11th Dec 2004, 20:08

Take it to a Nissan Dealer. My two previous Ford Dealers could not get this fixed, but there is a Nissan Fix order on the van. Also, if you are near Toronto, the dealer at Warden and Eglinton can fix it (but it is pricey). It is worth it though, since without the fix, gas consumption goes up by five per cent.

4th Jan 2005, 17:57

I have had the "check engine" light problem since four months after I bought my slightly used 1995 Villager in 1996. The Ford people couldn't find anything wrong, and neither could the mechanic who's been working on the car now for 5 years. But I've had *terrible* mileage, and maybe this is why. Thanks for that info.

I do have another, much more serious problem and I'm wondering if anybody else has had it: the battery dies for no reason. I never know when it's going to happen. It started four years ago and it's continued through three batteries. There are so many electrical ghosts in this car, and we can't find the cause of any of them (the battery drain, the check engine light, and the lights on the heater/ac unit don't work). Do we just have a lemon, or is this common? Is there any solution? My mechanic has checked out all the electrical systems and can't find the problems, and I feel like I'm just pouring money into the car (almost $2000 in the past year, including new alternator, tie rod, axle, brakes, battery, and searching for ghosts). It only has 100,000 miles, but I'm thinking I need to get rid of it.

23rd Feb 2005, 13:25

I have a 97 Mercury Villager. The Check engine light came on at about 50K miles, and has been intermittent ever since. I had it diagnosed as the "Throttle Position Sensor" being faulty, which might explain a drop in mileage. The light went out about 6 months ago, but I think that it probably burned out. It now has over 167K miles on it, and still going strong. What has bothered us, though, is the paint has been peeling from the hood, and along the edges of the roof, just outside the roof rack. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

27th Feb 2005, 11:02

I've never seen so many rules for a message board!

Anyway, I have a 1997 Villager and engine light just came on at 72,000. Is there a way to get the code off w/o taking to dealer, e.g., on Dodge, turn key three times, or Honda, short two wires, and get a blink code or something.

29th Apr 2005, 18:32

Dear owners of the great Mercury villager;

The "Check Engine Light" ON all the time. this problem is caused by one (1 of 2) of the emission control sensors that are connected to the upper exhaust system.

The sensor cost about ($50 of market) and 10 min job.

This will cost each of you a $1000.

Regards.

Omar Elgummi

Ottawa, Canada.

26th Jun 2005, 20:33

I bought a '95 Mercury Villager 2 years ago that had the "check engine" light on. I put a new fuel filter on it 3 months later and it went out immediately and hasn't come on since!I did the work myself in 20 minutes and it only cost me $16 plus tax. Hope this helps.

21st Aug 2005, 10:08

Dear owners of the great Mercury villager;

I just traded in my 1997 Mercury Villager Van with 107,000. I absolutely loved my van, but decided it was time to get a new one. I never had any major problems. I did have the same problem discuessed with the Check Engine Light. My husband discovered after countless hours the problem was the emission control sensor. which coincidentally is the same thing that Omar Elgummi mentioned in the discussion board:

The "Check Engine Light" ON all the time. this problem is caused by one (1 of 2) of the emission control sensors that are connected to the upper exhaust system.

The sensor cost about ($50 of market) and 10 min job.

We fixed this problem and never had the light come on again!

12th Oct 2005, 10:15

Can someone explain where these sensors are?

I have a 97 Villager with the same issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-PJ

Tuscaloosa, AL.

2nd Dec 2005, 21:33

I have a 1997 Mercury Villager and I just wanted to add that I was having a lot of the same problems. Check engine light, hard shifting, lack of power. Also had problems passing emissions and OBD Sensor. I Couldin't understand it because most of the time this Van just runs too good. We fixed it all in 15 minutes changed the fuel filter and cleand the MAF (Max Air Flow) Sensor and we were good to go. I think I just got lucky, but who knows maybe if could help someone else.

25th Jan 2006, 20:07

Our 1997 Villager has lost all lighting on the dash. The first to go were the lights in the sound system, then the gear shift section, then heat/ac section, then the lights in the fuel gauge, finally the light in the speedometer went out. It's very difficult to drive at night with no speedometer, etc. Anybody encounter this? Anybody fix it? Dealer says it needs a new electrical harness at about $600, but I'm not convinced that the diagnosis is correct. I am convinced I'm not putting $600 into fixing it.

5th Mar 2006, 13:21

I am the proud owner of a 97 Mercury Villager GS. I love this van, but have had some problems. It started with the rear heat/ac. It just stopped working one day. Approximately a year and a half later, the a few buttons on my radio/heater control panel stopped working. Sometimes when I am backing up and turn the wheel all the way, it stalls. Has anyone else had these problems?

5th Apr 2006, 16:41

I purchased a 99 Villager in 2000. I am satisified overall with it. The only major problem that I have encountered is that it developed a lot of rust on hood and bottom of sliding doors in the past two years. I never had a light sensor problem. The hood got extremely rusty and part of it fell off. I just recently bought a new hood for it because it only has 118,000 miles on it and know it can go more. Anybody else have a rust problem?

17th Apr 2006, 10:35

I am a proud owner of a 1997 Mercury Villager. The check engine light is on again! I took it to the mechanic, who from the error codes, diagnosed that the Throttle Position Sensor was faulty. Cost of repair job $310 + tax. I called the dealer and obtained a part #1F5Z9B989AA, cost $250. I check on Ebay similar part available for $25 + shipping. The mechanic will repair, if I obtain the part. Would you buy Throttle Position Sensor on Ebay?

21st Jul 2006, 19:05

Hi, I have a mercury villager which had also problems with the TPS, you don't need to buy it from ebay, I bought it from Autozone and it was around 40. The mechanic told me it was going to cost about another 40 to replace it. I already have a manual so I am thinking about doing it myself. You probably got your TPS replaced already. But the total cost of replacing it should be no more than 90.