1999 Mercury Grand Marquis complaints

ON JAN. 25, 2006 I STOPPED AT A REST AREA TO PUT WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID IN MY CAR. THE HYDRAULICS ON THE HOOD FAILED, CAUSING THE HOOD TO SLAM SHUT ON MY ARM. THE HOOD LATCHED AND THE LATCH WAS JAMMED DUE TO MY ARM BEING CAUGHT UNDER THE HOOD. TWO ODOT WORKERS FINALLY CAME TO HELP ME. THEY COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD BY USING THE HOOD RELEASE IN THE CAR, NOR BY USING THE RELEASE UNDER THE HOOD. THEY HAD TO PRY OPEN THE HOOD, FOR ME TO PULL MY ARM OUT. MY ARM WAS PINNED FOR 20 MINUTES. I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH A PERMANENT DISABILITY IN MY RIGHT ARM AND HAND. I AM IN CONSTANT EXCRUTIATING PAIN WHICH I WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, AS THE BREAK PEDAL WAS RELEASED TO BEGIN A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO LOCK, CAUSING THE CONTACT'S HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

CRACKING PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MERCURY V-8 CAR OVER HEATS DUE TO WATER/COOLANT LEAKING LOOKING INTO GETTING FIXED. *JB

EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING DESERT EN ROUTE TO DESTINATION, WITHOUT ANY WARNING NOTICE, CAUSING UNNECESSARY DELAY, EXPENSE,ANXIETY, & FRUSTRATION. *NM

1999 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE CONSUMER'S NEPHEW WAS UNABLE TO UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT LOCATED ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAD TO WIGGLE OUT OF THE SEAT BELT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. FURTHER ATTEMPTS AT UNLOCKING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WERE UNSUCCESSFULLY. *NM

I HAVE A 1999 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. I HAVE LEARN THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE WITH THE FORD VEHICLES.

BACKING UP THE TIE ROD FELL DOWN, STEERING IMPOSSIBLE

DT: THE HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE LOST THEIR PROTECTIVE COATING WHICH RESTRICTS OVER HALF OF THE LIGHT VISIBILITY DRIVING IN DARK CONDITIONS OR AT NIGHT. TOOK TO A DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS BEFORE THE TYPE OF PLASTIC WAS CHANGED ON THEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD THIS REPLACED. *NM

DT: CAR IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBER 15 FUSE. THIS FUSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DASHBOARD, INTERIOR LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, TEMP CONTROL, HAS BEEN REPLACED 5X. DEALER REPORTSCANT FIND PROBLEM. DEALER REPORTS THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR VEHICLE. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. OWNERS MAIN CONCERN IS THAT YOU CANT SEE THE SPEED WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

COMPLETE CRACKING OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING COMPLETER LOSS OF COOLANT AND $1400 REPAIR WITH THE NEW REPLACEMENT METAL MANIFOLD.

MY 1999 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS HAS A PERSISTANT OIL LEAK FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE ENGINE HEAD THAT IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 02-22-07.*AK THE DEALERSHIP, IRVINE LINCOLN MERCURY, HAS HAD THREE TRIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE FAILED TO SUCCEED. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST MONTH AND NOW THEY SAY THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED EVEN THOUGH THE UNRESOLVED COMPLAINT CONDITION GOES BACK WELL INTO THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD FELL OFF. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THE ORIGINAL TIE ROD END WAS ASSEMBLED WITH NO GREASE AND COULD NOT BE GREASED. *BF *NM

WHILE PARKING AT A LOW SPEED, THE FRONT RIGHT TIE ROD FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE TIE ROD. *JB...OTHER TIE ROD ON LEFT SIDE WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND THE OTHER TWO WERE BADLY WORN. NO PLACE TO GREASE, SO IT MUDT BE LIFE TIME. *AK

