Is this a normal maintance history?

[-Matt-]

First off thanks to RoyLpita for the OASIS.


This is the history for a 03 MM that im looking at buying:

Build date:6/14/02
Delivery date:7/24/02
vehicle has no recalls or CA type emissions
OASIS shows no current Ford extended or maintanence policies for this MM

Warranty repair history:
Village Lincoln Mercury of Denton (TX)
10/1/02 @ 1819 miles
rebalanced tires, reindexed one and replaced front one (vibration in steering wheel @ 65 MPH)
Classic Lincoln Mercury (Denton, TX)
12/13/04 @ 31888 miles
replaced right front window regulator (window inop up and down)
Texoma Ford (Denison, TX)
8/17/05 @ 42725 miles
replaced window motor (right front window inop fron both switches)
repaired radio connections (AM inop)
replaced outer tie rod ends and align vehicle (squeek noise going over bumps)
replaced front crank seal (oil leak)
overhauled trans and replaced overdrive band and drum assys (trans slips going into overdrive)
1/3/07 @ 63063 miles
replaced brake pedal assy (adjustable pedals inop)
replaced rear main seal (oil leak)
replaced air suspension compressor and both springs (vehicle sits low in right rear)
replaced thermostat (check for overheating)
Blake Utter Ford (Denison,TX)
12/27/07 @ 78519 miles
overhauled rear end (bad oil leak in left rear of vehicle)
12/31/08 @ 82380 miles
replaced A/C control head (heater inop at times)
overhauled transmission and replaced overdrive band (trans slips in 3rd gear)
replaced 2,6,8 coils (hesitation when starting off)



My main concern at looking at this is the 2 trans overhauls including new overdrive bands.
Is that normal? Or does it show that she has been molested a little? I swear the owner doesnt seem like the kind of person from what i can tell.

Also repeat problems with the right front window. :confused:


Thanks in advance for your help and opinions.

Matt

[ImpalaSlayer]

hmm thrers alota stuff there. what springs did they rplace in the rear if its sitting to low, its and airsuspension.......

[-Matt-]

hmm thrers alota stuff there. what springs did they rplace in the rear if its sitting to low, its and airsuspension.......

They are probably talking about the "air springs"

[ImpalaSlayer]

yes but how would new ones make it sit any high??????????????? :lol:

[-Matt-]

If one had a leak maybe?

[ImpalaSlayer]

maybe. i duno i would prolly look at a different car.

[RF Overlord]

Matt, none of those things are "normal" for this car, especially rebuilding the transmission twice ...the previous owner(s) must have driven like a moron or been totally clueless when it comes to preventive maintenance.

[-Matt-]

maybe. i duno i would prolly look at a different car.


it was only sitting low on one side

[a_d_a_m]

What most worries me is 2 transmission overhauls and 2 rear end overhauls. Kinda seems like the owner beat the crap out of the vehicle.

[-Matt-]

What most worries me is 2 transmission overhauls and 2 rear end overhauls. Kinda seems like the owner beat the crap out of the vehicle.


I only see one rear end rebuild from a leak?

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I agree. This car has a history of bad transmision and rear end. I would pass on this car unless its really cheap, maybe around $7000.

[-Matt-]

its 10500 and its in perfect shape. Garage kept, perfect paint and interior

[-Matt-]

.... the transmission thing is the only scary thing.... heres another additional info, the first rebuild was from the first owner, the second by the second owner.

It couldnt have been just faulty overdrive bands?

[lastdaze04]

2003 had a common problem of the rear axle failures. not so much in the 2004. A bad batch I guess. Use the search button, I guarantee others have had this problem.
Rick

[-Matt-]

search doesnt come up with much....

[a_d_a_m]

I only see one rear end rebuild from a leak?
Sorry, I mis-read the OASIS.

Still.
2 trans overhauls and 1 rear-end kind of weirds me out.

[Blk Mamba]

Stay away, stay far away,....I've had every bad luck problem with mine, and your's is the long list.

[hot-rauder]

not worse than my old MM..... but I would still stay away from it...

Oh I replaced the motor at 52,000 when it bent 2 rods, spun the main bearing, and torqued the block. Only mod was an intake, no tune.

