94 crown vic

[Ray McIntireJr]

I finally went and looked at that 94 crown vic I posted about a week or so ago. It was dark (about 9 CST) and in a dark garage with poor lighting but from what I could see the exterior was in good shape with a few minor dings that you would expect on a car that age. The interior was the same except for the "stain" that was on the rear passengers side floor. It was a bit worse than expected. It looked like somone had spilled a 2 litre bottle of pop there but I'm pretty sure that can be cleaned with a little time and elbow grease.

It started a little hard and sputtered a bit, but it had set there for awhile. When it was idling it was smooth but when I pushed the accelerator down it sputtered and popped and acted to me like it would if it had water in the gas. The guy says after it gets warmed up it runs fine. Does anyone have a theory on what may be wrong with it?

I'm thinking that for $500 it is a good buy because it has new brakes & new tires and just under 60k on the ticker.

Again I just want to hear what people think it might be, not gonna hold it against anyone for stating their opinion.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

In that era, some of the Ford / Lincoln / Mercury's had a Variable Ventury carburetor. If this one does have that type of carb, it is very common for them to fail and run like crap at both an idle and when cold.



You can put an older carb on it or rebuild that one. They were either good or bad it seemed, no in between.

 

[Don Pertz]

Those early 4.6 engines had cylinder head problems, if memory serves me correct it was" not hardened valve seats."

 

[Tom Schindler]

The VV carb was in the 80's on the 302 and 351 engines. The Crown Vic in 1994 had the 4.6L engine and that one NEVER had a carburetor.



The early 4.6 did have head problems, though I can not remember exactly what it is.



Was there a check engine light?



The reason I ask is because when cold it idles rough and when hot runs fine? Sounds like intake manifold gasket is leaking.





Tom

 

[Todd Z]

A friend of mine just had the intake replaced due to a crack on an early 4.6 .....



Todd Z

 

[Ray McIntireJr]

It was injected because I saw the injector rails and if it is indeed the intake gasket then maybe I'll pass. Don't remember seeing a CEL but I havn't driven it yet either. Before I make any final decisions I will test drive it first. This guy is pretty up-front about everything & I beleive is trustworthy, according to him the rough running when cold & stain are the only things wrong. He never mentioned any idiot lights. Like I said I'll drive it first.

 

[EddieS'04]

raym2, I would put a code reader on it. Just in case the CEL dont work.

 

[Bill Barber]

can't use a code reader, no OBD port on a 94.Do not think a PCM either.

 

[EddieS'04]

Bill, '94 ford had OBD 1. I have a reader for it.

The port is under the hood..

 

[Bill Barber]

Live and learn

 

[Kevin Lang]

Wow, how much does an OBD I code reader go for? Aren't they more make specific than "modern" stuff like our ScanGauges?



I remember buying a cable for my LeSabre to go to a PC serial port from the plug, but I didn't have much success with it working as the PCM in my LeSabre was screwy and from a batch not really supported in the "community"



I remember AutoZone's inability to read the OBD I codes of my 1992 LeSabre, so I had to use the Morse code paperclip method (Jump pins A & B and then count the "long" and "short" flashes of the CEL and match them to a guide, while the electric fan also runs and sucks up your battery...)



Maybe Ford was smarter than GM...after all, they're still in business.



:smile0006:

 

[EddieS'04]

KL, OBD 1 code readers were vehicle specific. I guess I should have pointed out mine is ford specific.