TTAC commentator supremebrougham writes:
Hi Sajeev,
Sitting in my Grandma's garage is her pristine 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, with a whopping 24,800 miles on the clock. Grandpa bought it right off of Mr. Sesi's showroom floor not long after he retired.
About two months ago, my Mom and Grandma took the car out for the day to do some shopping. They stopped by my house, and when they went to leave, the car wouldn't start. I got in and noticed that when I turned the key, the fuel pump was not making any noise.
I pushed the car into my garage where my uncle said he would come and look at it later in the week. A couple of days later, I decided to try it. Sure enough, the car started right up. I took it back to Grandma's and put it in the garage. A couple of weeks later I went back and started the car — it ran perfectly — so I took it across town and washed it and brought it home, with no problems. Two weeks ago, my uncle and aunt took the car out for the day, and while they were out, the car wouldn't start, so they had it towed home. A couple of days later, I went out to the garage, and it started right up! We have no idea why it's doing this. Any suggestions? I want to take the car to the Woodward Dream Cruise to use as my Staff Car for The Brougham Society, so I need it fixed fast!
Sajeev answers:
Pretty easy one for a fanboi like myself, and it has little to do with Panther Love. This thread encapsulates the possible faults. Assuming the car will not crank when twisting the key, I doubt a shredded fuel pump (or frayed wiring) exists on such a low mile vehicle. The fuel pump relay? Maybe, but nah.
The last post on that thread (regarding the PATS key) is the culprit. PATS keys have a transponder in the head, and perhaps yours is damaged in a fall: kinda like smartphones, things happen when falling from a few feet to a solid surface. Check if the PATS warning light in the gauge cluster stays on longer than the normal (2-3 seconds upon startup) or if it flashes. If so, that's why your Panther ain't starting.
A new key (either a universal or a factory Mercury branded key) is easy to get at a locksmith, dealership or even eBay. The last link presented also has programming instructions for the new key, so its a cheap and easy fix.
Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.
The post Piston Slap: PATS on the back for Panther Love? appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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