6th Aug 2009, 19:47

I have a 2000 Mercury Villager had it since Feb 09.

The van ran fine, then started slipping like it was low on tranny fluid, so I checked it, added a quart and away I went. Ran fine for the first day, then again same thing. Checked tranny fluid thinking I had got a tranny leak somewhere. Fluid level is OK, and then it starts to stutter day by day, so I replaced plugs, nope same thing, check oil and it smells like gas change oil.

Around this time the van stalls repeatedly until I have to leave the van on the side of the road. I come back a few hours later, and it starts right up. I drive a few miles, it starts acting up again, so I go to my mechanic and he tells me I need a new engine and to get rid of it. He's never lied to me before, but I can't believe I need a new engine. I still insist on it being a sensor. Right now it barely starts, loud cranking like starter going out, runs rough as he11, and can't drive it anywhere. Please help.

26th Aug 2009, 21:52

I bought a 97 Villager GS with 34,000 miles on it in 1999. Recently it tripped the 300,000 mile mark.

I have had some general repair through the years, but it remains the best car I've ever owned.

When my engine overheated around the 250,000 mark, I took it in and had the thermostat checked, which was bad, and replaced it. My mechanic saved it for me and I couldn't read a thing on it as I don't read Japanese! I told the mechanic, they just don't make parts like they use to!

My rear blower fan went out over 5 years ago, and rather than fix it, I just let the front fan push the air around. Recently at church one Sunday I was talking to a friend who has a 95 Villager and found out he'd gone 10 years with the same problem. He told me to google: Villager & Quest FAQ and I found the simple solution to the problem. I did that a few days ago, and within an hour I had the rear fan blowing again. Full instructions with pictures made it very simple.

My windshield washer fluid light stays on all the time, even though both the front and the back work perfectly, and with plenty of liquid being dispensed. I'd appreciate an answer if anyone has one.

Note, if your gas gauge light is always on, it may have the problem mine has. I found out that there is a "slash valve" in the line to prevent the gauge from acting up, but when the "slashValve" goes bad it can't be replaced as the valve is obsolete. So my tank always shows "empty", thus I use my trip meter, and every 250 miles I fill up and hit the button that starts with zero miles all over again.

26th Oct 2009, 04:07

Hi all.

I bought a 1997 Villager GS in 2004 and now it tripped about 155,000 miles. I love the van. Currently, I am having two problems with the van: (1) The rear fan is not blowing. (2) The transmission is having some problems. It jerks really hard when the van is pulling about 300 lbs, especially when you stop at the red light and start going again in the first gear. After that it runs very smooth.

Could anyone here give me some ideas of what should I do?

chaoprakbao@yahoo.com.

Many thanks.

Ger.

9th Nov 2009, 21:37

I too own a 1997 Mercury Villager LS. My check engine light has been on for over 3 years now. My mechanic told me it was a sensor, and that if I could live with the light... my pocketbook would thank me. I opted to live with the light.

As for mileage; I get roughly 22 mpg on average... less if I have a lead foot. I've hit 5 deer head-on in the last 2 years, and "The Road Warrior" as I've begun to call her, has held up wonderfully. At 218,000+ miles, some of the handles have started to fall off (the side sliding door... but I've found a totaled 97 that I salvaged parts from and plan to replace this) and the hood is super bent (but was when I got it... it's just gotten worse through the "years and deers").

However, through everything, this van has stood the test of time, and the engine is still going strong. The air in it has never worked since the day I bought it, but even in the worst of the summer heat that southern Iowa can throw out, when the windows are all open, you can stay pretty cool.

In conclusion, you could say that this is one vehicle that can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

5th Feb 2011, 23:27

1997 Mercury Villager. My reverse light doesn't work. How can I fix this problem?

18th Mar 2011, 13:30

Check your motor mounts - a bad mount can cause knock sensor malfunction & shifting problems.

26th Mar 2011, 13:59

Own a '99 Villager. Now 205000 miles. Engine running great.

1. About 1/2 a year ago, I noticed a buzzing sound from the engine. As it got louder, I went to my mechanic to get the water pump replaced, thinking that is what was making the noise. Not to mention that it was leaking, too. Got it back with a new water pump. The noise remains. It's not the power steering pump either. I'm puzzled???

2. My courtesy lights stay on, even though I have closed all the doors. Here is the real kicker, the lights in the front (driver and passenger) work just fine; turn on and off with the doors opened and closed. Everything in the rear just stays on. I had take all the bulbs out to keep my battery from draining.

Any help would be appreciated. Email: JC6554@yahoo.com

11th May 2011, 09:51

I have a 1994 Villager.

My engine light comes on when I slow right down, but goes off when I accelerate. Comments? I always drive with the o/drive. When I am on hills I use the power ET which is on the gadget on the right side of the wheel where the rear defrost and the four way flash is.

15th May 2011, 17:39

I have the same problem.

16th May 2011, 18:56

I have owned over 20 cars and trucks of different brands; the Mercury Villager was definitely the worse I've owned.

It drives really nice and accelerates well, handles well on the highway, that's pretty much it.

The Villager was a Ford / Nissan collaboration; basically has all the low points of Ford and Nissan put together.

I could write a novel on all the things that went wrong with my Villager, mainly electrical problems, every single one you can imagine.

Electric seatbelts failed, power windows failed, dash lights stopped working, dome light stays on and drains battery, rear signals and running lights always shorting out and burning bulbs like crazy, rear door latch failed and had to drill screws in it to get it to shut safely, lots of rust on the rear hatch, ignition neutral switch failed ($200 plus labor), transmission never worked properly even after servicing, exhaust manifold failed, check engine light on, power steering constantly leaking, useless weak roofrack broke, engine burning too much oil, and a bunch of other things I can't remember.

Finally the fuel pump failed, and I scrapped it.

This was a one owner van with less than 200k too!

I would not recommend this van to anyone after my experience. By far the worst car I have owned, way too costly to keep on the road, and not reliable either.