1990 Mercury Grand Marquis Issues!

[Lizey]

Two Quick Questions If Anyone Has An Answer...

    On my newest purchase, a 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis GS with the 302, the airbag light is constantly flashing. it flashes 9 times, stops, 9 times, stops, and that just happens the entire time the vehicle is running. Also, the check engine light comes on the second the car hits operating temperature. If you shut if off and restart it the light goes off for like 10 minutes and comes back on. Its a pain! Im trying to fix this car up for my little brother to drive (he turns 16 in August) and this is an issue I 100% want to take care of before I give it to him.

[Cooter]

Air bag could be anything from a Bad Clockspring behind steering wheel, to a fender bender in the past and the Air bag Module wasn't replaced. The modules are like a "fuse", once the air bag has been deployed, the module is rendered useless. Could also be a crash sensor up front.

As for the Check Engine light, those year Ford's were Notoriously hard to diagnose with a sanner as they didn't provide a "quick scan" like today's OBDII cars.
MANY possibilities. I wouldn't look to cut off that Check Engine light as you most likely will never get it to stay out on something that old.

Many times the Check Engine light is for things to do with Uncle Sam and EPA crap(Emissions)....By the time that Check Engine light comes on for something that will leave him on the side of the road, YOU know about it long before you need a little "Light" to tell you. Best to try and get one of those Flunkies at the local auto parts store to attempt a scan and see what the code is just to be sure. Don't be surprized if it's the Coolant Temp sensor as about the time it "Warms up" that's when it goes into "Closed Loop" operation. (Begins to acctually look at what the sensors on the engine are doing as opposed to "Open Loop" runs on a pre-determined set of values like a "Choke" if you will)



NObody seems to service[Flush] cooling systems anymore and I wouldnt' be surprized if the coolant looked like River mud.

[Indygenerallee]

Step 1 pull gauge cluster, Step 2 pull the light bulbs, Step 3 re install gauge cluster into dash!! Ford actually had a test and it was called the "wiggle" test!! yes grab wires and wiggle them while car was running... Fords in general the reason most check engine lights come on have to do with the EGR system, I see any newer Ford car come into the shop with the CEL light on and I guarantee 80% of the time it is a DPFE sensor, (Measures flow to the EGR) Those older Fords are a big PITA, very hard to read the codes most of the time my old Ford Rotunda scanner won't even connect with it. just pull the bulbs!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Step 1 drive car to bad neighborhood and leave keys in it, Step 2 collect insurance money (if it's worth anything), Step 3 buy another vehicle.

Fixed it.   

[Back N Black]

With the air bag light on it could go off at anytime, you don't want to be driving down the highway and blow in your face.

[duanesterrr]

The best solution I have found for the check engine light on old vehicles is a carefully placed piece of electrical tape. 

[Indygenerallee]

Quote


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With the air bag light on it could go off at anytime, you don't want to be driving down the highway and blow in your face.

This is the funniest thing I have ever heard!!! 

[rt green]

if the air bag light is on, the system is disabl

With the air bag light on it could go off at anytime, you don't want to be driving down the highway and blow in your face.

ed

[Charger RT]

We still run some early 90's Fords and keep the check engine lights off without doing any of the above. Without a scanner check out this page.
http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
Tim

[ACUDANUT]

With the air bag light on it could go off at anytime, you don't want to be driving down the highway and blow in your face.

Yea, right. How many times has that happened. 

[Charger RT]

forgot to add this link.
second post (don't count add) has a link to a chart http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/82-maintenance-repair/142552-flashing-airbag-light.html
Tim