Need Help! Car Turns off when in park.

Asked by NativePhoenician Mar 31, 2014 at 01:18 AM about the 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I own a 1988 Grand Marquis and it
has recently started turning off. It only
turns off after i have driven it and i
reach my Destination and put it in
Park or in Reverse some times. Also
the lights dim so i believe that it may
be the Alternator, and also the engine
some times shakes when i accelerate
past 25 and when it shifts gears. I
hope someone is able to help me out,
i dont have that much money to
spend on repairs.

2 Answers
40,185

James answered 10 years ago

check if your shift linkage is rubbing through wiring and shorting it out when you move the shifter

Mark helpful
58,615

Tracy answered 10 years ago

Try cleaning the throttle body and perhaps the IAC (Idle Air Control) solenoid. They get gooped up over time and can't compensate for differences in engine load (or no load) quickly. As for the lights dimming - If the Alternator wasn't working, your lights would always be dim and eventually, you couldn't start the car. Now for the shaking you describe: sounds like an engine miss. Sounds like your car may not have had any maintenance done in a long time. Typically, the spark plug wires deteriorate and cause misfires by allowing spark to jump to ground rather than through the spark plugs.

Best Answer Mark helpful

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