Q: How to service and repair the muffler on Mercury Mountaineer?
A: Service and repair procedures for the muffler must start with placing the vehicle in NEUTRAL position and hanging it from a hoist. The exhaust system needs proper support through an appropriate lifting tool. A single-piece structure makes up the production muffler assembly yet the service muffler assembly contains two parts. Begin by cutting the muffler inlet pipe with an exhaust cutter between the first bend coming from the muffler until reaching the second bend. A service exhaust coupler requires you to relax the coupler nuts before separating the inlet pipe from the muffler. Begin by loosening the muffler assembly-to-tail pipe Torca® clamp followed by removing the two exhaust Y-pipe dual catalytic converter-to-muffler assembly bolts during which time the nuts and gasket need discarding. Remove the muffler assembly after disconnecting all rubber isolators. The new muffler assembly should be placed in position after connecting the rubber isolators. Cleaning the muffler assembly-to-tail pipe surfaces for rust requires an abrasive pad but the installation requires seating the tab inside the notch on the tail pipe before you tighten the Torca® clamp to 48 Nm (35 lb-ft). Put together the two pieces of the muffler inlet pipe and position them onto the service exhaust coupler until they center on the cut joint area. New service muffler kit installation requires the muffler inlet pipe to fit into the service exhaust coupler position. To position the service exhaust coupler correctly face its 2 o'clock direction toward the muffler before tightening it to 47 Nm (35 lb-ft). Place the new Y-pipe dual catalytic converter-to-muffler assembly gasket and tighten its nuts to 40 Nm (30 lb-ft). Exhaust system isolators should be at zero-load position before proceeding with the alignment procedure when necessary.
Q: How to Properly Service and Repair a Muffler and Tail Pipe on Mercury Grand Marquis?
A: Service of the muffler and tailpipe starts when the vehicle sits in NEUTRAL position on a hoist. Prior to hoisting or jacking or towing activities the air suspension electrical power needs to be disabled because unexpected air spring movement can shift the vehicle position. First disable the air suspension system through its switch. After the removal of the two nuts and clamp install them at 45 Nm (33 ft. lbs.) tightness. A suitable exhaust cutter tool helps cut the muffler from the tailpipe. Inspect the isolator before changing it if needed then detach the isolator to remove the tailpipe. The muffler replacement procedure should be executed again. The installation of new exhaust fasteners requires waiting until all components are ready before executing any tightness adjustments when possible. The final tightening of fasteners should reach 33 Nm (24 ft. lbs.) after performing even distribution through alternate tensioning per specification. The use of oil-based or grease-based lubricants on the isolators should be avoided since these products will deteriorate the rubber material which could cause it to separate from the exhaust hanger bracket during vehicle operation.
Q: How to Maintain the Muffler on a Mercury Mariner?
A: Service on the muffler starts by positioning the vehicle in NEUTRAL gear on the hoist before proceeding. Replace and throw out the 2 exhaust catalytic converter nuts before you tighten them to 47 Nm (35 ft. lbs.) during the installation process. The U-bolt clamp assembly must be removed first from the muffler before tightening it to 47 Nm (35 ft. lbs.) during reinstallation. After the removal of 2 resonator nuts install the new ones with a torque of 47 Nm (35 ft. lbs.). Take out the exhaust catalytic converter and muffler as an assembly unit while discarding the catalytic converter exhaust hanger at first. Reinstall the muffler by separation from the catalytic converter before following the removal order backward while using new gaskets. Do not apply oil or grease-based lubricants to the insulators since these substances deteriorate rubber materials and can cause them to separate from the exhaust hanger bracket while the vehicle operates.