I just picked one up that used to belong to the local S.O. They had used it as a transport vehicle. Lots of miles on it (184K) for a 2001, but it runs like a champ and it was only $1500. New tires, an uncracked windshield (a true rarity around here), a push bumper, and a spotlight. I talked to the S.O. mechanic who said it was mostly used to haul prisoners to Albuquerque and most of the miles were from highway driving. He said it had regular oil changes and routine maintenance. It never had a light bar, so no holes in the roof.

Other than an alarming tendency to blow up in rear end collisions, is there anything else I should know about this car?



This isn't it, but it looks just like it.

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I would guess that the driver's seat would be broken down from all the time "in the saddle". Check out hoses and belts.

You should get a lot of use out of it.

be ever vigilant about your oil pressure and level. scout out the extra fuse blocks. Test the alternator. Good luck. If people don't mistake you for a cop, they will think you are a taxi or a pizza guy.

Don't be surprised if people are always driving slowly in front of you!

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- The Federalist #46 -

I got close to 80 of 'em. Or at least our fleet of police cars does.
Great cars. In the 20 years I've been turning wrenches for the city, nothing and I mean NOTHING has held up as well as the Crown Vic.
I've been impressed enough that I got my wife a Grand Marquis.
One thing though, don't let that name "Police Interceptor" fool ya. Long gone are the days where such a title meant extra power. Today it only means the car has a heavy duty electrical system to carry all the lights, cameras, computers, etc and comes pre-wired with factory harnesses for much of it. Other than that, its the same car your local dealer sells.
Of course Ford's 4.6 liter engine is nothing to sneeze at. For a big, heavy, full sized sedan, that sucker will fly!

My Gran Marquis shuts off at 98. Ford dealer said computers are programmed that way on civilian cars. Not on P-71`s. As long as they can get fuel, they`ll keep accelerating.

Someone might mistake you for a Fed

Was it equipped, or does it still have a stealth package since it never had a light bar?

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Non illegitimae carborundum

My intercepter is in the back left of the picture...It also has all of the trimmings and fun stickers on the side.

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M.J.Hanna

Since I am a Ford parts man, I see my fair share of these from our local PD here in Muscle Shoals, and the Colbert County Sheriff's Department. Very trouble free, all things considered. Couple things come to mind. Some of the later models had trouble with the electric cooling fan and motor assembly, which is only available as an assembly. But I think your 2001 would be exempt from this problem. I have sold several axles for these, but that is to be expected from cars driven by guys doing bootleg 180 degree turns at 60 mph through ditches. Usually all they need is the axle, bearing, and new seal and rear end dope and they are good to go. The ones with 31 spline axles seem to do better than the 28 spline jobs, but I can't remember what year they went to 31 spline. Also do a few blend door motors on the A/C units that switch the underdash door from hot to cold, but then again, not a really big deal. ALL Fords have problems with those it seems. Watch out for window regulators on all four doors. There again, these have been junk in my opinion since they went to cable operated regulators instead of the old scissors type. Engines and major mechanical are great, as long as proper service has been performed. Great cars overall and ride fantastic. I know these cars are not slouches, but I sure miss the days when I was a kid and they had 460 Interceptors in Fords and the big 440 Monacos that Dodge made. Anybody who says those cars weren't four door hot rods just hasn't ever ridden in one under hard acceleration or even around corners with their stiffened suspensions. Love to see those cars featured in magazines occasionally.

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MARK

I promise that you WILL get lots of attention. I have a 97 Crown Vic 4 door, red in color. I get attention with that. Seems that people think its a Fire Dept. vehicle.

Charlie

You just deprived a brotha from ownin a bubble with dubs.

It is now your civic duty to make it up to him so you'll need a lift kit and a minimum of 20" rims, preferably 24" rims these days.

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NRA Endowment Member

I have something similar: 2003 Mercury Marauder. After 94,000 it still handles tightly. I've had the belts and hoses changed and do regular maintenance, and never had any issues with the vehicle. I can easily drive 12-14 hours at a time in comfort.

Attached Images

IMG_1584_1_3_1.jpg (98.8 KB, 55 views)

Push Bumper and spot light are a nice touch. I think you did real good-bonus points if it still has the cage in the back

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Forum consigliere

All you will ever need to know about LEO vehicles:

http://www.copcar.com/link.htm

http://www.lasd.org/sites/car-test/index.html

Also here is a list of options included in most Ford Crown Vic Police Packages:

# Brakes/4 wheel disk/police level
# Engine oil cooler
# Transmission oil cooler
# Full wheel covers
# Power steering oil cooler
# Heavy duty battery
# Certified calibration (2% speedometer)
# Heavy duty suspension
# P225/701R15 "all season" BSW tires
# Shock absorbers-nitrogen pressurized
# Conventional spare tire
# Upper ball joints-lower friction, lube for life
# 3.27 Rear axle ratio w/non-locker axle
# Stabilizer bars
# Remote decklid release
# Heavy duty springs
# Cooling pkg/police level with 8 blade plastic fan
# Heavy duty frame(chassis) & body mount lower radiator air dam
# Heavy duty (130 Amp) alternator
# Dual beam dome
# Ignition feed wires/3 connectors/30 Amp fuse Map light
# Direct feed wires/3 connectors/50 Amp fuse
# Engine compartment light
# Heavy duty U-Joints
# Single key locking
# 3 1/2" Aluminum driveshaft
# Heavy duty wheel rims(15x6 1/2)
# Dual exhaust stainless steel

My Mustang doesn't shut down at 98. Or any speed, as near as I've been able to tell. Not that I would ever think of going over the speed limit.

