Symptom Diagnosis
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 30 other vehicles, including the 2003 Mercury Sable, 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, 2003 Mercury Marauder, 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, and 2003 Lincoln Town Car. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Symptom checks cannot be used properly unless problem occurs while vehicle is being tested. To reduce diagnostic time, ensure steps in BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES - TRUCKS - EXCEPT DIESEL article and SELF-DIAGNOSTICS - CNG, FLEX-FUEL & GASOLINE article were performed before diagnosing a symptom. Symptom checks are listed in order of probability, ease of accomplishment, and accessibility. Symptoms available for diagnosis are as follows:
- ROUGH OR ROLLING IDLE, STALLS, MISSES, HESITATION OR SURGE
- HARD START/LONG CRANK OR ERRATIC START/CRANK
- NO START/NORMAL CRANK
- SLOW RETURN TO IDLE
- FAST IDLE OR DIESELS/RUNS ON
- LOW IDLE (STALLS ON DECELERATION)
- BACKFIRES
- LACK/LOSS OF POWER
- SPARK KNOCK
- POOR FUEL ECONOMY
- VEHICLE FAILS EMISSIONS/EMISSIONS COMPLIANCE
- HISSING SOUND WHEN REMOVING FUEL CAP
- EXCESSIVE FUEL ODOR
- UNABLE TO REFUEL VEHICLE
- WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS
- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN OR UPSHIFT, OR ENGAGEMENT
- SPEEDOMETER OR TACHOMETER INOPERATIVE
- HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION
- ELECTRIC, HYDRAULIC OR VISCTRONIC COOLING FAN INOPERATIVE
- ELECTRIC OR HYDRAULIC COOLING FAN(S) ALWAYS ON
- EXHAUST SMOKE
- FUEL ODOR
- ENGINE NOISE
- CLIMATE CONTROL (LACK OF A/C COOLING, A/C ALWAYS ON OR A/C INOPERATIVE)
- EXHAUST ODOR (SULFUR SMELL)