Cooling System - Radiator Alignment Pins Hit Ground

Article No.
03-14-11

07/21/03

BODY - RADIATOR ALIGNMENT PIN GROUND
CLEARANCE

FORD:
2003 CROWN VICTORIA

LINCOLN:
2003 TOWN CAR

MERCURY:
2003 GRAND MARQUIS

ISSUE
Operating a vehicle in low clearance or off-road type conditions may increase the likelihood of radiator damage. Damage to the radiator, including coolant loss, may occur if the radiator alignment pins contact the ground/curb. Later built vehicles have a revised alignment pin that provides increased ground clearance.

ACTION
For vehicles that are to be used in low clearance situations, the customer may wish to increase the clearance to the radiator by removing the bottom 1 inch (25 mm) of the radiator alignment pins.

This service procedure is provided as information so that a customer may modify (at their expense) their vehicles for use in low clearance or off-road type conditions.

SERVICE INFORMATION

NOTE
THE 2003 CROWN VICTORIA/GRAND MARQUIS/TOWN CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FAIL-SAFE COOLING STRATEGY. SEE THE 2003 OWNER GUIDE FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION OF THE FAIL-SAFE COOLING STRATEGY.





Remove up to 1 inch (25 mm) from the bottom of the radiator alignment pin from under the vehicle (Figure 1). The pins are made from the same plastic material as the radiator side tanks and can easily be trimmed using a cut off wheel or a small hack-saw.

NOTE
ALIGNMENT PINS MUST BE LONG ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY PASS THROUGH THE LOWER GROMMET. CUTTING THE ALIGNMENT PINS TOO SHORT COULD RESULT IN THE RADIATOR COMING OUT OF POSITION, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS.

OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
WARRANTY STATUS: INFORMATION ONLY





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