Engine Parts ID

[gopiqpp]

Hi All, I am new to this forum as well as to American cars.( any car actually!) I am an expat physician in Saudi Arabia and just bought a 1988 GM Colony Park wagon from a friend in fairly good condition and with 180,000 km on the clock.Single owner. A few problems have surfaced lately:
1. Engine seems to be missing slightly, noticible as a vibration when the AC and/or headlights are switched on. Less in 'Park' position, more evident in R and D. Started suddenly a day ago.
2.Occasionally stalls at traffic lights and while reversing to park, etc. Been happening for some time. I read that the Idle Air control may be at fault. Would this be the case ?
3. After the oilpan gasket was changed recently due to a long standing leak, I had the underbody and engine compartment pressure washed. After this the ' Check Engine' lamp flickers red at idling RPM, and disappears at higher RPM's. Not seen all the time but usually manifests after driving 60 KM or so. Never happened before the car wash.
4. There is steering wander especially at highway speeds. On my mechanic's advice I changed the tie rods and Idler arm and got the wheels aligned and the steering wheel centered. The wander is still there. I was then advised that this was due to rear suspension and sway bar bushings. Would this be correct ? There is an occasional 'clunk; from the rear of the car after going over a speed bump.
Please advice on what to do. I will be taking the car in to a garage for computer codes shortly as soon as I can locate the Ford Service Center here.
I am attaching a picture of the engine, Can someone identify the labelled parts please,
Thanks

[cld783]

A. egr valve

B. IAC valve

C. unsure, i think its the salt & pepper shaker looking thing where your harness hooks up. really not sure since its in a diff location than my car.

D. TPS throttle position sensor.

E. PVC hose.

F. wiper motor.

[Tiggie]

Yes, C are the "salt and pepper" connectors, the main wiring harnesses to your engine.
If they get dirty or corroded, all kinds of funky problems arise.

Since your car is a 1988, it probably has an "Engine" light, and not a check engine light. The "Engine" light comes on if there is a problem with low oil pressure or high water temperature. In your case, it sounds like low oil pressure which is usually caused by worn engine bearings. It is possible it could also be the sensor.

How bad is the wander? These cars will wander some due to the lack of rack and pinion steering. Cheap tires also make these heavy boats wander. New sway bar bushings wouldn't be a bad idea by any means, but it may not fix your problem.

As far as the missing and stalling, make sure there is no mositure under the distibutor cap.

[gopiqpp]

Thanks a lot guys. If it is the engine bearings what should be done ? Is this a major repair ? My travelling is limited to one trip a week to the nearest city 100 km away and back.
The wander is more pronounced when there are people in the rear seat..if it is just me then it appears to be less, this seems to point to defective rear suspension I feel....
Yes I checked under the distributor cap and everything is dry and the contacts are clean.. I forgot to mention one thing--the missing started immediately after someone adjusted the little nut on the steering box to loosen it a little as the steering wheel was too tight with no play at all earlier. He then topped up the power steering fluid level. I know that this has nothing to do with ignition but I wonder if some nearby electrical connectors got jarred or losened...This reminds me of when I first started my medical practice 2 decades ago- treat the patient for one thing and something else pops up...

[grandpaslincoln]

Since the wander gets worse when loaded the bushings in the rear probably need to be replaced, especially if it clunks when going over bumps and such.

[gadget73]

I'd also have the rear shocks inspected to make sure the bushings on the bottom and tops of the shocks aren't deteriorated. I suppose its also possible one of the rear control arms is bent or broken if the car has ever been in an accident or driven over hole in the road.

There really isn't anything near the steering box that would be related to ignition at all. Not very much electrical in that area, mostly wiring for the headlights and the alternator.

If it is the engine bearings, its a fairly major job. Basically its a rebuild on the lower end of the engine. The crankshaft comes out and usually is sent to be machined, etc.

What grade of oil are you using? Since you live in a warmer climate, you may wish to switch to a thicker grade of oil. 20w50 or 15w40 may be appropriate for your area.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Welcome! We are always glad to see foreign panther owners here!!

[gopiqpp]

I am taking it in tomorrow to the dealer. They are called Tristar and are the approved service providers for all Ford Badge cars. I found some oil around two plugs, not sure from where its coming from. Was advised to change the valve gaskets and plug tube 'o'rings. Possibly this is the reason for the misfiring? I will get the oil pressure checked too and if its OK then (hopefully)it will be just a faulty sending unit and not low pressure due to worn bearings.And I will replace the rear shocks. Will update you in a week or so after the diagnosis,
Regards

[Grand Marquis GT]

Definately do a compression check!

Valve cover gasket are always a problem on these cars, just make sure you use good gaskets.

[1987cp]

to GMN! The Colony Park must be quite the ride to see on the street in Saudi Arabia!

I'd offer my two cents' worth on the tech questions, but it looks like the other guys have you pretty well covered. You may want to consider adding aftermarket gauges (oil pressure and water temp especially) just so you can easily keep an eye on things whilst driving.