Mercury production to end in Q4

Ford Motor Co. will discontinue its 71-year-old Mercury brand and end vehicle production in the fourth quarter, Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said today.

Fields also announced plans to expand the Lincoln lineup with seven new or refreshed vehicles in the next four years.

Ford product development chief Derrick Kuzak said a new compact car will be developed for Lincoln. The car will be based on the same platform that the 2011 Ford Focus sits on, but it will be designed and engineered specifically for Lincoln, he said.

The final decision to kill Mercury was made this week and approved by Ford's board today, Fields said.

A total of 1,712 dealerships sell the Mercury brand in the United States, but there are no stand-alone Mercury stores. Among the Mercury stores, 511 also have Ford franchises, 276 are combined with Lincoln franchises, and 925 are dualed with both Ford and Lincoln franchises.

Some of the 276 Lincoln-Mercury dealerships are in markets that cannot support a stand-alone Lincoln store, Fields said. He said Ford Motor will work with those stores, helping them to either get a Ford franchise or consolidate their Lincoln franchise with a Ford store.

“We do foresee in some markets there could be some stand-alone Lincoln dealerships,” Fields said.

More information to come

Mercury dealers will all receive packets tomorrow morning outlining Ford's transition plan for the brand and outlining monetary compensation for their stores based on a formula Ford has developed, Fields said.

Fields said Ford decided to close Mercury during its annual spring business and product review. Ford division's improved market share -- up 2.2 percentage points through April compared with last year -- combined with the fact that most Mercury customers cross-shop the Ford brand, made it sensible to cut Mercury, Fields said.

“And it allows us to put 100 percent of our resources into Ford and Lincoln,” he said.

Dealer Bob Tasca Jr., who heads the Lincoln Mercury brands of the dealer council, calls this an emotional decision because it will affect dealers' lives.

“Some of the dealers have their homes mortgaged to their business,” said Tasca, who has two Ford-Lincoln/Mercury stores, one in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts. “Some are going to make it, and some won't. But I really expect Ford will be fair.”

Ed Tonkin, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association, called it “a sad day.”

“NADA's concern is that Ford treats each of its Mercury dealers fairly and equitably,” he said, “especially the 276 of whom sell Lincoln and Mercury exclusively.

“Ford also needs to move quickly to take into account the millions of dollars that dealers have invested in facilities, equipment, personnel and training. They deserve fair compensation.”

Fields said Ford will offer special incentives to move Mercury vehicles this summer. He said he expects most of the Mercury inventory to be sold off by the end of this year.

There will be no job cuts that result from the demise of Mercury. Ford will redeploy any Mercury personnel to the Lincoln brand.

Besides an expanded lineup, Lincoln also gets an expanded marketing team, Fields said.

Ford declined to reveal how much it will cost the company to discontinue Mercury but said Ford's recent profitability has made it possible to make the move now. Ford reported a second quarter net profit of $2.1 billion.

Good thing in the long run

Peter Gervais, general manager of Gervais Lincoln-Mercury in Lowell, Mass., said in the long run the move “will probably be a good thing.”

"Lincoln has a little more brand status than Mercury," he added. “I think it was overdue and it should have happened beforehand.”

Ed Witt of Witt Lincoln-Mercury in San Diego, Calif., said he was optimistic about the switch.

“We love our Mercury brand. On the other hand, we are excited to take on a brand like Lincoln and making it a luxury brand. They're going to take the Lincoln brand to where it's never been before.”

He said he though Ford's leadership would take care of the Mercury dealers.

“Look at what they've been doing,” he said. “They've done it through leadership and focus and that's what we're going to do with Lincoln. This Mercury question has been around forever, a thorn in my saddle.

“We have definition, we have structure, and we have focus and direction. What else could I want? I think it's a big opportunity.”

Dealers reached by Automotive News said they weren't surprised.

“All I can say is this: I hate it,” said Robert Hammett, general manager of Hammett Motor Co. in Durant, Miss. “But they really don't need to make two of the same vehicles and put two different names on them. Mercury should have been a totally different outfit. Everybody has been expecting it.”

Glenn Mahoney, sales manager at Dana Ford Lincoln Mercury in Staten Island, N.Y., said some customers have been concerned.

