I just purchased a 2002 Mountaineer, 6 cyl, 4.0l eng w/ 34500 miles on it. Within a week, notice low oil pressure light comes on, then goes off. Checked oil, level is ok. Drive around block, light does not come on again. The next day, after driving appx 5 miles, service engine soon light comes on, car cannot go over 40mph without starting a "death rattle", and blue & white smoke billows from exhaust. I believeit is a blown head gasket. The car is in shop, no response from dealer yet. Anyideas? https://www.mercuryforum.com/smileys/smiley5.gif

Sounds about right blown head gasket

Any idea as to cost to repair? I was also reading about possible class action suit against auto delaersin regard to head gaskets, and other types of needed repairs that seem to pop us right around the time that warranty comes to an end.[img]smileys/smiley11.gif[/img]

Yep, but the "death rattle" has my concerned, plus the low oil pressure may mean that the engine went without oil for a little bit. If so then the engine bearings will be shot, and you will need a rebuilt engine. You know most of the time you buy a used car, you buy it 'as is'. I don't know how many days since you bought it, but if it hasn't been that long I'd ask the dealer to pay for the repairs. Maybe you can get them to cover some or most of the cost at last.
good luck and lets us know what happens, thanks

death rattle Ive seen that movie lol


ya go to the dealer if its been within a month and you


haven't been dogging it they can put a obdII reader on it


and tell you the RPM and g force in braking with in the last


300 hr. that you grove it. good luck !

I bought the car on a Saturday. On Sunday of the next week is when this adventure started. Took car into shop Monday morning, Get reply around 3:30 that mechs have not looked at car yet, will advise Tues. I called Tues. afternoon, mgr says that they are waiting on injectors, will advise on Wed. I call on Wed., they are running diagnostics. I go to dealer on Wed., they're sorry that they still have not gotten answer, so I get "loaner." We will see, but when I mentioned that this better not be a blown head gasket, or I want another car, eyes seem to light up. Maybe they know...??[img]smileys/smiley24.gif[/img]

takes time to chang head gasket lol


if i was you get another car! it might happen


at 66000 miles right.

Is the vehicle back at the dealer you bought it from? If so and you only owened the vehicle a short period of time i doubt that they are holding any information from you at times it really can take a long time to diagnose. In the 4 years the 2002 body style has been avaliable I have not yet seen 1 blown headgasket. Not saying that it isnt possible. I would also recommend having the left timing chain tensioner checked as they can cause a "death rattle" and stalling/no accel conditions. Also as for the low oil pressure light i do believe that we've had problems with the wiring going to them breaking and the switch itself going bad


Edited by: MercAdvisor

Thanks for the advice, everyone. The latest thing I'm being told is that the computer needs to be replaced. How much impact does this have on not only solving the problem, but also knowing what the problem really was. I know that with a regular computer, once the hard drive is removed & replaced, there really is no historyabout the computer other than what you will now install. Is this the same case in this matter, or willdiagnostics remain as to the car, not what was on the computer? Am I gettingcarried away here???[img]smileys/smiley29.gif[/img]


If so, reel me back in.

Diagnostics are on the computer they will be replacing however if cleared properly any technican can do so realitivly easily

But whaty will show up on the computer, the results post repair or prior to repair?

If the computer is replaced there will be no history of what happened to the old computer on the in one. As for as diagnosising the old one, I doudt anybody will do anything with it, if it was bad.

For those who may have been following my story, here is the latest:


My Mountaineer was finally returned on March 15. The problem was a bad injector, and the pcm had to be replaced. The reasonfor the delay(s) had to do with bad parts that were delivered from Mercury, which had to be returned and replaced w/ working parts. But finally,the job was finished and I have my vehicle. Being that a 6 cylinder is a 6 cylinder, the acceleration is what it is. But otherwise, it seems ok. There are a few squeaks, I believe the serpentine belt is a wee bit tight, but otherwise....ok. Hey MercAdviser, I saw something on the net having to do with a TSB in regard to Head Gasket repair. Do this sound familiar to you?[img]smileys/smiley5.gif[/img]

I've seen a few about a intake manifold gasket but have yet to see anything about a headgasket I will keep my eyes open though.[img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img]

Noted, and thanks. So far, so good. The 'neer seems to be running ok. Is there anything I should be looking for that might let me know if there is an underlying problem? Also, does anyone know if my model of Mountaineer has the transmission that "learns as you drive?" I have a 2002 6 cylinder 4.0l AWD.