'97 Villager "issues"

[Librarian]

I'll be blunt, I don't know cars worth anything really, so that's why I'm here. My Villager is 11 years old now, about 98k millage and it's been acting really odd the past few months. One day the check engine light went on and I checked oil, trans, powersteering, and radiator reservoir. Now everything was fine except the reservoir was empty, so I filled it back to the fill line and after about 30mi the engine light went off. I thought nothing of it, now this little scenario repeated itself once a month for the past 4 months. About every 3-4 weeks the reservoir would go empty and I'd refill it. The interesting thing was that everytime this would happen the engine light would turn on right after the car would "jump" and "shake" shortly after I turned it on. Now I haven't taken it in because I was always able to get the light to go away by adding fluid....until now.

The light came on last night, and the fluid is right where I left it. I don't know where to start. Besides what I thought was a slow leak (which I just mentioned above), the only other things my car does funny is kinda shudder for awhile when it's cold, and it doesn't idle well.....the engine makes a mmMMm....mmMMmm... sound when I'm stopped and I can feel it wanting to pull.

The only recent repairs was a bad injector about 9 months ago. If I can provide more information please let me know. Thank you for any help in advance.

[jon@af]

Hmmm....

Work with me on this because I'm not too terribly familiar with Mercury's, but if you say that you were continuously having to refill the radiator with Antifreeze and now you're having engine problems, the one thing that is coming to my mind is the possibly that you may have warped something due to the inconsistency of coolant running through your system. The only reason I say that is because, while you did refill the radiator about every three to four weeks, that's still assuming it had JUST emptied at the time you refilled it. If not, then you were running your engine hotter than it should have been running.

If you think you have a radiator leak, which it sounds like you do, the first thing I would do is look for some radiator stop-leak. It's something like 8-9 bucks and should help until you get the car looked at. Still, I would definitely take the car in to be serviced so as to not damage the engine anymore than it might already be.

[Librarian]

You are right. Sometimes I'd drive 10-20 miles with the light on before I could get home and add more antifreeze/distilled water. Unless my temp sensor is busted, it never got above mid-line any of the times the engine light came on.

[tempfixit]

I would do a cooling system pressure test to see where you are using your coolant. Autozone may have a coolant pressure tester in their Loan A Tool program.

Have the codes read and post code #'s. Most parts stores will read for free. ( Autozone, Checker) Don't let them sell you parts because it says a certain code. The codes tell you where to diagnose a problem.

[steamplant]

I would check the coolant level in the radiator via the radiator cap, instead of just the resivour that will tell you if the engine has suffiecent coolant level.

Get the codes read at autozone, look under the van after sitting for any signs of a coolant leak.

The check engine light may have nothing to do with the coolant issue, get the codes read free at autozone and go from there.

good luck

[Librarian]

I have checked under the radiator cap as well, and it's full there. I don't have an autozone in my state (Hawaii) and the Checker auto parts said they don't do free tests here, but rent you the "universal" unit for $200 for a day.....which is just bs if you ask me. Unless someone else has a better idea, I was thinking of buying one off of ebay for like $40 or so.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...208866509&rd=1

[tempfixit]

I have rented the scanners from Checker here in WI. Here the rental fee is a deposit incase the tool is not returned, when I returned tool deposit was returned. Are there any other parts store you can check with?

The scanner on ebay would be fine, it all depends on how much you plan on using it.

If you have a harbor freight store there you may want to look into them. Fair equipment for resonable price. Also check their prices on a coolant pressure tester. www.harborfreight.com

[Librarian]

Well I found out from the checker people that someone had sued them (Checker) when an associate had scratched some ladies car, so their new policy as of Jan 1 is to not do it for free or do the $100 deposit anymore. You can rent the equipment for the $200 I mentioned above.

Now an update. You guys might think I'm lying or crazy but....the car decided to turn off the check engine light. As far as I had heard, once the light goes on, it doesn't go off. I was driving home from the checker store and it just turned off.....I didn't do anything to it...so I'm quite confused. I still plan to take it in to a mechanic for a general checkup anyhow, but this light thing is confusing me.

[tempfixit]

The light at times will go off but the code or codes will still be stored unless the codes are cleared with a scanner or the battery cable has been disconnected.

Sounds like either the MAF sensor needs cleaning or Throttle Position Sensor is faulty or out off adjustment. Reading codes will tell you more as to where to starting diagnosing.

It is a shame when a free service provided by a company or person is revoked because of someones greed. (Just my opinion)

[tempfixit]

Check the thermal valve on the throttle body for a coolant leak.

[Librarian]

Where is that exactly?

[tempfixit]

Sorry I should have tryed to explain in last post.

Look towards the bottom of the throttle body, there is a large spring, just behind the spring is a cam that rotates against the thermal valve (small plunger that moves in and out with tensiion of spring.) If you take the spring off you can remove the thermal valve (Housing turns out of the throttle body) It has a o ring on it that detoriates causing a coolant leak.