Power steering pump is going bad, it only works when I use the gas, I think it's only the pump, but I'm not sure. It's going to be replaced here in about a week.
The engine sputters in all speeds, and there is a lack of power when accelerating due to the sputter. When I'm driving, or first start the car, it smells like gasoline, a very noticeable amount of it too.
Along with the sputtering and loss of power, the check engine light has come on. When I hit about 55 or 60, it begins to flash, and won't stop flashing until I slow back down. This, I have no idea what is going on.
I also just replaced the thermostat. Although I put the seal in wrong, so it blew, and radiator fluid made the engine over heat, but it's fixed now. I had to blow out the spark plug lines, and in turn I replaced all 8 spark plugs.
So, i took it into a local shop, and they replaced the number 2 and 7 spark plug boots and wires, and the car runs almost good as new now, but i still have to replace the power steering.
Before all the mishaps, this car was very good.
It gets up and goes for being a 4,000 lb. car.
Handling is great, very responsive.
Rides like a dream, and it's nice to have the heavy duty frame the comes along with it.
The interior is very bare.. but what can you do? It's a police interceptor.
I have a question for u. My 1999 Crown Vic. has the same fuel and acceleration problems, how did you fix it, and what was the problem? If you don't mind please contact me at lovaofwisdom@yahoo.com thank you.
If the car sputters at all speeds, and you smell gas, it sounds as though the engine is flooding, or at least not burning the available gas. In the old days, this would have sounded like the float in the carburetor was saturated with gas, sinking instead of closing off the inlet valve. However, on a 1999 surely this does not have a carburetor and must certainly have fuel injection.
Pull the spark plugs and check the color. Are they black and sooty? Are they carbon coated? When were they last changed?
Also, ground a spark plug on an exhaust manifold and crank the engine (not enough to start it). View the spark that jumps across the spark plug electrodes. Is it yellow (weak) or bright blue (strong)?
Try the standard tune-up stuff -- distributor cap, spark plug wires, spark plugs, and a can of fuel injector cleaner. First, hope it's something simple. Next, you can start thinking about replacing the coil, checking the electrical resistance of the fuel injectors (MPFI?), timing, and little sensors like the mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, etc.
A Haynes Manual will take you through the steps to troubleshoot the problem more efficiently.
I have a '99 that was doing the same thing. In addition it was acting like it had a transmission problem, not shifting correctly at certain rpms... turned out to be the fuel pump... everything was solved and it runs like a top now. I would check this as this is a common problem with them and about a 300 to 400 dollar fix.
I have 99 Crown Vic Police Interceptor.
Have problem a missing when hot. How come nobody seems to know the answer? Have replaced coil pack, master air flow, IAC, fuel filter, spark plugs. Now will try injectors.
Is there nobody out there who knows about this, as there are other people having the same problem chef_arthur@hotmail.com
I have the same problem to with my 99, and it turned out to be the EGR and emission evap sensor. Cheap and easy fix, EGT is 60... and the evap sensor is 112 for a Motorcraft one, which is what you should use to get the same horsepower. Most aftermarket stuff is junk.
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