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Mountaineer: Rain and Rough Start
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
hans47@mail.com
Oct 26, 2006, 8:26 AM
Post #1 of 5
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Mountaineer: Rain and Rough Start
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Folks, I have a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer SUV. Whenever it rains it is tough to keep the car running after initial start-up. After turning the key, it starts but then proceeds to huff/puff and conk out. Once I manage to back it out of the driveway and drive it for a few minutes it is O.K. unless I park it again and conditions are damp/wet. I brought it in a few months ago and they said it was moisture/plugs related so they changed the spark plugs. This didn't solve the problem. It rained last night and even though the car was parked in the garage I had the same problem. Any idea what is up? Thanks.
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 26, 2006, 9:46 AM
Post #2 of 5
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Re: Mountaineer: Rain and Rough Start
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If this is the 5Lt engine; I think it’ll still have coil packs and ignition wires; rather then coil on plug. If so I would try replacing the ignition wires as the next step in solving this damp running problem. Don’t cheap out on the wires you buy as replacements; if anything go to the dealer and purchase the wires from them.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 26, 2006, 1:24 PM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: Mountaineer: Rain and Rough Start
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If moisture causes the problems it's almost alway the secondaries which means the high voltage items.
Even in your garage there is humidity and the secondaries don't do well unless they are well.
Dan said it and I'd bet wires are needed and like he said don't fool around and buy quality even if you have to get them at the dealer. These things are not a good place to save money up front, T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 29, 2006, 11:44 AM
Post #4 of 5
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Re: Mountaineer: Rain and Rough Start
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Dan, I checked my records again and both the plugs and wire set were replaced about 4k miles ago. I don't believe this engine has a distrib cap since it was marked "not applicable" during the last tune up. Any other idea as to what may be the problem or do I have a defective plug or wire set? Many thanks.
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DanD
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Oct 29, 2006, 5:51 PM
Post #5 of 5
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Re: Mountaineer: Rain and Rough Start
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Yes it is possible that the plugs and wires that were installed are defective and or of a lower quality then what is needed but at this point who knows other then checking part numbers?
This problem may also be caused by a bad/cracked coil pack. Visually inspect the coil(s) for any signs or carbon tracking around the area where the plug wires are attached. A carbon track will look like a lead pencil line drawn between the coil towers or off to the mounting bracket of the coil. These carbon track lines usually will wipe off and may even resemble the shape of a lighting bolt. Just wiping the track off isn’t a repair; change the coil. Once the electricity finds or makes a path it’ll always find it again.
Next thing you could try is to lightly mist the entire ignition system with a mixture of water and a couple of tea spoons of salt; using a pump spray bottle. Don’t let your wife catch you stealing the spray bottle from the kitchen. LOL
The salt water mixture will conduct electricity and you may actually find where the weak point is in the system by seeing spark jumping from wherever to wherever or to a metal object.
As a last resort and if you have a noisy neighbour you don’t like, have them grab hold of the coils after you’ve missed them; if he/she lights up you’ve found the source of the electrical leakage. LOL
Seriously though be careful of the ignition system the coils can produce over 80,000 volts; that’s probably about 4X the amount of voltage doctors use to stop and start your heart.
Remember after saying all of this it may not even be the ignition system that is at fault. We’re only going by the symptoms that you describe and the ignition is the most common cause. As for what else; just too many to begin mentioning and it may take someone with the experience and knowledge to find the actual cause.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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