Hello All:
I have an 89 XR7 automatic with about 55K miles on it. It is getting pretty bad gas mileage
(around 14-15 in town, premium gas only since I bought the car in 1990). It never did very
well in this regard, but is worse now. About five years ago, I had new plugs and wires put in
and have changed the fuel filter fairly regularly. It feels like it is missing. It is especially
noticeable in Park. I had motor mounts done a few years ago, but it didn't help this vibration
much, if at all.
The car also has a problem with possible overheating. If I drive it about 15 minutes, the temp
gauge is fine. But if I drive it for a longer period of time in the city, especially with the
air conditioner turned off, the temp gauge needle will slowly creep up to slightly above the 'M'
in NORM, and the idiot light 'CHECK GAGE' will come on until it cools off again. The car
doesn't have that many miles on it. Could the radiator be to blame here? I have fought with
this CHECK GAGE light and the TEMP gauge for a long time, and I had a used temperature
gauge put in early this year (the old gauge was completely shot). The used gauge I had put
in seems to work fine (Ford doesn't seem to have parts for our cars anymore).
I am not a mechanic, but any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
T W
I have an 89 XR7 automatic with about 55K miles on it. It is getting pretty bad gas mileage
(around 14-15 in town, premium gas only since I bought the car in 1990). It never did very
well in this regard, but is worse now. About five years ago, I had new plugs and wires put in
and have changed the fuel filter fairly regularly. It feels like it is missing. It is especially
noticeable in Park. I had motor mounts done a few years ago, but it didn't help this vibration
much, if at all.
The car also has a problem with possible overheating. If I drive it about 15 minutes, the temp
gauge is fine. But if I drive it for a longer period of time in the city, especially with the
air conditioner turned off, the temp gauge needle will slowly creep up to slightly above the 'M'
in NORM, and the idiot light 'CHECK GAGE' will come on until it cools off again. The car
doesn't have that many miles on it. Could the radiator be to blame here? I have fought with
this CHECK GAGE light and the TEMP gauge for a long time, and I had a used temperature
gauge put in early this year (the old gauge was completely shot). The used gauge I had put
in seems to work fine (Ford doesn't seem to have parts for our cars anymore).
I am not a mechanic, but any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
T W
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