1998 grand marquis

[coolguy147]

every time i get back from school i always smell gear oil coming from the rear axle. i can smell on both back tires.


time to replace the rear drive axle seal? is that the right term?

the car starts great cold and hot! but when i let it sit maybe 30-1 hour? not sure but basically the temp gauge is just above the cold line on the engine. if you may know the car this car has no number on the temp gauge. basically, it takes quite the noticeable amount longer for it too start when it is at this temperature. once it starts it will sound like it's firing on less cylinders but it catches up and runs perfectly fine.

maybe i should just ignore the kinda problem with starting and say it's normal? like i said, starts great cold and hot and warm. just when it's just above cold it's weird.

another thought is that if i drive a little and it's not quite warmed up and i shut it off. it starts good then.

 

[stackz]

Re: 1998 grand marquis

gear oil is definitely an axle seal. sounds like you know how to change them yourself. not that hard, just time consuming. at least you'll finally have fresh gear oil in the rearend after the swap (may as well replace both) since you have to pop the rear cover off to pull the c-clip so you can slide the axle out.

dont swap the seal and you risk either running the axle dry and chewing up the pinion/ring gears or freezing the spiders and/or gear oil glazing the brake pads and you lose rear brakes. doh!


starting problem is most likely the idle air control valve. very common issue with ford vehicles with higher mileage. tends to clog up with carbon and freeze in place. you can try cleaning it out internally with brake parts cleaner but usually the motor is burned up in them after trying to actuate the valve while it is froze. they arent cheap at the parts store though, usually around $100-150 each. if there's a u-pull around, you might be able to grab a couple cheap or get really lucky and find one thats been replaced before the car got t-boned or whatever.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: 1998 grand marquis

how much would it usually be to replace both seals?

my dad is afraid the car is going to fall on me won't let me do anything that involves a jack....


where is the idle air control valve?

it has never stalled on me! just takes a little more starter when it gets to that right temperature and it sits. everything else is perfect.

 

[snake77]

Re: 1998 grand marquis

To make sure it's the idle air controller. when it doesn't start apply a little accelerator pedal to it what you will be doing is allowing air in so it will idle.
It is true they go out often it is not common to be a heat soak fault.
sounds like you may be have a vapor lock incident or even a coil getting hot and not starting.
the vapor lock happens when your some of your injectors are leaking and when they sit being hot they will cause a no start then once it starts it has to blow all that excess fuel out of there which will run bad for a few minutes. but honestly I wouldn't just throw parts at this, this problem really needs to be diagnosed by someone that can put the right tools on it.

 

[jimr]

Re: 1998 grand marquis

If the axle seal is leaking chances are the bearing is worn and you will need to replace them. Also Fords had a problem eating up axles when the bearing went out. We have had problems replacing them with aftermarket if they have ABS the tone ring is different and sets codes.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: 1998 grand marquis

yup, it has ABS.

i think the starting problem is Ok for now. it runs perfectly fine and it starts great hot or cold. just when it sits a little and i go to start it.

btw, when it starts cold in the mornings. i hear a knock, knock, knock. then it goes away. i believe this is normal because the oil reaches pressures and must circulate everywhere? the oil pressure gauge always shoots up instantly. the knock is only for a sec or two.

how much would it cost to fix the gear oil leaking problem?