wrong before the warranty runs out; that's the whole idea. Work out them bugs and then car and driver will be happy.

PS Everybody thought my SS was a lemon when it was new, but she sits pretty today and looks brand new and runs brand new while everybody drives something different today. HOTROD rule number one: If it breaks, CHANGE it with something BETTER! Next thing you know you will have a bullit proof car.

(so Mercury built a HOTROD)

[Dr Caleb]

Originally posted by Geo

Some of the guys in the service department thought it would be a good idea to put a bomb under the hood of the Impala and call it even.


:lol:
Whenever someone tries to 'off' me, I know I'm on to something...good work!
:lol:

[Bigdogjim]

MarauderBZ: I do not remember any post about your "problems"?

So I can not/will not pass judgment.

In this case I do not see the the problem?

They are ordering the part?

Warrenty is paying?

Did they give/offer a loner?

Get the bugs worked out and you got a great car?

Hell my paint went south and the dealer's atempt to fix it looks worse! Sell it??

HELLl NO!

[RCSignals]

Excellent post GEO

[Murader03]

Is it me, or my car? I bought it 11/02, and it now has 35.6K miles on it. All these problems that crop up on lower mileage cars! Mine goes to my local FMC dealer every 5K for sercvice, as it gets over the road mileage. Other than the paint issues, and water in the headlight assemblies, I haven't had any warranty issues. Other than parts I've changed, swaybar, Stage1, MMDS, tires, the car has all parts it came with from the factory. I haven't had any service issues with it. Trust me, the car is not babied, but it's not beat on everytime I drive it either. I've treated it just the same as my '99 Cobra before it. That car still had the original clutch and brakes when traded at 100k miles.

[CRUZTAKER]

MarauderBZ:

This isn't the first time someone gave up on their MM for some warranty issues and let us all know. I read...I chuckle, and I wonder what type of individual buys a car, get's fed up so easily, and sells it while it still has a full warranty?

With all due respect, normally I would "feel" for you, and support you in your situation...as we all would,but you're giving up. I have no sympathy nor condolences for quiters.

Well, good luck, good bye, and perhaps look at Hondas or Toyotas in your next vehicle quest. I know they come with great wheel bearings and what not.

[drobin]

Sounds like the person who's going to buy your MM will be getting a vehicle that has been de-bugged. Owned many Chrysler products and felt the same way, but then I realized that's what warranties are for.

Donald

[RoyLPita]

That's a new one. As one of MM.Net's VIN runners, I haven't seen any faulty (and yet sealed) front wheel bearings on any other Panther platform histories. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen much that would persuade me NOT to get a MM. Even one of our members made a site showing the paint quality of his MM and still has his! (From one Pittsburgher to another) Give it another chance. Who knows, maybe I'll be up there next summer with my own MM (it's about time that I ride the Thunderbolt again and find Century III mall).

just my .02 (and then some)
Brian

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by CRUZTAKER
I read...I chuckle, and I wonder what type of individual buys a car, get's fed up so easily, and sells it while it still has a full warranty?


I understand and respect your view on "quitting" with respect to a vehicle that's still under warranty, but the fact remains: for some individuals (myself included) a lot of time is wasted in having to deal with these problems. Time lost in visiting the dealer, aggravation when the dealer droids misunderstand or refuse to acknowledge the problem, frustration at always wondering when the next failure will occur.

And speaking of failures, my view of an automobile is that it is supposed to be my slave, not vice versa. I've already been stranded once with this car after a measly 150 mile roadtrip, and been left at the mercy of Ford's substandard Roadside assistance, with 3 other adults and a small baby to worry about. What would I be expected to feel if the car was to fail me again the next time I decided to venture more than 200 miles from home?


Warranty or no warranty, a car is only a car when it's running. If it can't manage that without difficulty, it ain't much of a car.

My family and my job comes first... I've already seen my family stranded by this car once, and my job stressed because of the whole valve guide issue (lost time driving out to the dealer)... if it conks out one more time, it's history, as much as I love the damned thing.

[Geo]

Well, I hate to say it but I'll say it again. One takes a chance everytime you buy a new car. They're all built to make revenue at the service department now. It's Business 2.0 for the new millennium. So if Honda is an exception to the rule (and I doubt they're problem free), I still wont buy one. I live in North America and I will buy an American V8 rear wheel drive vehicle everytime. One major reason is that by design they have to me more reliable than a car that has everything packaged in one spot (FWD). If you want no-worries from the get-go, buy the Honda but it's still a Honda and that's the problem.


I don't fault anyone who doesn't like hanging out at the dealer and having to deal with the know-it-alls and have to turn the tables around on them but a car-guy may put up with it and look at it as getting a nice ride out of the investment.

