2002 Grand Marquis LSE!

[mercurygm88]

My fuel gauge has been acting funky for about a month now. Above half a tank it's just fine, below half a tank something weird is going on. When you first turn the key on the needle goes all the way to full and will drop very slowly as you drive. If you shut the key off and turn it back on a second time the needle will go to the correct level but will slowly rise and fall about 1/8" as the car runs. It only does this below half a tank, above half a tank everything is normal. Any ideas?

[mercurygm88]

Knock on wood but I think I fixed it. I found a few users with similar issues on CVN. I pulled the instrument panel fuse for a few minutes and disconnected the battery for 15 minutes. It’s been two days now and I believe it’s back to normal.

[sly]

Sounds like an anti-slosh issue then. But in a way that the older cars just can't manage because they don't have any kind of memory. Interesting.

[mercurygm88]

I committed the ultimate sin today. I converted the Grand Marquis RAS to coil springs.

Ever since I got rear ended at approximately last June it’s been giving me issues. Every half hour like clockwork the air suspension light comes on and it stops working. I’ve literally replaced everything but the RAS module and the wiring.

A month ago it started leaking down about an inch over night. So I said to hell with it and ordered a set of made in USA coil springs that ended up costing me 1/3 of what two Arnott air springs would’ve been.

I really like the RAS and I even unconverted the ‘01 TC I bought that had been converted to coils, but in this case I think I made the right choice.

It’s becoming a bit of a shell of an LSE, no more variable power steering, no more RAS. But it’s my daily and I have to do what I have to do.

[ford4v429]

I bought my 02 LSE HPP quite a few years ago- to replace my rusty 2000 LS HPP... bought it from florida, for a winter car, but it was so mint, couldnt bare to salt it the first time, so it sat the first 3 winters out, then I drove it two, and its sat at work the past several years... youngest son is 16, wanted to fix it up, so getting it going again- ive had it licensed/insured but only drove it a couple days a year to run gas out and refill. couple weeks ago, got tires, put spare wheels on to polish the lips/black out the centers, drove it home tonight, might get the pressure washer out this week to blow the rest of the paint off- already bought the paint supplies, just gotta get going on it- last year drove it thru the carwash, blew paint off all over the car! felt bad, looked like eggshells all over the carwash- knew there were a few rust spots here and there, but was surprised the paint came off in sheets.
anyways, heres pics of my old 2000 and the 2002 back when I got it- quite a ugly comparison from ohio/florida...https://flic.kr/s/aHsk2pfRQJ this car was absolutely rustfree when I got it...still super nice rust-wise as its been oil sprayed, but salt ruins everything...

[Mainemantom]

It is sad to see what the rust does to our cars. It is a constant task to keep the rust under control.

[87gtVIC]

Nice wheels!

I am partial to them

[ford4v429]

Nice wheels!

I am partial to them

deja-vu
yep those look familiar- wish I would have seen yours before- I hem-hawed around about it forever, and really didnt want to strip centers if I didnt like it...seeing yours woulda had me trying it sooner
.these are my favorite 'big car' wheels, found a cheep set on ebay for our 65 back in 2004, theyre a super snug fit in my lathe, in a 4 jaw if over .02 off center, cant spin the chuck, makes tramming them in touchy LOL... the ones on the galaxie i got for only 100 bucks because they looked so horrible, takes a few hours to strip and polish, but think they turned out ok...

good thing is having the extra set off the 2000 merc that got recycled, been able to swap/paint/etc... need to polish two more for full size spares for the gal and the marq

[87gtVIC]

I had sent mine off to the powercoating shop to get redone.

I literally do everything I can myself but I did not have the proper chemicals to dip and strip the wheels. I do powder coat though!

Stripped, powdered black centers, machined lip and then fully powdered in clear. I was happy with how they turned. Better than I could have done.

They are neat looking wheels, especially when jazzed up a touch.

[sly]

Mine would need a complete media blast and a few bits filled and refinished. But since they still work fine, I'm just gonna leave them be. That beater life.