2002 Grand Marquis LSE!

[mercurygm88]

so now that you've driven both of the front suspensions basically back to back, what do you think of it? I have my impressions, but I'm aware that they don't tend to jive with what most folks have to say on the matter.

I’m not terribly fond of the rack and pinion setup in the 03+, it just feels like the steering is too heavy. Also at only 70,000 miles the Lincoln had a decent sized dead spot. So of you were going straight it took a decent degree of wheel turn to correct any errors.

Plus it may just be in my head but I feel like both this car and the ‘01 Town Car I had ride smoother than the ‘03+. The only negative is the rear shock mounting position.

[mercurygm88]

I knew a Vic Sport wasn't available with digital, but I thought the LSE was. I know LS HPPs had it available so I assumed the LSE could as well. What they should have done in 03+ was put in the Marauder cluster.

I could’ve sworn I saw something about the digi dash being optional on the LSE even though I don’t have it. I find it interesting that the Grand Marquis even the 95 I had has more gauges than a town car. Even though they’re practically gauge-like dummy lights from what I’ve read.

[Pvt.Hudson]

I could’ve sworn I saw something about the digi dash being optional on the LSE even though I don’t have it.

CV/GM LX/LS HPP could have a digital dash. Sport/LSE's no digital dash. Sport package lasted a little longer then the LSE. Think the last year of the LSE was 2005. Coincidentally the last year for the digital dash was 2005.

2006 brought the boring 2 gauge analog display that was shared between the CV/GM/TC and had only minor difference in colors/fonts and either just a little LCD for the mileage or a info center in the middle of the cluster.

2001 was when steering wheel controls could be had on either the CV/GM and stopped in 2009? till 2011 though it can be added if you get the appropiate steering wheel control button pods and a wire harness from a TC with the steering controls.

[mercurygm88]

So I got a code P0125 the other day. “Insufficient coolant temperature for closed loop fuel control.” I reset it in case it was a fluke and it came back. I have plenty of heat so I figured it was the engine coolant temp sensor. The temp gauge barely moves so that made sense as opposed to the thermostat.

I bought what autozone said was the engine coolant temp sensor but the thing on the passenger side of the intake manifold looks quite different. First of all it doesn’t have a round plug it’s more square, and it takes a smaller wrench than what I bought.

Now if I remember right from my ‘95 there’s one sensor for the temp gauge and another for the ECM. I thought the one for the gauge just had a single wire plug and the one for the ECM had the round plug. Though I’m sure something could have changed between ‘95 and ‘02

This is all the parts store guys could find in their system.

[Tiggie]

Not the right sensor. Ask for an equivalent of a motorcraft SW5174

[mercurygm88]

Thanks. I’ll take it back tomorrow and try again.

[mercurygm88]

I hooked up the garden hose and did my best to spray the salt off the car today. I also got some better pics even though the light wasn't cooperating with me. I've previously only bought cars in the summer and always had time to get pics during good light, not so much this time of year. The scratches on the trunk lid and the spot on the passenger fender are the worst spots on the car. I found some new scratches today on the roof. I swear for having one previous owner who obviously took care of this car mechanically they sure did abuse it in some way. I don't know what if anything I'm going to do about the dents in the drivers side rear bumper cover, the tailpipe is also slightly bent. I'm guessing whatever they backed into went right between the pipe and bumper. But it's still on there solid no broken hangers or anything. I really need to get over it and stop worrying about it this is my daily driver not a show car after all.

[IPreferDIY]

To help prevent further rot in the front fenders, you should spray some kind of rust inhibitor inside them. With the wheels off, take out the fender liner bolts and use those holes to get a bent straw from a spray can of a suitable product in there and soak away.

[TecNickal]

Trunk lid scratches are from people putting crap on the trunk lid that was inside the car then dragging it across. Watched my sis do it on her Honda years ago. I cringed for the car. Or there was some crap on the snow brush.

Looks like the rear driver quarter got crunched a tiny bit from when they backed up. Look how the body meets the corner of the tail light. And the body shell/drop panel on that side may be bent a little too. Either way, if you want perfection, you'll want another bumper cover.

[mercurygm88]

To help prevent further rot in the front fenders, you should spray some kind of rust inhibitor inside them. With the wheels off, take out the fender liner bolts and use those holes to get a bent straw from a spray can of a suitable product in there and soak away.

That’s the plan, I’m just waiting for a little bit nicer weather.

[mercurygm88]

Trunk lid scratches are from people putting crap on the trunk lid that was inside the car then dragging it across. Watched my sis do it on her Honda years ago. I cringed for the car. Or there was some crap on the snow brush.

Looks like the rear driver quarter got crunched a tiny bit from when they backed up. Look how the body meets the corner of the tail light. And the body shell/drop panel on that side may be bent a little too. Either way, if you want perfection, you'll want another bumper cover.

Every panther I’ve owned has had misaligned taillights and quarter panels. I just figured it was piss poor assembly at the factory. I’ve seen brand new cars come off the lot with alignment issues on body panels, lights, and interiors.

The bumper cover doesn’t really bother me but I need to get that tail pipe tucked back up in there.

[mercurygm88]

I got my Marti report today!

[87gtVIC]

Find anything on the matri that does not jive with the vehicle?

[mercurygm88]

Find anything on the matri that does not jive with the vehicle?

Nope but I’ve heard of people having that issue. Mainly on older cars that have been wrecked and rebuilt multiple times.

My spare tire cover and cargo net are missing which is fairly common. I’d like to know what “deluxe luggage compartment trim” is. Considering it doesn’t even have carpeting on the inside of the trunk lid. But I’ve only seen that in Lincoln’s. It doesn’t have the factory option 6 disc changer but has a dealer installed 10 disc changer that works great.

[TecNickal]

Looks like Marti ran out of room on the report for details haha.