VicCrownVic's 1989 Colony Park - Large Marge

[VicCrownVic]

This one, if you hit set/accel it might accelerate or set like it should, it might do nothing, or it might shut off. Same thing with the off button. Cruise works, but something isn't quite right.

[VicCrownVic]

First drive of the season. 50 miles round trip and no problems.

The vibration that started when that crappy tire was put on is gone now. No surprise.
What was somewhat surprising is the cruise control works like it should now. Cleaning the clock spring and (or?) buttons seems to have been all that it actually needed.

Apparently in the '98 I move quite fast from On to Set for the cruise. Marge does not like that quick of button presses, lol, no response.

Every once in a while I caught myself mashing the buttons but I'm sure by the end of summer I'll kick that habit.

[VicCrownVic]

Made the 110 mile round trip to and from work yesterday no problem.

[VicCrownVic]

Not as problem free today, lol.
Fuel line blew somewhere in front of the fuel filter on my way home. Luckily on a not too busy road and not far from my uncle's place; less than 6 miles from his place and 22 miles from my house. My cousin came with his truck and car hauler. I'll have to grab the picture from him later.

Since Marge needs some new fuel line, I might as well throw a new filter on while I'm under there.

[DerekTheGreat]

Simple enough. Be sure to have some spare o-rings on you for that fuel filter. I ripped one when I changed mine out last summer.

[Tiggie]

Whatcha going to use to make fuel lines? I used short steel sections on my 88 with compression fittings to the original ends. It's been almost 20 years and that worked okay, but was not fun. I need to do the same in my 90 but want something with less seams and maybe not compression fittings.

[VicCrownVic]

I've got some nicopp on order. The only line I had on hand was 3/16 nicopp for brake lines. I've done compression fittings before, but I have my friend Jon's Master Cool hydrologic flare tool so I can do flared ends and unions quite easily.
I harvested a bunch of ends to connect to the fuel filter years ago, so if I need it I've got it. I might even have one with stainless line.

[VicCrownVic]

I finally got under there yesterday to assess what I need to cut out while I'm still waiting on my nicopp line to show up. It turns out it wasn't a rusted line after all; it was a line that someone (not me, but very likely someone on here, lol) did not put on all the way. I've owned this car for three years, which means that line somehow managed to not fall off for more than three years and thousands of miles.

You can see in the pic the clean end where the connector was and that clean end is only about halfway on. I couldn't get that line on any further until I lubed it, then it had no problem going all the way on. As it was, the retaining clip was in front of the rib instead of behind it meaning the clip was actually doing nothing besides going along for the ride.


All good now.

[87gtVIC]

Good deal. Easier fix then one was expecting, I am sure.

[DerekTheGreat]

I appreciate simple fixes, yet always set myself up for tough ones.

[VicCrownVic]

I could have fixed it on the side of the road, but prior experience told me a line rotted out so I didn't even bother to inspect any further than seeing fuel under the car and assuming that rot was the cause this time as well. I also didn't feel like getting all dirty since I was in nice work clothes. At least I now know my cousin (Derek, his dad is the uncle we borrowed the dolly from) has a capable trailer that I can potentially rent, since it's part of his business, for projects that I don't need. (Good thing I can't afford any projects for a while.)

[DerekTheGreat]

...At least I now know my cousin (Derek, his dad is the uncle we borrowed the dolly from) has a capable trailer that I can potentially rent, since it's part of his business, for projects that I don't need. (Good thing I can't afford any projects for a while.)

Capable trailer, ye say? Welp, I've got just the truck to tow unnecessary, but wanted projects. Now with much better rear brakes! I don't see any projects in my future either, but they have a way of finding me.

[VicCrownVic]

I messed with the atc sensor earlier this week. Don't think I fixed it, but it got me thinking that perhaps the AC does work. Compressor never came on so I figured pressure must be too low. Picked up a few cans of 134a and stopped at Mom and Dad's place to see what I could do. Part way through one can the compressor kicked on and started cycling. It took that whole can so started on a second can and the compressor started to stay on steady. Pressure gauge seemed to indicate within the range I had looked up and the air from the vents felt cold so I guess I have working air now. We'll see for how long, lol. It did not take the full second can and the cans that I got have resealing valves, so I saved that can for another day if needed.

Leaving tomorrow on a 180 mile trip and coming back on the 5th. Before heading to Mom and Dad's place I changed the oil and checked all fluids. Still need to check tire pressures and do a little cleaning, other than that all seems good to go.

[VicCrownVic]

Made the trip up to Hillman no problem and the AC worked great. I'm sure having a lot of the empty space filled with stuff for camping for the week helped reduce the the amount of space the AC had to cool. Will probably head to Alpena and back to Hillman sometime tomorrow.

[VicCrownVic]

View for the week.