‘My 10-year-old car is running rough, what’s going on?’
The Car Doc weighs in.
Boston.com Cars is your go-to resource for coverage of local car news, events, and reviews. In the market for a car or truck? Check out our new car specials and used car specials curated by our local dealer network.Q. I have a 10-year-old Mercury Marquis that my grandpa gave me. The problem is that sometimes it runs rough to the point it almost stalls. Other times it runs just fine. Any ideas?A. That vintage vehicle uses many vacuum-controlled devices. I would start by looking and listening for vacuum leaks, which will sound like hissing. The other common issue with this model is the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve sticks open and causes a very lean engine running condition that may lead the engine to stall. John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician. He answers readers’ questions each Saturday. You can tune in to his radio program Saturday morning from 8:30-10 a.m. on 950AM WROL or wrolradio.com. Email your car question to [email protected].
