Spinning My Wheels :(

R

Red Box Rebel

Registered
I have a second '97 MVII in storage in Texas. It is in storage because when I try to drive it the rear wheels spin uncontrolably without shifting power to a wheel with traction.

I was given the car in lieu of an attorney fee, so I did not purchase new or used. Previous owner claimed it always did the wheel spinning thing. My first guess is that the Traction Control is defective, but it has never been to a dealer or other tech to pull codes.

Any ideas besides pulling the codes at a Lincoln Dealer?

P.S. Everything else works on the car. But for the spinning wheels, it would be a good ride and not just a good source of parts.
 
Tire pressure and tread? Are you driving off road or something? It takes a lot of force to spin a tire like that.
 
You have to drive it to believe it! No off road use and the tires are standard size and are not bald. Pleanty of tread.

Thanks for the reply.
 
Is it always the same wheel?

The Mark VIIIs come standard with an open differential.
 
Is this thread for real or are you messing with us? :D

The traction control at best will limit engine power and apply the brakes to the spinning wheel, which still doesn't do much other then cause you to enter traffic at a dangerously slow speed...

Anyway, does the engine idle normally?

Are you using the gas pedal like an on-off switch? :D
 
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Red Box Rebel said:
You have to drive it to believe it! No off road use and the tires are standard size and are not bald. Pleanty of tread.



Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...

I would love to see a video of this.

But like driller said, its an open diff, and it takes either a low traction condition ( snow, ice, sand, leaves ) or a whole lot of throttle to spin the wheels. On dry pavement, I don't think a factory Mark will spin the wheels from stop if you just floor it.
 
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Strange. Maybe the fact that is a 97 Mark 7 could be an issue right there. :p +1 on the video! Maybe one (or both) of the front struts are frozen causing less downforce on the passenger wheel (torque wheel?) which just allows it to break loose without any effort?
 
Not an April Fools Joke

Not an April Fools Joke

BadSax said:
Is this thread for real or are you messing with us? :D

The traction control at best will limit engine power and apply the brakes to the spinning wheel, which still doesn't do much other then cause you to enter traffic at a dangerously slow speed...

Anyway, does the engine idle normally?

Are you using the gas pedal like an on-off switch? :D
Click to expand...

Sorry Guys, but this is not an April fools Joke. I posted the thread on April 26, not April 1st.

The slightest amount of throtle will make the wheel spin. I believe it to be the left wheel, but I am not sure since I have been the person driving the car.

The engine idles normally and I would not exactly say that I am using the gas pedal as an on/off switch.

Sorry, but I have no video. I was just hoping that someone here might know about the problem. If I cannot resolve the problem it will become a parts car for the rest of the vultures hovering above.

Not messing with you, just looking for a solution to a very annoying problem.
 
Perhaps the brake caliper on the opposite wheel is sticking?

If the traction control is suspect, it's easy to disable on the '97. just a couple button presses on the dashboard. If it is still acting up, it would almost have to be mechanical.
 
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Have someone verify which wheel is spinning.

Then investigate the other wheel. I can think of more than one reason but all would require disassembly to verify. Certainly not your usual suspects.
 
Ok, I have a question... :rolleyes:

If you put the car in gear will it roll forward or backwards under idle power?
 
/me waits for.. "depends on the gear"

edit: but really, I think I know what you are getting at...
 
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Car rolls forward. I am currently in NJ and will not be in Texas until later in the Summer. My buddy in Texas will have to perform any suggested tests. Thanks for all the help so far.
 
My guess is the spider gears are messed up in the differential.

On a lift, it would be relatively easy to remove the rear mount and cover from the differential to inspect the inside of the differential for damage.
 
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How about you just sell it to me instead of making it a parts car?

In all seriousness....you have an issue with your car but you have no idea what's going on or what the real symptom is. For all we know you're just revving the car up in neutral. Its not hard to lean out the window and see smoke coming from a spinning tire. It's also not hard to look at your speedometer rising as your wheel spins at whatever MPH. We need more info, without help from you about exactly what the car is doing then we're just shooting in the dark.
 
Make an offer

Make an offer

J said:
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How about you just sell it to me instead of making it a parts car?

In all seriousness....you have an issue with your car but you have no idea what's going on or what the real symptom is. For all we know you're just revving the car up in neutral. Its not hard to lean out the window and see smoke coming from a spinning tire. It's also not hard to look at your speedometer rising as your wheel spins at whatever MPH. We need more info, without help from you about exactly what the car is doing then we're just shooting in the dark.
Click to expand...

Are you serious about wanting to buy the car? If so, make an offer. It is a base Mark VIII with a moon roof with over 100,000 miles. Not sure of the exact mileage.

As far as telling you everything I know about the problem, I have already done so and I have tried to answer all questions seeking additional information. Sorry if the info I have provided is insufficient to allow you to solve the mystery.

As I said in a previous post, I was just trying to see if anyone knew or heard of such a problem. I believe that the rear will have to be inspected for some defect.

The car will drive and makes no noises. The wheel just spins for no aparent reason.

The sysptom is "The Wheel(s) Spin" when the throtle is opened. I have advised you of the symptom, and I am seeking a cause and a solution. The car is not being revved up in neutral.
 
As was previously mentioned, the MKVIII has an open differential. It does not transfer power to the wheel with traction. It just spins the wheel with no traction.
 
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