The Marauder is a car-guy car (or car-girl). What would you buy as an alternative to the Marauder. Nothing really comes to mind except perhaps a Kenny Brown Crown Vic. A Town Car comes to mind but only has 239hp and a ton more money (and will depreciate and the Marauder could appreciate). Anything else would be a FWD car. Sure more choices are coming but they haven't come yet and haven't been around for quite some time. Anything else is either in a much different price category or is a 2dr. The only contender is a GTO but warranty issues I bet will get interesting when everything comes from Australia (import).

Consider these things before you buy that Taurus to replace the Marauder because you'd be driving a Taurus now with a Viking V6 or whatever they're called (or was it Vulcan V6). OK I'm being sarcastic but Marauders will always be supported here for decades.

You're always welcome here BTW,it's all good.

G

[Seneca]

GEO and Cruztaker.. You da MEN!!.. Love my merc. had a few problems myself.. wouldnt trade it for the world.. ;)

[TripleTransAm]

I was thinking about this on the way to work this morning... I think my GTA would have fallen into the category of "problem child" I was describing above. I'm honest in saying I wouldn't recommend this car to anyone unless they have spare cash and a spare ride. The first years with that car were HORRIBLE and expensive. Sure, lots of it was due to the car's lack of mileage, but still lots of failures on basic stuff. Shocks, wheel bearings, catalytic converter, intake manifold leak, corroded cap/rotor, leaky t-tops, etc.etc. etc... the only thing that saved that car (besides my love for the body style) was the fact that I had a reliable Honda product at all times.

So I do understand the car guy thing... and I'm into it, as long as I always have a reliable back-up car. Once I sell my Civic, I'll be wide open, at my Marauder's mercy. (and this morning I noticed my brake light "flicker" issue is back... *sigh*).

Can't deny it, though... this is a one-of-a-kind car, and I have trouble seeing myself without it.

[Fourth Horseman]

Originally posted by MarauderBZ
I love the car, but it's been one problem after another, quality control seemed to have bypassed mine in some areas I guess.

BZ, I agree completely. All of my parts problems for my car's repair aside, the overall quality control on this and the previous Ford vehicle I had has been pretty bad. I'm definitely not going to be a Ford customer again. Too bad, too. All I've ever owned were Ford products. Time to move on.

[RCSignals]

Ah yes, it's always greener where you haven't been. Until you get there :)

[Fourth Horseman]

Originally posted by RCSignals
Ah yes, it's always greener where you haven't been. Until you get there :)

Probably true, I admit. But I'll never know until I try, right? :)

[mdmarauder]

Today I was just thinking about the fact that I only have about three more problems to solve to get my MM "perfect." But I still love it and would never part with it. I'm Ford blue to the core what can I say.

[TheDealer]

I think you need a new dealer. I'm a Parts Mgr. at Northeast Lincoln Mercury in Phila. Pa. I just checked and the NY parts depot has 8 hubs instock and Detroit has 45. The wheel brg. is part of the front hubs. They are the same for all Grand Marquis and Crown Vics. I aslo checked the parts locator and there are hundreds of Dealers with these instock, so there is no excuse why they can't get them overnight. Ford has a provision for cars under warranty that they waive the 15% overnight charge, so there is no reason for them not to get them overnight!!!! RAY

[Bad Boy Merc]

BZ,
I have never bought a new car that was trouble free. My 300A is my 7th new car and every one has had at least one problem right out of the box and that includes an 87 Honda Accord. By the way that highly rated Honda came with a wonderful 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty. I guess they weren't real proud of it or else the warranty would have been for a longer period.

This Marauder is one of the most fun cars I have ever had and that includes my second new car, a 67 Ford 7 litre sport coupe, 428 with 4 on the floor.

Depending on how much you like the Marauder, I think I would tell my dealer how unhappy you are that apparently you got a lemon and ask for a deal on a trade in on an 04. Good luck on your decission, whatever it is!

Bob

[EbonyMarauder03]

A thought or two from the dealer side. As much as some might think that cars are designed to be crap to make service depts rich is a crock. First of all warranty work being paid for by Ford doesn't make us too much money. You want to see a mechanic cry give him warranty work all day. The only way we make good money is to do cash work. As for a week to get parts that is sick. The dealer can emergency order the part for next day and Ford will pay the shipping. There may be a few times that part is coming from the manufacturer which might add only a day or two. Waiting a week for a part is rediculous. I understand some of you guys and gals being frustrated with the problems you have with your Marauders too. The price you pay for these cars and the fact that they have no real "new" technology in them means they should be virtually trouble free. Mine has some of the crappiest paint I have ever seen on a car. I also have had to have 80% of the lights replaced on the front of the car. I have bushings coming in that insulate that body from the frame. I also have that cursed squeak from the seat and have a seat from on order. I plan on toughing out the issues with this car since there is no replacement for it as long as Ford keeps fixing the problems.

