High mileage club

300A is hitting 170K. Still runs great, gets about 18-20 MPG even with hard driving. The only things that have failed are the adjustable pedals (3X so far, I'm getting good at swapping them) each summer due to the summer heat. The PCV rubber line cracked 140K (and made it idle rough due the vacuum leak). The real oil pressure guage (Auto Meter) sender (2x) due to leaks from the rubber diaphragm, about every 60K miles. The EAC O-rings at 100K. The belt tensioner at 110K (faint squeaks). The battery goes about every 2 years due to the heat out here.

Maintenance items: The plugs at 120K. The IAC valve every 80K (really smoothes out the idle, didn't want to bother to keep cleaning the old ones). The rubber drive belt every 80K miles (started squealing at startup with full alternator load). Oil changes faithfully every 3K miles. Air filter every 3rd oil change.

Put slotted rotors and titanium brake pads on at 60K, still good and stops hard from 100 MPH to 0.
J-mod in the trans when new at 10K, still chirps the 1-2 shift at full throttle, and the OD band comes on solid.

Car still runs like new.
 
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ParkRanger said:
Been gone awhile - what's this EATC thing?
Click to expand...

The "Electronic Automatic Temperature Control" (heat, AC, defrost) controller under the radio has solenoid valves (for the vacuum control lines) that get hot enough to render the internal o-rings brittle and causes them to fail. The unit can be replaced for $300+ dollars or you can replace the o-rings with silicone ones that will handle the heat.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36922
 
My '04 has 118,000+ Miles. I have replaced the EATC and LCM. I also replaced the radio with one from a 2005 Escape.
I also had 2 different oil leaks, one from the timing chain cover and the oil filter seal which got all over the serpantine belt. I replaced that twice due to oil being all over it. I replaced the rear brakes at 65,000 and the fronts at 115,000. I also had a short in the back up lights. The dealer found the short in the trunk, a broken wire. I plan on keeping her forever if I can.
I will be looking for new DD soon. Probably a SHO, but maybe a MKS turbo.
 
illwood said:
The "Electronic Automatic Temperature Control" (heat, AC, defrost) controller under the radio has solenoid valves (for the vacuum control lines) that get hot enough to render the internal o-rings brittle and causes them to fail. The unit can be replaced for $300+ dollars or you can replace the o-rings with silicone ones that will handle the heat.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36922
Click to expand...
Thanks Illwood - yeah, replaced mine about 3 months ago. Around $400.
Cheers
PR :burnout:
 
Left: 145,xxx s/c since 130xxx
Right: 175,xxx N/A


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