buy_concerns

NOVAMOG
The Northern Virginia Merkur Owners Group

How to Buy a Merkur XR4Ti
Common Problems and Initial Concerns
By Richard Curtis

Common XR problems:
-- Erratic idle.
-- Dead batteries (underhood heat generated by the turbo tends to cook them).
-- Driveline vibrations.
-- Electrical problems (most due to corrosion on the contacts)
-- Timing belt needs replacing every 60k miles.
-- TFI on the blitz.
-- Leaking radiator, usually around the plastic end caps (I fixed a minor leak on my 2nd XR with some RTV sealant).
-- Leaking taillight gaskets.
-- Drooping headliner.
-- Clicking or failing constant-velocity joints on the rear axles.
-- Cracked dash.
-- Cracked leather seats or split seams.
-- Inoperative hatch lock.
-- Inoperative electric antenna on 85-87 models.
-- Inoperative hatch window antenna on late 87-89 models.
-- Erratic tach, fuel gauge or temp gauge, or all three.
-- Burned out illumination bulbs in the gauge cluster.
-- Leaking fuel injectors.
-- Leaking valve cover gasket.
-- Torn steering rack boots.
-- Clicking CV joints.
-- Shudder under braking.
-- Broken or missing wheel well liners. They're made of plastic and have deteriorated over the years. Very expensive to replace.
-- Failing (or failed) spark plug wires (the turbo heat tends to cook them)

Things I've observed on XRs that generally need to be replaced/repaired soon upon buying your XR. All or some of these should be/can be bargaining points when dickering with the seller):

-- Leaking radiator.
-- Radiator cap. Buy a new one immediately after picking up your XR.
-- TFI (see below)
-- Plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor.
-- Check automatic transmission fluid (if any color other than red, of it smells burned, you have
transmission problems).
-- Fan belts.
-- Change the oil.
-- Change the coolant (should be yellowish-green).
-- Flush and change the power steering fluid (it's almost guaranteed to be a watery black color).
-- Flush and refill brake fluid (it is almost guaranteed to have moisture in it).
-- Charge the a/c refrigerant. Check for leaks. Check for split or leaking main a/c hose (runs across top of the turbo).
-- Replace all wipers.
-- Check the brakes (see below for shuddering condition).
-- Install a new Motorcraft PCV valve.
-- Check the timing (note that timing is different for automatics than for manual transmission XRs).
-- Check/replace all vacuum lines (a cracked vacuum line will cause all sorts of difficulties such as idle speeds; replacing them is a simple and inexpensive job).
-- Replace steering rack boots if split, torn or missing altogether.
-- Polish the plastic headlights (they'll look yellowish); a plastic polish such as Meguiars will clean up a lot of this yellowing)

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