JWWOODY

HAL; WHEN I WAS GETTING TIRES FOR THE LINCOLN WHEELS THAT I USED ON MY TC, I SPOKE TO TIRE RACK. THEY WERE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HELPFUL. I SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED GUS, IN PARTICULAR, BUT I'M SURE ANY TECH THERE CAN HELP YOU. I WENT FROM A 15X6 1/2 TO A 16 X7 WHEEL WITH 225/55 R16 TIRE AND THERE IS PLEANTY OF ROOM AROUND THE TIE RODS AND BRAKES. WOODY

I CHECKED THE SERVICE MANUAL AND THERE IS NO INFO ON THE RADIO REMOVAL. IT DOES SHOW THE DASH PANELS AS BEING REMOVABLE. THE FASCIA AROUND THE RADIO HAS TWO SCREWS ON EACH SIDE OF THE RADIO(PROBABLY BEHIND THE RADIO) AND 4 SNAP CLIPS ONE IN EACH CORNER. REMOVE THE SCREWS AND POP THE FASCIA OFF. THE STORAGE PANEL ABOVE THE RADIO IS HELD ON WITH ABOUT 8 SNAP CLIPS NO SCREWS. WOODY

IF YOU PUT A BIGGER INTAKE ON, YOU WILL ONLY GET MORE POWER IF YOU INCREASE THE EXHAUST AS WELL. BUT BE REAL, IT A 2.0L 4 BANGER. IT IS ECONOMICAL, PRACTICAL , AND IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE FAST. I REALIZE THAT I AM AN OLD MAN AND DRIVE LIKE ONE, THATS WHY I GET ALMOST 26MPG. IF YOU WANT A LITTLE BETTER MPG (NOT MUCH MORE POWER) YOU CAN PUT A K&N AIR FILTER IN THE EXISTING BOX, AND CHECK, CLEAN, AND OIL IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. WOODY

I AM ALSO A MAINTENANCE FREAK. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, USE CASTROL 5W-20 SYNTHETIC BLEND AND FRAM OR PURE ONE FILTERS. OIL CHANGES ARE THE CHEAPEST INSURANCE YOU CAN BUY. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THIS FORMAT WITH ALL OF MY PREVIOUS FORD VANS AND HAVE GOTTEN IN EXCESS OF 350,000 MILES ON THEM WITH OUT BURNING OIL. IT IS ALSO" PIECE OF MIND" THAT I DO IT MY SELF AND I ALWAYS DO A COMPLETE CHECK ON FLUIDS AND UNDERCARRIAGE WHILE I'M AT IT. FIX IT BEFORE IT BREAKS, IT KEEPS THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD MAKING MONEY, WITH MINIMAL DOWN TIME. WOODY

I HAVE 9000 MILES ON MINE, DRIVE 80-100 MILES A DAY, AND CARRY ABOUT 800 LBS OF TOOLS. I GET 24-25.9 MPG ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS CLOSER TO 24 WITH THE AC ON.

I HAVE A COPY OF THE SERVICE MANUAL AND THE ONLY LISTING FOR A CABIN AIR FILTER IS IN THE MAINTENANCE SECTION WHERE IT SAYS TO CHECK/CHANGE CABIN AIR FILTER EVERY 7500 MILES ( IF EQUIPPED). THERE IS NO OTHER REFFERENCE. I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT , UNDER THE COWL, AND BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE, I HOPE SOMEONE CAN PROVE ME WRONG, I AM ALSO A MAINTENANCE FREAK. WOODY

LET ME TRY AND HELP EVERYONE WITH THE RESET OF THE TPMS. I TRIED THE PROCEEDURE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, BUT ID DID NOT WORK. I SPOKE TO AN EX STUDENT OF MINE WHO WORKS AT THE PARTS COUNTER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HE GAVE ME THE SECRET. I FOUND ON E-BAY A FORD ACTIVATION TOOL PART NUMBER 8CZT-1A203-AA FOR ABOUT $35.00. IT WORKS BUT THE FORD GUYS TOLD ME THAT A MAGNET WORKS JUST AS WELL. THEY RECOMMEND ONE OF THOSE ROUND MAGNETS YOU FIND IN THE BOTTOM OF AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PAN. FOLLOW THE PROCEEDURE FROM THE SERVICE MANUAL NOT THE OWNERS MANUAL. 1.TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, THEN PRESS AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL. 2. CYCLE THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM THE OFF POSITION TO THE RUN POSITION 3 TIMES ENDING IN THE RUN POSITION. 3.PRESS AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL 4. TURN THE IGNITION WWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION. 5. TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM OFF POSITION TO THE RUN POSITION 3 TIMES, ENDING IN THE RUN POSITION. THE HORN WILL SOUND ONCE ANT THE TPMS INDICATOR WILL FLASH IF THE TRAINING MODE HAS BEEN ENTERED SUCCESSFULLY. 6. IT MAY TAKE UP TO 6 SECONDS TO ACTIVATE A TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR. 7.WITH IN 2 MINUTES OF THE HORN SOUNDING, PLACE THE TPM ACTIVATION TOOL ( OR ROUND MAGNET) ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL AT THE VALVE STEM AND PRESS AND RELEASE THE THE TEST BUTTON TO TRAIN THE LF TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR. THE HORN WILL SOUND. 8 DO NOT WAIT MORE THA 2 MINUTES BETWEEN TRAINING OR THE PROCESS WILL HAVE TO START OVER. REPEAT STEP 7 FOR THE RF, RR, THE LR IN THAT ORDER, THE HORN WILL SOUND BRIEFLY WITH EACH RESET. TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF. IF THERE IS NOT HORN, THE RESET WAS SUCCESSFUL. IF THE HORN BEEPS TWICE WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF TRAINING WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND NEEDS TO BE RE DONE. I REPLACED BY AND WHEELS WITH 1997 LINCOLN MARK VII 10 SPOKE ALLOYS 16X7 AND PUT GENERAL ALTIMAX 225-55 16 TIRES. I KEEP 51 PSI IN THE REAR AND 46PSI IN THE FRONT. THE TIRES AND NEW TPMS I GOT FROM TIRE RACK, THEY ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. IT LOOKS AND HANDLES GREAT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DOWNLOAD PICTURES TO THE GALLERY, BUT IT WILL NOT LOAD. IF YOU WANT PICTURES PLEASE E-MAIL ME. WOODY

