Need help in where to start looking?

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turn_on68

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This is on my replacement '98 Mark VIII
1)parking brake doesn't release when put in gear or brake pedal.
2)the AC switches to defrost upon even light acceleration and then back when you let off.
3)tilt won't tilt either way even if you tug on the wheel. It telescopes fine.
Do any of you with all with all your experience have any ideas ? Air sounds to me like a vacuum hose,but I don't know where to begin to look, could be why there's no air when put into heat mode and not the blend door?
Oh no cruise control and idea where to start there?
Also does anyone have an opinion on these front brake pads:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#vi-ilComp
 
1) I dont think its suppose to.
2) sounds like a vacuum leak, higher RPM = less vacuum. I had a crack in a vac line by the firewall on passenger side. There are a few lines there.
3) I think Jamie has that answer. There is a design flaw that caused it to break. Or maybe its the telescoping. Either way, I dont know! :D

Cruise could be a fuse, of course, or it could be that the car never completed its recall. In the passenger wheel well liner there is a cruise safety interrupt. They leak and cause fire. As a result, some where just disconnected until the new parts came in. Just look for a fitting that intercepts a brake line. It will be very near the air-ride compressor. It will have a wire harness also.
 
Pretty sure the parking brake is supposed to auto release on a 2nd gen, if it's like my Eldorado or Deville was it's vacuum powered, check for vac leaks..
 
Yup, just read up. I did not know they brought that back to the Marks. It was in all other models, just not 93 to 96. Thanks Ford!
 
The parking brake definitely releases on 2nd gens. I was thinking vacuum, also.

There are seperate motors for tilt and telescope. It sounds like your tilt one is shot.

Unity has the best answer for the rest of those questions. I'm not nearly as experienced.
 
So far though, you have two potential issues related to vacuum. What is your idle RPM at?
 
What I did for my in/out and up/down was set them manually, unplug the connectors beneath the the colum and leave it alone. Haven't had a problem since.:)
 
The issue with the tilt is the Potentometer (spell?) it is a little black box that controls the tilt - this inside the steering column. Ford has discontinued this part so only used ones are the option now...I would just swap the steering column with a tested good one. Not that bad a job takes 30min and only special tool is the steering wheel puller - $20 at most auto part retailers. Just disconnec the battery and becarful when removing the airbag...
 
Frat-man-du said:
The issue with the tilt is the Potentometer (spell?) it is a little black box that controls the tilt - this inside the steering column. Ford has discontinued this part so only used ones are the option now...I would just swap the steering column with a tested good one. Not that bad a job takes 30min and only special tool is the steering wheel puller - $20 at most auto part retailers. Just disconnec the battery and becarful when removing the airbag...
Click to expand...

Is this the part: MOTORCRAFT WPT-732 Steering Column Adj Switch/Misc

MOTORCRAFT WPT-732 Steering Column Adj Switch-Misc.jpg
 
Nope it is long and thin ... You have to take the column out and remove the 8 or 10 torx bolts and remove the cover plate to gain access.
 
Not that the above could not be the issue ... The Potentometer us the most common failure point... Very carefully lift up on the steering wheel as you press the tilt switch if you can get movement now then for sure the Potent... Is the issue. This does not always work... Depends on how bad the switch is.
 
Frat-man-du said:
Not that the above could not be the issue ... The Potentometer us the most common failure point... Very carefully lift up on the steering wheel as you press the tilt switch if you can get movement now then for sure the Potent... Is the issue. This does not always work... Depends on how bad the switch is.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I had to do that on my last Mark. Since it telescopes is it probably the tilt motor then?
 
Not necessarily. The potentiometer has two sections. One for the tilt, one for the telescoping. I've seen many where it's just a matter of the pot's sliding contacts being dirty.

If you're industrious, you can take it apart and clean the contacts with a good pencil eraser.
 
Take the plastic panel down from underneath the steering wheel.

At the end furthest from the steering wheel, you'll see a white plastic harness connector with yellow wire sleeving. You can either apply 12 volts to the pins in the plug, or disconnect the wires at the motor and apply 12v there. If that moves the motor, then it's either the potentiometer, or the switch--but most likely the potentiometer...
 
Ok. Thanks for that info. I still have to remove the entire column though. If I am going to do all that I might as well install a working column.
 
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