I am a novice regarding vehicle mechanics
Just got a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer AWD 152K through a series of events that would make for a reality show. Turns out there is no front drive shaft. It runs nice but not a lot of driving yet.
It was sold (as is) as a 4wd - my mechanic (ex-)friend said it was a 4WD
and went on 2 test drives (one with me, for a fee) and supposedly thoroughly checked it out earlier for his sister, who declined due to dents and bruises, and suggested it to me when he heard I needed something decent affordable and soon.
I admit I didn't know 2wd from 4wd from awd and while that has improved quickly i still dont know a differential from an equation! I learned this (supposed 4wd that had no paperwork) vehicle was supposed to have a button you push to switch from 2wd to 4wd as needed, and I just couldn't find the button. I called my mechanic ex-friend over to assist again...
When he couldn't find it either, he looked underneath (thought he had done that earlier) and announced: There is no FDS! We had some unpleasant conversation and haven't spoke since.
Lights, emblems, labels, decals, etchings, paperwork, vin-codes, and other things that might reliably denote drivetrain (2,4,awd) don't seem to exist, and i googled a lot. I finally called Ford, gave them my VIN, and was told is was a 2wd model. The 2000 M Mounty did come in 3 trims, so why not? LOL.
It still didn't make sense why my ex-friend would announce the FDS is gone, on a 2wd. Then I found a vin-lookup site that said I had an AWD. I spoke to 5 folks at Ford who respectively told me awd, 2wd, 2wd w awd option, 2wd, and finally, a supervisor I asked to SETTLE the matter pronounced it AWD. Ya know, with no labels or decals or emblems or signs or codes that say AWD its sorta hard to tell, if you are too old and sore to get underneath it and figure it out. I see at least 2 others in this thread have been stymied similarly.
Anyway, I learned about the critical Park/prawl/EB issue here in this thread, as well as general good info. And that I probably shouldn't get the grandkids to go junkyard a FDS and put it on, because it was this way at least a year and probably something fried or popped that would preclude that... but more importantly, from this great thread, I can probably relatively comfortably but carefully, just enjoy it AS IS.
THANKS ALL!