I WAS ABLE TO INSTALL A SET OF VERY INEXPENSIVE PILOT BRAND (NOT HONDA PILOT) PLASTIC CASED FOG LIGHTS INTO THE OPENING. I DRILLED THE "JUICER" OUT WITH A 2 1/2" HOLE SAW. TOOK THE LIGHTS, GROUND OFF THE MOUNTING, AND DRILLED A 1/4" HOLE IN THE REAR OF THE DOMED CASE AND INSTALLED A 2" BY 1/4-20 BOLT AND NUT USING GASKET MATERIAL TO MAKE A SEAL. A BRACKET WAS FABRICATED OUT OF 1/8" BY 1 1/2" ALUMINUM FLAT STOCK 6 1/2" LONG. TWO BENDS WERE MADE 1 1/2" IN FROM EACH END TO MAKE A "U" BRACKET. A 1/4" HOLE DRILLED IN THE CENTER OF THE 3 1/2" FLAT SECTION ALLOWING THE 1/4-20 BOLT TO BE ATTACHED WITH THE TWO BENDS RESTING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE BACK OF THE "JUICER" CONE. THEY WILL SELF CENTER BECAUSE OF THE DOMED BACK, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT THEY SHNE ON THE ROAD WITH OUT BLINDING ON COMIING TRAFFIC. AT THE LIGHT SWITCH I CUT THE WIRE TO THE REAR FOG LIGHTS AND CONNECTED THE FRONT FOG LIGHTS TO THAT WIRE. THE REAR FOG LIGHTS DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME ANY WAY. I PURCHASED THE PILOT LIGHTS FOR ABOUT $20.00 AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. I WILL TRY AND SEND YOU A PICTURE, BUT I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY DOWNLOADING PICTURES TO THE GALLERY. YOU CAN ALSO SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I WILL REPLY WITH A PICTURE. WOODY

.ACCORDING TO THE FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL, SIMPLY REMOVE THE REAR PIN-TYPE RETAINERS AND LOWER THE HEADLINER. DISCONNECT THE ELEVTRICAL CONNECTOR. REMOVE THE TWO NUTS AND THE HIGH MOUNTED STOPLAMP WILL COME OFF. REVERSE TO INSTALL. LAMP PART NUMBER IS W705277

I HAVE BEEN READING MOST OF YOUR TOPICS, COMMENTS AND REPLYS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER WHEEL OPTIONS. I PICKED UP A SET OF 1997 LINCOLN MARK VII TEN SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS. A BUDDY HAD THEM IN HIS GARAGE SINCE 1997, NEW IN THE BOX. THEY ARE 16 IN BY 7 IN WITH THE EXACT BOLT PATTERN, 5 X 108MM. THEY ARE DIRECTIONAL LEFT AND RIGHT. I PURCHASED FROM TIRE RACK 225/55-16 GENERAL ALTIMAX, ALSO DIRECTIONAL. THEY FIT PERFECT WITH A LUG NUT CHANGE, TPS CHANGE( ALSO FROM TIRE RACK) AND HAVE INCREASED THE HANDLING GREATLY. I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES IF YOU SEND ME YOUR EMAIL. I HAVE A 2010 WAGON XLT IN WHITE AND USE IT TO TRANSPORT MY GRAND KIDS, AS WELL AS FOR MY TRIM CARPENTRY BUSINESS. THE FACTORY WHEELS, TIRES, AND CAPS ARE FOR SALE IF ANY ONE NEEDS THEM. I AM AT THE NEW JERSEY SHORE AND CAN ARANGE PICK UP. THEY HAVE 3000 MILES ON THEM AND WOULD LIKE $250 FOR THE SET. JWWOODY

TRY www.seatcovers.net THEY CAN CUSTOM MAKE SEAT COVERS OR THEY MAY HAVE SEMI-CUSTOM THAT WILL FIT. JWWOODY