“The dealers will still be here to warrant the cars, we're a dual point,” he said. “I think it is going be great, if we actually expand the Lincoln brand. It's kind of an overkill (with Lincoln and Mercury). The product lines are practically on top of each other.

“So, from that standpoint it was an interchangeable part. From being a dual store, it was nice to have both sides for us. It was kind of nice to have that area to move. I think Mercury sales will do pretty well throughout the end of the year.”

ignition help

can any one give me instructions on how to take out and put a new ignition in my 96 lincoln town car not chiped

Response:
The Ignition Switch (electrical) is located on the top of the steering column assy. So if you unbolt the column it will drop down enough to replace the switch. The Lock Cyclender Assy is different. Remove the Steering Wheel Lock Nut. Mark the Wheel and Shaft for alignment on reassembly. With a Steering Wheel Puller remove the Steering Wheel. Remove the Horn assy. Remove the Steering Wheel Lock Plate by depressing to remove the retaing clip. Remove the Turn Signal Switch assy and reveal 1 screw that holds the Lock Cylender in place. Reverse for assembly.

1996 lincoln town car (help)

well the car has 118 thou on it. The rear end air bags where replaced with springs and struts but the check air suspension light stays on, washer fluid light came on and shorty after every once in a while a buzzing noise comes from under the dash. some where usually when i let off the gas peddle.  i was thinking it was becouse i needed to replace the washer fluid so i did and it stopped but outta the blue a couple hours later its doing it again and honestly its driving me crazy.  Any advice would be great. annoying ringing sound coming from under the dash sounds like a ringing the ear but louder, goes away when i accelerate this is driving nuts please help...

Response:
1) Sounds like a relay. Find it while it's making the noise and you will find a part nimber on it. Go to your local parts store and have them cross reference it or go to the dealership to find out what it controls.

2) What you are describing sounds like a vacuum leak. Check your heater control harness where it cinnects.

Window stuck down on my 1997 Lincoln Town Car

a cable to the window regulator in the driver's side door broke and the window is all the way down. Have taken off the door panel to try to push the window up, however it is stuck. How can I release the window to hold it up while the new regulator arrives?

Response:
I'm ASSUMING that you are referring to the nylon track itself being broken. There are 2 10mm nuts on the bottom of the glass that hold the window to the track. Unbolt and slide the window up and use a piece of rope on the inside of the window to control it up and down until you get the track. You can tie off 1 end to the door closer strap to keep the window up and still use the door.

1997 Lincoln Town Car rear suspension

just got an almost mint condition 97 Town Car, the rear suspension is almost sitting on the ground and there is a warning light that says "check compressor". There is nothing in the owners manual that talks about this light, if it is the compressor, the shocks or the on/off switch. i have played with the switch with no response and various friends tell me it is just a matter of changing the shocks, the mechanic nearby rapidly said $600. would love some guidance to avoid wasting time and money before I go pick up the car which is two hours away from home


Response:

These came out as an after market accessory about 40 or more years ago. I installed two on friends cars. If you have a volt-ohm meter, you should be able to ring out everything in that circuit. Starting with the fuse, the switch, and the compressor. The ones I installed had 1/8 or 1/4 inch plastic lines from the pump to the rear axle where they teed off towards eack shock. There was also a switch to deflate the system, if memory serves.

Contact the dealer for the locations of these items. I've done a ton of plumbing during the last 40 years, and do not like plastic lines on anything. Could be just an open line.
 
9 out of 10 times it's the switch that connects to the rear axle. In particular it's the pivot connection (like a hinge). However, running this system without air WILL cause the air shocks to become defective. I have had a couple compressors burn out also due to the leveling switch on the rear axle. On Lincolns the pressure relief valve is on the compressor. It also controls the light on your dashboard. There is also a switch on the older compressors to turn them off. You can substitute the compressor with Cadillac Air Ride they are almost identical and found at most salvage yards.
 
The reason that you should turn it off before jacking is so that you do not over pressurize the air chamber when lifted so that the rear of the car is jacked up once you let it off the jacks. Some of these have air shocks while others have air bags inside of the coil springs. Those with the bags are made by Air Inds of Lansing on Terminal Rd. They have the air supplied to them via a 1/8 inch plastic air line and if you must repair that line you cannot use a standard union. It must be for plastic or vinyl line as big trucks use. Use of anything other and your asking for more headaches. Like Ben, I've been there and done that too.