An idiot, I was defrauded by a person selling a 1987 420SEL. I was told it was in perfect condition, but nothing could be further from the truth! I am trying to trace the guy to lay charges, and hopefully get my money back to buy a good example of the car....but until then. I am stuck. Among the many problems I am told is that the intake manifold is leaking, and possibly injector nozzles leaking....so car idles too fast. dealer quotes $700 to do this before he can check for what else if anything is wrong with the motor. Car drives ok other than the fast idle and hard starting. (there are so many other things wrong with the car ..windows not working, air not working, sun roof not working, wipers defective, radio, etc, etc.... I hesitate to put good money after bad.....just want to "quick" fix if at all possible while i try to get myself out of this mess. Any way to fix the leaks without going to this much expense? Know it is a long shot......but thought there might be a way........
Thanks, barry

If you are mechanically inclined, you can fix these things yourself, if you want to. You have a beautiful car.

Intake leaks could be the rubber couplers between the manifold halves. the manifold must be removed to do this. While involved, it's not all that hard. There should be air bypass hoses by the injectors. They may need to be replaced or vacuum leaks fixed. There may be other vacuum leaks. Look at the basics first, plugs, cap rotor, air filter etc.

Have you checked the fuses? they may be bad or corroded. DO you hear the window motors work? The A/C may need a recharge.

A Pre Purchase inspection is always a good thing for an older car. Dont despair, look at one area at a time and not the whole mess. This way you won't be so overwhelmed.

Feedback, we need feedback. PIX would be nice too.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

One more thing, the injectors should be 'leaking' hence the C of CIS for continuous.

Any CIS experts out there?

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

The injectors should require about 45psi to open. In my opinion if you don't do the work yourself do not put any money in the car.
If you do the work it will take many many months, and probably thousands of dollars in parts and special tools to get everything working!

Ho boy....!

You probably also have leaking idle control valve hoses (the fast idle problem). This is easier to fix, but all the rubber is bad, you need to replace it all.

If you aren't interested in doing all the necessary work yourself, you should consider selling the car, it will be VERY expensive to pay someone to fix everything.

No AC is often a bad fuse, check (replace, really) all of the fuses, it's cheap and may fix several things. The fuses are ceramic with an aluminum strip, the aluminum corrodes and cracks, and the fuse won't conduct even though it looks fine. The can also corrode away at the contact, so that while the strip conducts and it will test OK, it won't contact in the fuse holder.

Intake manifold and injector seals really require removal of the manifold to fix. Another leak spot is the plastic connector box between the fuel distributor and the manifold -- it will requrie some other parts, too as it usually won't come off by now intact.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!