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPED, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. *AK......CENTRAL COLLISION CENTOR OF NEW LENOX, INC 114 OAK STREET, NEW LENOX,IL 60451 REPLACED THE CABLE, AN DNOT THE DEALER. CONSUME RHAS THE OLD PARTS. *AK

VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE THE JACK COLLAPSED.*MR THE JACK THE CONSUMER WAS NEW SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE EVER HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE JACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO OFFERED TO ORDER A NEW ONE WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR. THE CONSUMER REFUSED THE OFFER ESPECIALLY SINCE THE REPLACEMENT WAS THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE JACK IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE VEHICLE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE THEN STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THEN, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL LEAKED UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (20794 MILES). *AK RECENTLY THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANOTHER OIL LEAK WHICH APPEARED TO BE THE SAME AS THAT FROM THE FIRST CYLINDER HEAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AGAIN (59700 MILES). *NM

INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW OUT, SENDING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *AK

I HAD TO FIX THE LEAK 3 TIMES. FINALLY, MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT IS MADE OF HARD PLASTIC! WHAT IN THE WORLD ANYONE WOULD DESIGN SUCH PART IN PLASTIC? HOW CAN SUCH MATERIAL SUSTAIN EXTREME HEAT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I PURCHASED NEW ONE AND IT IS PLASTIC AGAIN WITH A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. BUT IT IS MOSTLY PLASTIC AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS SERVICE SCAM. YOU MAKE PARTS TO ONLY LAST 4 YEARS AND MAKE MONEY FROM SELLING AUTO PARTS. THE DEALERSHIP PERSON SOLD ME THE PARTS STATED THAT HE HAD SOLD 6 OF THEM LAST WEEK ALONE AND HE HAS IT IN STOCK ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED TO INFORM CONSUMERS. I WANT A SATISFACTORY ANSWER BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER AMERICAN CAR.

PROBLEM: THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAKING HEAD GASKET & DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD. COST TO REPAIR $2504.80 (I PAID IT) I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 11/17/03 AND GOT IT BACK 11/20/03. I WAS TOLD THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE. AS I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT THE CAR SHIMMIED AND STALLED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT RIGHT BACK AND THEY STILL ARE WORKING ON IT AS OF 11/21/03 9AM. HISTORY OF PROBLEM AT FORD: FORD HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THESE TWO PROBLEMS ( FROM WWW.ALLDATA.COM ) 03-6-2 MAR 03 ENGINE - OIL LEAK FROM R/H CYLINDER HEAD GASKET 02-1-4 JAN 02 ENGINE HEAD GASKET - APPROVED REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES 01-21-10 OCT 01 ENGINE - OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET 02-2-2 INTAKE MANIFOLD - CROSS-OVER CHANNEL COOLANT SEEPAGE ACCORDING TO WWW.LEMONAIDCARS.COM ( WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/MEDIAATTN.HTM )THE FORD 4.7 LITER HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE AND CAUSED FORD TO EXTEND WARRANTIES TO 6 YRS./ 75,000 MILES ON OLDER MODELS (WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/ARTICLE.PHP?DID=121&SCID=59 ). THEY ALSO KNOW THE MANIFOLD PART USED TO ORIGINAL MAKE THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. THE REPAIRS ARE COSTING ME $2504.80 WITH NO HELP FROM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *LA

BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE 1999 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS.*MR DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE TIE ROD. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE(SIZE#2256016 ,DOT#W2X01P64900). *NLM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO TURN OVER. DT