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Misty

Yes, my wife drives a '97 that we obtained when it had 104,000 miles on it. The car had been a KY State Police cruiser, that had hit a deer. The damage was repaired by the dealer, including a new blue-grey paint job with red pin striping. We have had excellent service with this vehicle. We, thus far, have had to install both rear wheel bearing seals, one brake rotor, an alternator,a fuel pump plus the normal maintenance items, i.e. brake pads, oil & filters etc. We have had trouble at times with the window regulators, i.e., cable and or cheap plastic pulleys breaking, especially in winter. The car has 278,000 miles on it nowand is still running strong. Many folks have invested in these used KSP cars in our county, and one of the large state newspapers had a front page article on the so-called "MagoffinCounty Cadillacs". In our view, they are a cheap, long-lasting form of reliable transportation.

I've got an 04 P71 Police Interceptor. It looks like Darth Vaders used car, and will pass anything except a gas station.

I've got 85K on it. I had a failure on the AC compressor at 72K ($1500) and both catalytic converters replaced (under warranty) at 79K. Other than that no problems. It's my favorite out of all the vehicles I've owned or been issued. I did noticed some paint wear on the hood that will need tending soon.

It does get annoying when I'm off duty and the people in front of me insist on driving below the speed limit....usually while descretely trying to put on a seat belt. On the interstate though this Crown Vic is the pace car. Traffic slows down, moves to the right and gets the hell out of the way.

Shame Ford won't sell any more Crown Vics to the public. One more stupid move......in a sequence of stupid moves. "Hey we make the only RW drive vehicle that Police and Taxi fleets want. I know, lets discontinue it!" DUH Ford!! Regards 18DAI.

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Plus the option of no inside door handles.

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MARK

Those style of hubcaps like to fall off.

Sig,

my assigned unmarked is an 2001. it has less than 30K on it. OK I am Admin in INV!!!

I have a 98 Merc Grand Marquis with 78K. They are hearty engines as long as you change the oil regularly. I hit a dear last week on the way to a shooting match. It hurt the front end, bent the rod which ties the two front spindles together. And my gas gauge reads full all the time.

My only real issues, when it heats up (summer time in South TX), one of my front windows stops working (Grand Marquis). its one or the other and when it cools off, around 2100 hrs, then it will start working again. Took it back under warranty and of course they could never get to duplicate. So I have been dealing with it for years. It sux when you go through the drive thru and the drivers window does not come down.

one of my door locks stopped working too. I took on the project and got it out but could not install. my buddy who works on cars put it on for me.

also the headlight covers are prone to cloudiness or yellowing. dont scrub them with the sandpaper/scratchy brush at the local car wash.

and your hub cabs sound like someone put a bunch of rocks in them as you go down the road. how bout removal and put some white letter tires on the outside for some burt reynolds type driving!!!!!!

take care

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I may be a Ford man, but in all honesty, the 94-96 Caprices were faster cars. Buddy of mine was a warrant officer for the local PD for a while and drove one of these unmarked. I had a 2003 Mach 1 at the time with the 305 hp DOHC V-8. He took off on me one time and it was all I could do to keep up; gave me a pretty good run. Those Caprice cars were nothing more than an Impala SS with the 260 horse LT1 out of the Corvette detuned for the big cars. He said he regularly outran the Crown Vics the patrolmen drove all the time.

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MARK

The only thing I can think to warn you about, be very careful to ALWAYS use 5 w 20 weight oil. Ford was the first to go to this light weight oil, and from what I think I remember, there is aprox 5 feet of oil galley between oil pump and the rear cam journal on passenger side. Takes a while for heavier oil to get to there, and this engine does not use a replaceable set of bearings, but is drilled thorugh the aluminum of the head. Once it looses oil pressure, you are due for a new engine. Ford did not used to accept them for cores or rebuild, but after market may by now.

I say watch the BLUES BROTHERS, and have fun!

My son put 268K miles on his. He parked it for a week while he was out of town and when he started it it sent a rod through the block. My theory is leaky injector or coolant leak and it hydrolocked. Till that point it had been flawless with good maint. Only repair that car ever had done to it was outside tie rod ends and good service. And yes, he tells some stories about being taken for the law
oldogy

These Crown Vics are a great car. I have an issued unmarked 2000 Crown Vic that was issued to me new in 2000. I love it and have passed up a newer Dodge Charger to keep this car as this it fits me great and it still gets up and goes when it has to...........

I've been driving Crown Vics on duty for over 10 years. Here's a picture of my newest fully marked Crown Vic Police Interceptor in black. It's a pretty stealthy patrol vehicle except for the reflective markings.

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