1978 Mercury Grand marquis problems

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The Mercury Grand Marquis is an automobile that was produced by Mercury from the 1975 until 2011 model years. Introduced as the flagship sub-model of the Mercury Marquis in 1975, the Grand Marquis became a stand-alone model line in 1983, serving as the largest Mercury sedan. The model line served as the sedan counterpart of the Mercury Colony Park station wagon up to 1991. The fourth generation was the basis of the 2003 and 2004 Mercury Marauder.

From 1979 until 2011, the Grand Marquis shared the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Panther platform with the Ford LTD Crown Victoria (Ford Crown Victoria after 1992), and from 1980, the Lincoln Town Car. For over three decades, the Ford and Mercury sedans were functionally identical, with two of the three generations of the model line sharing the same roofline. The Grand Marquis was available as a four-door sedan for nearly its entire run; from 1988 to its final year in 2011, it was the only body style that was offered. A four-door hardtop was available from 1975 to 1978 and a two-door hardtop coupe from 1975 to 1987.

The Grand Marquis was the second-best-selling Mercury line (after the Cougar) with 2.7 million units produced; at 36 years of continuous production, the Grand Marquis was the longest-running Mercury nameplate (the Cougar, 34 years). Ford manufactured the Grand Marquis, alongside the Mercury Marquis, Mercury Marauder, Ford (LTD) Crown Victoria, and (beginning in 2007) the Lincoln Town Car, at two facilities: the St. Louis Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, Missouri (1979-1985) and the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Southwold, Ontario, Canada (1986-2011).

Ford announced the discontinuation of the Mercury brand in 2010, but a few 2011 model-year Mercurys were made. The last Grand Marquis - and the final Mercury branded car - was produced on January 4, 2011, at St. Thomas Assembly.

1978 Mercury Grand marquis

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Common 1978 Mercury Grand marquis problems

The 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is known for its powerful 460 engine, but it can also experience several common problems that affect its performance and reliability.

One of the most common problems is a complete loss of power and stalling, which can occur after about 5 minutes of driving. This issue can be caused by several factors, including a faulty fuel system, ignition problems, or a malfunctioning EGR system. The owner of the 1973 Mercury Marquis in the search results tried replacing the fuel tank, fuel sending unit, fuel lines, filter, fuel pump, carburetor kit, distributor, ignition coil, spark plugs, ignition wire, air filter, and checking the EGR, alternator, and battery, but none of these solutions fixed the problem. The next step would be to check the timing chain, which can cause stalling and loss of power if it is worn out or damaged.

Another common problem with the 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis is transmission issues. The transmission can slip, causing a rough ride, and may not engage properly, making it difficult to park or shift gears. The transmission may also affect the car's starting mechanism, causing the car to stall and fail to start. The search results suggest that the problem could be due to a loose bracket in the steering column where the shift cable connects, a shift cable issue, or a linkage problem in the transmission. If these issues cannot be diagnosed and fixed, it is recommended to have the vehicle looked at by a certified transmission specialist.

The 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis can also experience overheating problems, which can be caused by a coolant leak, a faulty radiator fan, or a failed thermostat. Overheating can cause serious damage to the engine and other components, so it is important to address this issue promptly.

In summary, the 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis can experience several common problems, including stalling and loss of power, transmission issues, and overheating. These issues can be caused by various factors, such as fuel system problems, ignition issues, transmission linkage problems, or coolant leaks. It is important to address these issues promptly to ensure the car's reliability and performance.

1978 Mercury Grand marquis engine

1978 Mercury Grand marquis car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercury Grand marquis problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Electrical system problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1978 Mercury Grand marquis vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1978 Mercury Grand marquis complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1978 Mercury Grand marquis.

1996-04-23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1990-01-01
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH TO IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED/BURNT. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 503744) *DSH
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