2007 Mounty questions

[Themrshunt]

Hi, I have been searching the forum and can't seem to find the answers I need. We are looking at buying a 2007 Mountaineer V8 AWD with 88,x.. miles. It is at a dealership with "true Car Price" so they will not haggle and it is $14,8XX. We went and test drove it and I really like it but the are a coupe of problems.

1 - the aux input only puts sounds to the right side. Any advice on that one? I can't even find how to replace that if that is the problem.

2 - the center console latch is loose be the left side so it does not stay latched half the time. I tried tightening the screw on that side but no go.

3 - and the big one, when going from about 35 to 40 and just giving it gentle gas it hesitates but the RPM does NOT change, it is at low RPM at the time. It seems to do it mostly when going up hill and only if you accelerate gently, not if you give it good gas.
I read several threads and they said anything from the torque converter to the COPs the the plugs. I am not a car person so I don't know how to fix anything and really don't want to have a major fix after paying that much.

The dealer offered for us to take it to the mercury dealership (it is at the mercedes dealership) and whatever they find that needs fixing up to a certain price they will take off the purchase price. Only problem I can't get in to have it looked at until Tuesday and I don't know if they will go with that. So mainly I would like to know if I should not buy it because of that and about how much those repairs would be.

Thanks!!

 

[spalmer1214]

You should be worried about that accel problem. It was prob my thread that you read about the torque converter. If you cant change it yourself then it will easily cost you over $1000 to fix it. Luckly i have the knowledge and did it myself for about $300. The problem is called torque converter chatter.

So think about that before you buy it. Hope this helps.

 

[Themrshunt]

You should be worried about that accel problem. It was prob my thread that you read about the torque converter. If you cant change it yourself then it will easily cost you over $1000 to fix it. Luckly i have the knowledge and did it myself for about $300. The problem is called torque converter chatter.

So think about that before you buy it. Hope this helps.

Thanks!

I googled torque converter chatter and got a site that said it felt like running over a cattle guard. The whole vehicle does not shake like that, I just can't think how else to describe it. Maybe that is a good sign?

 

[spalmer1214]

It happened to mine. It starts out as a little hesitation and might buck a little bit but eventually it feels like your driving over a rumble strip op the side of the road.

 

[emmanuelibarra]

If the revs do go up, then it is not an engine problem, and likely a transmission issue.

You have a chance most people do not have when buying a used vehicle, and that is making the seller pay for any problem the truck has. If you like the truck, I´d say wait and take it to get checked and discount the repair, just know in beforehand that it might be the torque converter and run to at least $1000.

 

[kam327]

Thanks!

I googled torque converter chatter and got a site that said it felt like running over a cattle guard. The whole vehicle does not shake like that, I just can't think how else to describe it. Maybe that is a good sign?

You don't need the cattle guard / rumble strip symptom for it to be the same problem. I had the rythmic RPM surge issue for months (same conditions, 35-40mph, slight uphill grade, light accel) before experiencing the rumble strip symptom too, and even then only for about 1 second 1 time. That finally convinced me to take it in and I ended up with a $1,400 TC replacement, lucikly covered under extended warranty.

 

[Themrshunt]

The OP was supposed to say RPM does NOT change. so does that mean it is not the torque converter? We have a friend at church that is going to look at it tonight and see what he can figure out.

 

[Themrshunt]

A new observation, when you turn off overdrive it doesn't happen. Any thoughts?

 

[vipersinu2]

sounds like spark plugs. there not cheep, and also known to break off in head.

 

[paulyjsob]

I'm experiencing a similar issue. Did you get this fixed?

 

[mounted]

There are 2 things that can cause the stumble/hesitation.

1. The transmission needs to be "reprogrammed." My 06 had this problem and that took care of the studdering.

2. Spark plugs. If your truck "stumbles" under light acceleration its the plugs. Plugs are pricey (A $500 job at least) for this truck thanks to Ford's ridiculous plug design.