Here is the OASIS report for the VIN# 2MEHM75V33X634153:
Build date:8/27/02
Wty start date:9/25/02
vehicle has no recalls but has CA type emissions
OASIS shows no Ford extended or maintenance policies for this MM

Warranty repair history:
Smithtown Motors Corp (NY)
5/7/03 @ 300 miles
adjusted strikers on left front & left rear doors (interior lights staying on)
9/22/03 @ 8583 miles
repainted the following:
front bumper
rear bumper
left front fender? (didn't specifiy which-went by part number)
right front door? (didn't specifiy which-went by part number)
left 1/4 panel
roof
12/10/03 @ 9056 miles
repaired grey wire pin and connector (check engine light on & running rough)
Riverhead Motors, Inc (NY)
3/6/07 @ 33256 miles
replaced the following:
crankshaft, bearings, and oil pump (knocks when cold-customer paid for part of repair)

[babbage]

I'd be more afraid of the crank leak AND rear main seal. The rear main seal is very hard to replace. If you get it from a dealer make sure to get the ESP warranty.

[Black_Noise]

just sounds like a picky owner who cared about his MM

[lastdaze04]

Search Function: Results>>>> TSB for rear axle leak
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52511&highlight=axle+seals
look for rear end issues
axle failure
axle leak
11 pages of stuff to wade thru.
This is not an uncommon scenario, however, if you bought the car (hope you don't) this would be a good time to upgrade to sturdier axles and to 4.10 gears
FWIW
Rick

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

That to me is a lot of work required to make it to 80k miles. It would make me nervous.

[hot-rauder]

That to me is a lot of work required to make it to 80k miles. It would make me nervous.


Agreed.

Go Mifuni's car is cheaper and has the mods already and a spotless service history.

[-Matt-]

just sounds like a picky owner who cared about his MM


This is what he told me, says its been under warranty since the car was new and just ended 2 months ago and he has had every little creak and noise checked out.

What normally causes a rear main leak and why should that be a concern?

[-Matt-]

I've had every bad luck problem with mine, and your's is the long list.

Were your problems from beating her up or normal driving?


The reason for this post really is to find out if this stuff happens in other MM owners history.

[-Matt-]

Go Mifuni's car is cheaper and has the mods already and a spotless service history.


Not really looking for a 130k mile car with paint flaws and a CEL..... Absolutely no offense to Go Mifuni.


Edit: Not really sure the one that this OASIS is about is what im looking for either....

[babbage]

This is what he told me, says its been under warranty since the car was new and just ended 2 months ago and he has had every little creak and noise checked out.

What normally causes a rear main leak and why should that be a concern?

If the block is bleading oil from the crank and the rear main seal, then to me the whole engine is suspect. Perhaps built on a late Friday afternoon? Oil pressure too high? Could be anything - if they failed on the seals which should be easily done right, it's likely that more is wrong with the engine.

[-Matt-]

If the block is bleading oil from the crank and the rear main seal, then to me the whole engine is suspect. Perhaps built on a late Friday afternoon? Oil pressure too high? Could be anything - if they failed on the seals which should be easily done right, it's likely that more is wrong with the engine.


Good point, thank you.

[CoreyM75]

I would pass. If you are like me, you want a Marauder to drive, not tow to the repair shop.

[CRUZTAKER]

Matt, none of those things are "normal" for this car, especially rebuilding the transmission twice ...the previous owner(s) must have driven like a moron or been totally clueless when it comes to preventive maintenance.

My od clutch band went within the first year and half of ownership.
Not unusual in my book if one mashes the gas on the freeway in od without turning it off first....like ALL the time.
Most uninformed owners do it daily.


Several of those items went on my '03 as well.

Drivers window switch for example...I always had the window down and rain got in it over time.

[fesifisky]

Oh I replaced the motor at 52,000 when it bent 2 rods, spun the main bearing, and torqued the block. Only mod was an intake, no tune.

So I'm not the only one who spun a bearing before 80k? Oddly, that makes me feel a bit better about the one I had(sob). Can't find the paperwork from the dealership but popped my engine somewhere around 65-75k, bought her at 57k. Didn't bend rods as far as I know but made a mess where the piston was slamming into the head. As f'd up as this sounds, with knowing it was going and on my way to where it'd be towed from, i kinda enjoyed the "stroker" sound for a lil bit. ha.

Mind me asking how you resolved yours? I was told it's quite atypical for these engines to just "go".
I got quoted in the ballpark of 9 grand originally, but luckily my buddy is in good with the the owner at ALM who managed to finagle "after-warranty assistance'. Never heard of it but got me rolling.

while I'm sitting here bumping this thread, even though mine is gone I never had a chance to get one of those OASIS reports, how/where do I go about that? Fee? thanks.

speaking of bumping this thread, did -MM-Matt- ever make a decision on the one in this thread?

[SID210SA]

[quote=fesifisky;791909]
while I'm sitting here bumping this thread, even though mine is gone I never had a chance to get one of those OASIS reports, how/where do I go about that? Fee? thanks.

quote]

You can request an Oasis report from RoyLPita

[-Matt-]

Going to test drive this car in a couple of weeks