Found a '99 vic for sale...anything I should look out for?

[NitroNic]

I grew up with a box.... and then yesterday I ran across a 1999 crown vic. 73,000 miles, $4500. The price aligns well with KBB. I haven't contacted the owner yet.... I wanted to see if there were any common problems I should look out for or ask about that are common with this model year. It's will run on CNG... I'm assuming it's Bi-fuel, otherwise I don't want it. But if it is, and it doesn't have any major problems, I think it might be a good buy. Seems like the old 4.6 had some valve seal problems early on but were fixed in the mid 90s models. Perhaps there are other things I should look out for.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,

Nic

[johnunit]

CNG sounds like a former cab. Look for any signs that the 73,000 isn't legit.

[marquisman]

bi-fuel? you mean propane converted or flex fuel? flex fuel panthers just came out in the last few years, so i doubt it.

[sly]

dual tank... some CNG/propane vehicles actually have a switch to go from gas to CNG/propane. I typically see these as city vehicles. never seen a cab using CNG. Public service vehicles etc as CNG. most are CNG only though. definitely worth questioning. Most CNG vehicles keep the tanks in the trunk though, so you'll loose a massive amount of cargo space with the natural gas tanks.

check the intake manifold for cracks. it's probably plastic. I may have the aluminum cross-over for the coolant passages. If so, it's good. All plastic... beware.

[marquisman]

natural gas? never seen it in a car. only remember seeing it used on city buses.

[alon]

Cng panthers

Hey all,

Ford produced 300-500 cng(compressed natural gas) cars from the factory for about ten years. 2004 I believe was the last year. If it is a factory unit it only runs on cng. All fuel componets and engines are unique to cng.

[NitroNic]

I'm assuming it was a fleet vehicle. I have some really good friends who have owned 4 different CNG vehicles (so far). They've had two 2000 Contours, a Cavalier, and an F150 7700 Series. All 4 were fleet vehicles and all 4 run on gasoline & natural gas (this is what I mean by Bi-Fuel... I don't knwo what the marketing term is... but I just mean two possible fuel types). I guess I could crawl under and look for a gasoline tank (or just contact the owner), the NG tank is in the trunk on these, or the front of the bed on the trucks. On these 4 my friends owned, they all were factory installations of the CNG system and has the same engine for the most part. Same displacement, etc. Obviously some fuel system components would be different and possibly ignition, but I doubt they would have a completely different casting for blocks, heads, etc for something they produced so few of.

The MAIN thing I was hoping for was any general info about 1999 vics and if there's anything specific I should look out for... nto so much looking for info on the CNG aspects.

[NitroNic]

dual tank... some CNG/propane vehicles actually have a switch to go from gas to CNG/propane. I typically see these as city vehicles. never seen a cab using CNG. Public service vehicles etc as CNG. most are CNG only though. definitely worth questioning. Most CNG vehicles keep the tanks in the trunk though, so you'll loose a massive amount of cargo space with the natural gas tanks.

check the intake manifold for cracks. it's probably plastic. I may have the aluminum cross-over for the coolant passages. If so, it's good. All plastic... beware.

Thanks... I've never owned one but I had heard about plastic intakes... and since forgotten that they used those. If it does have aluminum crossover coolant passages, are they easily visible? What color is the plastic?

I'll be sure to check.

[NitroNic]

Here's the link.... should have posted this earlier:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=288588752&dealer_id=65785135&car_year=1999&doors=&systime=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&scarid=291527630&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=300&min_price=&drive=&rdm=1298500274420&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=Alternative&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=n&certified=&engine=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&address=74006&color=&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&awsp=false&make=&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=265&standard=false

[P72Ford]

My Dad had a natural gas '98. It ran ONLY on natural gas.

Had 4 huge tanks in the trunk/ on the pckage tray.

Those cars had lower power output, and probably weighed more than a gasoline car.

[NitroNic]

Yeah I did a little more research last night.... apparently all of the CNG Crown Vics were CNG only. 1000 points to Alon and P72Ford (you can divide the points up amongst yourselves).

[Piece-it pete]

Manifold is black plastic. The metal part used on replacement manifolds runs between the heads behind the alternator, can't miss it.

The car looks nice.

Pete

[I Like FE]

GNG Fleet CVs

The local sheriffs department had dual fuel PIs. They could switch to gasoline for pursuits, according to the local newspapers.
Until the green/prius movement (no Escape hybrids) the airport required the only cab company that picked up at the airport to run CNG cabs. The airport maintained a CNG fueling station. I know a cab owner that was pressured to get rid of his minivan taxi to get a CNG CV taxi. He was able to get used CV taxi which had originated with a Phoenix AZ airport taxi operator. I did get a chance to ride in it once. I had to go from the airport to the Ford dealer to pick up my blue CV that had died (failed TFI Module) on the way to the airport. With the high number of miles and the CNG power the cab was kind of a dog climbing up the Eastgate hill on I-90. His cab ended up being totaled in a wreck. He then got a prius.

I was in San Francisco once on a service call. I got a CV cab to the airport (SFO). I had a large suitcase and a large tool/parts case. They did not fit in the trunk because of the 2 large tanks in the trunk. One case went in the front seat and the other case went in the back with me.

[SVT98t]

The 99's had bad timing chain tensioners.

-ryan s.

[sly]

apparently the factory CNG cars were CNG only... but this car looks to be dual fuel setup. It looks like it may have had a CNG kit fitted to it since it has the dual fuel info in the description.