My 1985 Town Car Sig.

[gadget73]

are you pumping the gas before cranking it? CFI has a choke system like a carb, and it has to be set with a pedal pump or the high idle won't engage. If the high idle cams and such aren't moving freely, it also might not work right. Those do gum up sometimes.


Might want to re-check your grounds. It shouldn't whine if the grounds are all good and the alternator isn't messed up. The stock grounding up front for the stereo may not be adequate either, so if you're using the stuff in the harness it might be worth it to run another one to something.

[85crownHPP]

I used a 'ground loop isolator' noise filter for my old system, it just plugs in-line into your RCA signal cables. It was like 15 bucks from Wal-mart IIRC

When I got the better Alpine amps i didn't need it anymore, I think newer amps have them built-in nowadays.
Running the amp power cable and RCAs down opposite sides of the car is supposed to help to, and 'shielded' RCA cables are supposed to be better about not picking up noise.

[Piece-it pete]

Thanks guys!

Gas/starting issue (almost) solved. She's leaking a bit from the front. Must be that time of the month

I've got this aft off I'll track it down. I'm guessing when it's sat a while the line to the throttle body empties. Irritating though, I could've sworn I've inspected the complete gas lines before and they were fine.

If I get a chance I'll run a better ground to the head unit. If that doesn't work, I'll try the ground loop isolators. If I have to rerun all my wiring I'll tear my hair out.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

I got doofus lucky. The clip that holds the downstream line to the fuel filter was bad. A 30 second repair. Yay!

Nothing done to the stereo. Finished replacing that large connector (C101) on the drivers' fenderwell that all the front lights go through. Now my left turn signal actually works all the time, not just occasionally. Win!

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

Another ponderous update. Changed the timing chain, h balancer, PS pump, fan clutch. Read the exciting story here: http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...r-timing-chain.

Two current running threads, still unresolved, interior light problem and speedo problem, when I get them done I'll update them and post links here.

The main thing is, when I did the PS pump I managed to blow the pitman shaft seal. Simple. Cheap. Until I break multiple snap ring pliers. No pick, so I head to Harbor Freight, forgetting the new snap ring. Buy a large snap ring set ('circlip' pliers they call them). Get home, too big. Back to Harbor. Did I just buy a stupid pick? Nooooo! I get another snap ring plier set and break those I hate to think Mom birthed an idiot...

So now I need to go back to Harbor. Again. It's about 30 minutes away. Instead of having the seal/lights/speedo/rear rubber brake line done the thing's on jack stands, grr.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

Got a Craftsman pick set - broke them. It's the snap ring from hell.

Pete

[Bowman85merc]

What might help (it did on our 92 vic) is to take a small screw driver and tap on the snap ring to loosen up the rust and crap in the groove. we just put the screwdriver in each hole and tapped it till it started moving than the snapring pliers took it right out.

[gadget73]

Cheap snap ring pliers are why people hate snap rings. The cheapies just don't work. They also wont let go if they are packed in with grease and dirt and crap either. FLush it out with something and see if that helps. I'd also agree with trying to move it with picks or screwdrivers or something. Once it moves, it'll come out. If that groove is distorted at all, it will bind the ring up and it won't let go.

[Piece-it pete]

Thanks.

The stupid thing moves. I can't get the ring inward enough to get a pick/screwdriver/whatever behind it or through the hole. I may head up to Craftsman and buy the good pliers.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

FINALLY got the seal replaced. Bought a 'Craftsman Professional' pair of small needle nose instead of another snap ring plier.

Pulled the box off the car. Got a great squeeze with the needle nose. Even then I could barely get the very tip of the complex pick behind it, then got the hook pick through the hole and that was that. Bent the pliers.

If I would've known how easy it was to pull the box I would've done it much sooner, less than 40 minutes off ring out and back in. I also would've been prepared to change the rag joint ('steering diaphram') and input shaft seal, oh well.

But it doesn't leak!

Did that, speedo cable (update shortly), cleaned it out, jumped it (sitting for a while), fired right up. So far so good.

Started running poorly and the radio cuts out. The battery is completely dead, kaput, stick a fork in it no charge holding sadness.

And dang it, I was going to drive it to return all the tools I broke on that ring!

No green, the wife's been Christmas shopping. Wait till Friday.

I also have the interior lights not coming on at random anymore, cleaned the relays in the LCM, info here:

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?45387-Interior-light-whackiness-box-Town-Car.&p=645994#post645994

Picked up some good looking used studded tires too, installing them next weekend.

Some good news, I found a new metal idler pulley! ACDelco 15-20669, less than $30 on Ebay all day long. The used one I put on it squackin, I sprayed some wd40 on it but know it's going.

Pete

[marquisman]

good work pete! its about time you did something lol

[Piece-it pete]

I have to get off my fat, lazy, drunken ass LOL!

Got the pulley for $20 delivered! Search ACDelco 15-20669, without naming him directly it's the seller with 'titan' in the name.

One more reason to be a cheap crusty Pollack: saving $4.95 makes one happy After I make sure it's the right one I'll report back.

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

The car, she runs!

Got the battery from evil Walmart, number 24. Great to be driving it again.

Of course now the choke is stuck on high idle. For the moment I dialed the high idle down but I need to fix it. I'm going to clean the linkage etc, anything ese I should look for? (CFI) It was fine when I parked it.

Pete

[marquisman]

pete, now you know why its called Crappy Fuel Injection lol.

[Mainemantom]

Make sure when you get the top done that they remove the old top. No kidding ! I had a shop just put a new top over the old one. The only way I noticed it right away is on the C pillar the old top had shrunk and had curled up. I could see where the new top was put over the damaged area. The shop would not do it properly and would only give me a discount. Had to do the top over again in a couple of years.
I would also have the shop order a pre made (made to fit) top. It will have the proper seams and they fit very well. As the headliner will have to be removed to access the top, plan on replacing the headliner and visor material.
You will be glad you did.