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH 'DEAD' SPOT IN MY STEERING, CAUSING ME TO OVERSTEER. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GOODYEAR SERVICE WHERE THEY ADJUSTED SOME PART ON THE GEAR BOX. THIS HELPED, BUT CONTINUED TO OVERSTEER THE VEHICLE. I RETURNED TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND PURCHASED FOUR (4) NEW TIRES, ALIGNED THE FRONT END ALL ALL FOUR WHEELS. AGAIN THE ADJUSTED THE GEAR BOX DUE TO MY COMPLAINT. I DROVE OVER TO SARASOTA WHERE I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE CAR WAS STEERING AND I RETURNED TO ANOTHER GOODYEAR STORE WHERE I WAS ADVISED THE GEAR BOX IS 'CONDEMNED' AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR NOW 'WANDERS' ALL OVER THE ROAD AND I MUST FIGHT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO ADVISED ME THAT THIS IS NOT COMMON AND MUST BE A DEFECTIVE GEAR BOX INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. I FEEL MERCURY SHOULD REPLACE THE GEAR BOX AT THEIR EXPENSE, NOT MINE AS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR. MR

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR FENDER BENDER DRIVING AT 5 MPH WHEN THE TWO FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. MR

FRONT DISC BRAKES SQUEAKED AND SQUEALED EXCESSIVELY SINCE THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. RETURNED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. REPLACEMENT PADS WERE FORD MOTORCRAFT PADS. BRAKING POWER WAS NOTICEABLY REDUCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FORD MOTORCRAFT PADS WERE INSTALLED. AFTER ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALER, FORD OEM PADS WERE INSTALLED. BRAKING POWER WAS RESTORED TO NORMAL (ORIGINAL) LEVELS, AND THE SQUEAKING / SQUEALING WAS GONE. MY CONCERN IS THAT FORD MOTORCRAFT PARTS ARE NOT THE EQUIVALENT TO THE OEM PARTS, AND THAT DEALERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE BEING SHIPPED, AND INSTRUCTED TO USE FORD MOTORCRAFT DISC PADS WHICH CLEARLY ARE CREATING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. MR

HEADLIGHTS NIGHT VISION IS VERY POOR ON HIGH BEAM, AND LOW BEAM IS POOR LY CONSTRUCTED. CONSUMER CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

VEHICLE WILL NOT IDLE, CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS ACCELERATOR TO KEEP VEHICLE IDLING. DEALER REPLACED IDLE CONTROL VALVE TWO MONTHS AGO. AT THIS TIME PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. VALVE WAS FIRST REPLACED IN 2000.*AK

AT 12000 MILES DISCOVERED THAT LEFT BODY MOUNT BOLT WAS LOOSE. CONSUMER RETIGHTENED BOLT. VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING IMPROPERLY. CONSUMER CHECKED AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT BODY MOUNT BOLT HAD SNAPPED. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE BOLTS HOLD BODY OF VEHICLE TO SUBFRAME, AND A BROKEN BOLT INCREASES PRESSURE ON THE REMAINING ONES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING.*AK *YH

REPLACEMENT FLOORMATS PURCHASED AT FORD DEALERSHIP, ROLLED UP FROM THE HEAT. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE REVVED, CONSUMER NOTICED FLOORMAT ON TOP OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PART NUMBER 1W7Z5413086EAC. *AK *JB

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AT A COLD START AND PULLED OUT, THEN CAME TO A STOP. CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT.*AK *MJ

DEALERSHIP REPLACED PARTS UNDER WARRANTY W/ DEDUCTABLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PANEL UNDERNEATH THE DASH FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. NLM *TT

WHILE SLOWLY PARKING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUUDEN LUNGED FOWARD IN FULL ACCELERATION, IT JUMPED THE PARKING BUMPER AND INTO THE VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE PARKING SPACE, SIDESWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PUSHED THE FIRST VEHICLE INTO A THIRD VEHICLE, THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE.*JB

