Misaligned Engine Is Topic of Many Service Bulletins
Question: We own a 1985 Mercury Lynx. Not long after buying it, we discovered that it would occasionally pop out of fourth gear during mild acceleration and especially on a slight incline. The dealer repaired it under warranty, saying the engine was mounted in the wrong position and needed to be moved. Now, a year later, the problem seems to be returning. Do you think the engine is out of position again or is there another problem?--D.C.
Answer: Ford recognizes that certain Lynx models in 1985 and 1986 exhibit the problem you describe, and there is a very long series of technical service bulletins dealing with it.
A misaligned engine will cause the transmission to pop out of second or fourth gear. Apparently, the problem is that the transmission linkage can bind if the engine is not mounted in exactly the right position.
There are some other causes as well. One is an improper adjustment on a switch controlling the dashboard light that signals to the driver when it is time to shift the transmission. The light does not actually control the transmission; it merely advises the driver when to shift. Still, it can cause a lot of trouble.
The first technical service bulletin, numbered 85-24-9, refers to subsequent bulletins. Because the problem first occurred while the car was under warranty, you should talk to the dealer about getting it repaired under an extended warranty. If you aren’t satisfied, talk to the Ford factory representative.
It should be possible to fix the problem permanently. Quite likely, the position of the engine shifted after it was repaired the first time.
Q: I own a 1984 Toyota Cressida with 33,000 miles on it. There seems to be some question as to when I should have the rear axle bearings serviced. Could you please enlighten me?--H.C.
A: Those rear axle bearings are supposed to be maintenance-free, so there is not a recommended service interval. The idea is that you drive them until they fail, and then you replace them.
It’s not an inexpensive job to replace the bearings. The job typically costs $200 per side, including the cost of about $80 for bearings.
The reason the job is so expensive is that each wheel has what’s called a half-shaft axle that rides on the bearings, and the bearings must be carefully adjusted to what is called preload. The technology on newer Toyotas is somewhat simpler, allowing a mechanic to simply insert new bearings with a snap ring that automatically sets the preload.
The bearings are inside a sealed unit that is lubricated with a heavy grease. You should not have a problem as long as the seals do their job of keeping out moisture and dirt. If the wheels are ever submerged, for example, you may have to replace the bearings.
Q: When my 1984 Nissan Maxima had about 9,000 miles, I noticed an occasional noise in the power steering. It sounded as if two gears were not properly meshing. The dealer couldn’t find a problem. The car now has 33,000 miles on it, and the problem persists. Other Nissan owners say they have the same problem. Do you have any idea of what it is?--R.F.T.
A: Unfortunately, I don’t have a good idea about it. Often, such noises can be blamed on cavitation in the power-steering pump, which results when bubbles are formed in a fluid. This often occurs in cold weather. Or, possibly, you simply have low fluid in the pump. You can check that when the engine is cold. Because the steering has performed adequately for 33,000 miles, perhaps the noise is endemic to the car’s design.
Vartabedian cannot answer mail personally but will respond in this column to automotive questions of general interest. Do not telephone. Write to Your Wheels, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.