[Geo]

true, I know very well that the dealer makes little money on warranty claims but it keeps the service network alive. If my warranty ran out why would I go to Ford for service anymore and pay those rates. The real money comes from those who write-off their car expenses like lease and repairs and need the rates to be high so as to not pay as much come tax time. Ford knows it and accomodates the system. Ford makes a killing on parts. That's why if something breaks upgrade to something better (Hot Rod it and make it bullit proof). Perhaps the dealer gets the bad end of the deal but Ford makes the cash on the parts support.

Let's put it this way, my Impala SSs 8.5" Posi axle uses a design that dates back decades, however, the GENUINE GM parts used for it's service (namely the gasket) clearly negates the GM axle design by not offering all the lubrication holes needed for the axle fluid to go through. The gasket doesn't have the right amount of holes. Fel-Pro quickly addressed the problem by offering a gasket with the right number of holes. Guess how many B-bodies suffered pre-mature axle failure because of this. This was something that was noted way back when the cars were new and the forecast for failure was about 44,000 miles. Many cop cars were saved because of aggressive driving and cornering but the highway patrol cars didn't fair so well. I've always used Fel-Pro and was one of the first mods that ever surfaced. This is a good example of how GM intentionally set out stimulate the economy in their service industry. They never have fixed the design of their gaskets. It's good for the economy when everybody is working even when it seems that the dealer isn't making any money. Ford Accounting can easily make a buck come tax time in a given quarter to write off losses.

Look how much money DaimlerChrysler AG made by charging consulting fees to it's very own Chrysler Group in the United States so that they could benefit from their German tax-laws and there by wiping out Chrysler's assets that were in place after the merger in 1998. By 2001 Chrysler had nothing left but the tax advantages were enormous for the Stuttgard company. Now all that you will get car wise from Chrysler is Mercedes hybrids or Mitsubishi hybrids.

GEO

[MarauderBZ]

Thanks for all the opinions and advice. As for my previous problems, I had the driver's side rear end sagging a bit, the steering went twice. Total of 5365 miles on it as of today. Overall the problems are not what I had expected from a brand new vehicle. The front end of the Marauder was making a slight squeaking sound at times, dealer believes this may be from the bad bearings. Hopefully this is the problem and will be fixed.
Prior to the Marauder I had purchased a new 2000 Grand Am and had no problems at all with it, I guess I was expecting the same here considering the Marauder was a much higher priced vehicle. The service manager called today and advised the parts should be on scene monday morning and he said he'll get me in and out first thing. (hopefully).
In general though, I won't be driving it until Monday. He told me that it is safe to drive, etc, etc. It just bothers me to drive it with something like the wheel bearings being bad. I'll be driving my '98 Firebird for the weekend.
On a different note, I did take the Marauder to a local Pontiac dealership here and was poking around on a trade-in possibility towards a 2002 Formula Firebird\Firehawk with 7200 miles on it. After sitting there talking with the salesman for about an hour, I would rather take my Marauder to a desolate field and set it on fire than trade it to them. Not very good results to say the least.
At this point, I understand what everyone is saying in regards to it being under warranty and such. I do have a 5-year warranty, but for some reason, nothing quite bugs me like a new car I really like breaking. I may try to run an ad for it and see if I can get a decent number on it. I've cooled down a bit from before, but I'm still a bit irked.

[RCSignals]

Someone else here had a squeak from the front, and it was found to be the hood latch needing some lubricant.
Are they positive your car needs new front wheel bearings?

[MarauderBZ]

I'm taking my service manager's word on the wheel bearings, since I have no way to check them for myself. He said that they were both noticeably out of spec, however the vehicle should be safe to operate?? Some things I hear at dealerships just make me wonder. I will check the hood latch just to make sure though.

[MarauderBZ]

Just wanted to post an update on this. Got the vehicle back, they replaced the front wheel bearings. Service manager tells me there is nothing else out of spec in the front end, etc. Today, driving to work, I get the same darn squeeky sound from the front end. This really sucks.

[RCSignals]

Did you check/lubricate the hood latch?

[drobin]

Make sure the hood stops are backed out enough to keep a slight tension between the two surfaces. Don't know why, but the stops loosen up and the hood starts dropping and begins to bounce up and down. Good Luck! I'm thinking about applying a drop of clear finger nail polish on the threads to eliminate this....

Donald
"drobin"