Sticky: Difference between a 2003 300A and a 300B

[94_302]

In the sticky and in this thread, the valve covers are not listed correctly. 2003 B valve covers are the same as A. 2004 is when they were no longer painted.

 

[RF Overlord]

Thanks, 94 302...the correction has been made. :up:

 

[94_302]

Thanks, 94 302...the correction has been made. :up:

NP
Also I am not sure on this, but I thought the Sunroof option was only for 04. I have seen 03's with sunroofs but I thought 03's with a sunroof meant either aftermarket or dealer installed, not factory.

 

[merc6]

When was sunroof in play. I also have another question that might not get ansered right away. The factory radio rds feature. is there a seating option for 03 300B or 04 300A? manual and Quick refrence guide mentins it but I didn't have it in either factory radio (one in car was on last leg on test drive)

 

[Bluerauder]

Moving along nicely....almost ready for a final document.

You guys are still missing some things though.....

How about the Flat Style Windshield wipers?? Wasn't the change to the more traditional bow style wipers part of the 300A to 300B change? I have only seen those flat wipers on some of the older '03 MMs.

 

[HwyCruiser]

Engine code for the '03 300A is 3G-120-AA, PN 3W1Z-8052-AA, black valve covers, single knock sensor.
Engine code for the '03 300B is 3G-120-AB, PN 3W1Z-8052-AA, black valve covers, single knock sensor. Four catch codes, I don't remember the first. It was short lived, but followed by BMDO, CRD0 and CRD1.
Engine code for the '04 300A is 4G-120-AA, P/N unknown, unpainted valve covers and dual knock sensors. Catch code for all is MAV2

I've got an FDH2 sticker, was that the first "catch code"? I'm acutally running a BMD0 tune, which supposedly an upgraded flash for FDH2.

Next distinction between 03 and 04: green vs. yellow factory antifreeze.

 

[Blackened300a]

Oh well, I tried to get all the input together for the sticky and then do a final edit and put it in a seperate thread.
Explain the windshield dot matrix and the tint? I have dot matrix over my rear view mirror.
I also have green antifreeze

 

[SergntMac]

I thought 03's with a sunroof meant either aftermarket or dealer installed, not factory.

None of them are "factory" installed in the sense you mean. A sunroof changes a digit in the VIN, and the build is pulled off line and sent out to a local installer, then returned to the line for completion.

is there a seating option for 03 300B or 04 300A? manual and Quick refrence guide mentins it but I didn't have it in either

Only option was addition of heated seats.

My 300B came with a 300A manual, which has large stick decals over some topics, and used to change some language and add pages.

I've got an FDH2 sticker, was that the first "catch code"? Next distinction between 03 and 04: green vs. yellow factory antifreeze.

You are indeed correct on the catch code, FDH2 is the first, I'll remember it now, thanks.

My 300B came with green and I've updated that to gold, so, it may be an '03-'04 change. BTW, anyone making this change, you need to do two complete drain and flushes, all the green need to be flushed out, don't mix them.

 

[Merc-O-matic]

Oh well, I tried to get all the input together for the sticky and then do a final edit and put it in a seperate thread.
Explain the windshield dot matrix and the tint? I have dot matrix over my rear view mirror.
I also have green antifreeze

All early 2003 A's came with the traditional dark blue windshield tint
which runs accross the top of the windshield ( standard on most cars
for the past 30 years) as production on the 2003 B's started they
switched to a dot-matrix band accross the top of the windshield and
around the rear view mirror. IMHO (dot-matrix) is nothing more than another way to cheapen the car and save some money. The dot-matrix is worthless
as far as protecting you from sun or glare! So most 2003 B's and
all 2004's have the dot-matrix...as do the regular Mercury Grand Marquis':down:

Green anti-freeze was standard (stock) in the 2003 A's...they switched to
the Gold anti-freeze with the 2003 B's/2004's

Gotta Love It!

 

[GreekGod]

Fdh2

My #...602213 was the only MM built in April of '02 (4-9-02) and the (tune?) code is FDH2.

Wonder if it was (Providentially) some sort of a "transition" build for the GreekGod?

 

[SergntMac]

Green anti-freeze was standard (stock) in the 2003 A's...they switched to the Gold anti-freeze with the 2003 B's/2004's

Gotta Love It!

My '03 300B had the green.

 

[Blackened300a]

All early 2003 A's came with the traditional dark blue windshield tint
which runs accross the top of the windshield ( standard on most cars
for the past 30 years) as production on the 2003 B's started they
switched to a dot-matrix band accross the top of the windshield and
around the rear view mirror. IMHO (dot-matrix) is nothing more than another way to cheapen the car and save some money. The dot-matrix is worthless
as far as protecting you from sun or glare! So most 2003 B's and
all 2004's have the dot-matrix...as do the regular Mercury Grand Marquis':down:

I have a early issue 300A with dot Matrix windshield. Was the windshield change the first thing to occur?

 

[RF Overlord]

Green anti-freeze was standard (stock) in the 2003 A's...they switched to the Gold anti-freeze with the 2003 B's/2004's

I have a 2003 300A (build date 8/29/2002) and it came with the gold antifreeze.

 

[Merc-O-matic]

I have a early issue 300A with dot Matrix windshield. Was the windshield change the first thing to occur?

If you have a 2003 300A with a dot-matrix windshield....that is
probably not the original stock windshield?.... it is probably a
replacement? I have never seen an early 2003 300A with anything
but the old style tint? Go figure.

Gotta Love It!

 

[Sully008]

So...what about us Canadian versions??

 

[Merc-O-matic]

My '03 300B had the green.

Mac...you got me on that one! I guess it was whatever
the truck brought in that day....who knows, maybe Elena Ford?

Gotta Love It!

 

[merc6]

My 300B came with a 300A manual, which has large stick decals over some topics, and used to change some language and add pages.
You are indeed correct on the catch code, FDH2 is the first, I'll remember it now, thanks.

I was refering to rds features. button between scan and < sel > on radio.

This is an example of some of rds options.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=793716087

 

[Peter]

So...what about us Canadian versions??

Mine also has the dots...

 

[94_302]

None of them are "factory" installed in the sense you mean. A sunroof changes a digit in the VIN, and the build is pulled off line and sent out to a local installer, then returned to the line for completion.

When I say factory I mean that by the time it left the plant and was being sent to the dealership, a sunroof had been installed. But thats interesting how they do the sunroofs.

 

[Lowell]

One more item. O3 300A has mesh rear speaker grills in the package tray. 03 300B and 04 have perfs in the rear for the sound to muffle through. Sound travles much better through the mesh grills. My 03 300A, built July 02 Has yellow antifreeze. Watch out where the huskies go.