DEALER STATES WILL REPLACE DRIVESHAFT FOR $400-$700. FOR VIBRATION. *AK

REAR END OF CAR SKIPS SIDEWAYS WHEN HOLE OR BUMP HIT OR UNEVEN ROAD AT FREEWAY SPEED, CAUSES GREAT CONCERN AS DRIVER REALLY DOES NOT HAVE CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR THAT DURATION. POTENTIAL DANGER OF CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO PUT THE KEY INTO IGNITION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE TURNED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES, WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SKIDDED ON WET PAVEMENT LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HITTING THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED LEFT WHILE TURNING ONTO THE RAMP REQUIRING ONLY MINOR NEGOTIATION OF A SLIGHT HILLED AND CURVED ROAD, IT PROCEEDED INTO A RIGHT DIAGNONAL TURN INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND WOULD HAVE PLUNGED INTO THE ADJACENT DITCH ABSENT THE RAIL. THE VEHICLE THEN BOUNCED OFF THE RAIL AND RATHER THAN PROCEED STRAIGHT AS THE STEERING WHEEL DIRECTED IT WITH A SLIGHT LEFT TURN OF THE WHEEL, IT TOOK A SHARP LEFT DIAGONALLY PROCEEDING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE MEDIAN STRIP OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A MILE AWAY. *TT

DEFECTIVE LUGS, AND STUDS, HAVE HAD TWO BROKEN LUGS AND STUDS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *AK *YD

PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS, AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SO CONSUMER CONTINUED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. THEN, A FEW FEET LATER SHE HEARD T SAME NOSE, AND TIRE BLEWOUT. *AK

THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM PARK TO DRIVE.*JB

GOODYEAR EAGLE LS P225/60R16, DOT PDX0BMER089, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1999, MERCURY, GRAND MARQUIS WITH 27000 MILES. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION, ONE HAS A 2 FOOT STRIP COMING OFF.*AK *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, THE SERRING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND HAS TO BE JERKED BEFORE THE KEY CAN BE TUNED.

AFTER THE CONSUMER DROVE OVER A CATTLE GUARD THE INERTIA SWITCH ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. NLM

THE AUTO PRODUCED AN UNCONTROLLABLE SKID WHILE BRAKING ON A WET ROAD AND PROCEEDING AROUND A RAMP. RATHER THAN PROCEED LEFT WHILE TURNING ON THE RAMP REQUIRING ONLY A MINOR NEGOTIATION OF A SLIGHT HILLED AND CURVED ROAD, IT PROCEEDED INTO A RIGHT DIAGONAL TURN INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND WOULD HAVE PLUNGED INTO THE ADJACENT DITCH ABSENT THE RAIL. IT THEN BOUNCED OFF THE RAIL AND RATHER THAN PROCEED STRAIGHT AS THE STEERING WHEEL DIRECTED IT WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE WHEEL, IT TOOK A SHARP LEFT DIAGONALLY PROCEEDING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE MEDIAN STRIP OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC LESS THAN AN APPROXIMATE 1/4 OF A MILE AWAY. IT SUDDENLY TOOK A STRAIGHT PATH AFTER VEERING WITHIN 1/2 YARD OF THE GUARD RAIL SEPARATING IT FROM THE MEDIAN STRIP. IT HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO GO STRAIGHT BY THE STEERING WHEEL MUCH EARLIER BEFORE LEAVING THE RAMP. THE CAR PERFORMED LIKE AN UNCONTROLLABLE ROLLER COASTER OFF OF ITS TRACKS.*JB

THE PRECISION TRAC SYSTEM FAILS AND THE CARS LOSES ALL POWER TO PROCEED, IN ANY WEATHER, AND AN 18 WHEELER IS COMING FROM BEHIND AS YOU TRY TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION THE 1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND NOW THAT THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGUROUS TO DRIVE AND I HAVE NO OTHER CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE. PLEASE HELP.*AK

POOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT, VEHICLE STARTS TO GO FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK *SLC

LEFT REAR GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRE, LS97TBSB - 225/60R16 ON 1999, MERCURY, GRAND MARQUIS. TIRE HAS CRACKED ON SIDEWALL OF TIRE, AND MANUFACTURER IS CONSIDERING DEFECT TO BE ROAD HAZARD. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TIRE, TIRE HAS BEEN SENT TO GOODYEAR FOR EXAMINATION. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, DEALER STATES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT OR LEFT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. *AK