In May of 2014 I was driving from Spokane, WA to Burien, WA when the amber check engine light came on and stayed on for the trip. As I was driving to the Dealership (Scarff Motors Kent) the amber light went off. The Service manager at Scarff stated that since the light was off there was nothing they could do. In Aug of 2015 the amber check engine light came on and stayed on. But again as I was taking it to the dealership the check engine light turned off. Again the Service Manager told me that with the light off there was nothing they could do.

In April. 2016 the amber check engine light came on and stayed on. The car was purchased new at Scarff;s in Kent in 2009 and the odometer has 38,000+ miles. The Mariner has been serviced routinely as required at the dealership. The initial problem was diagnosed as the valve lifters needed replacement for an estimate of $900. When the heads were removed it was found that the heads were scoured and needed replacement. The estimated charge is now $4,000. I have authorized Scarff to go ahead with the repair. I don't believe after 7 years that the engine is under warranty. It is difficult for me to believe that an engine should fail in this manner with less then 39,000 miles driven. While we drive mostly in the city we have taken long trips to such places as Yellowstone (3 time), Las Vegas, Sun Valley (3 times), Spokane, Crater Lake, Palm Desert, Jackson, Wy and Oregon Coast. Is there any chance that sending all the maintenance and repair records to Ford Mercury that they will absorb some or all of the cost?

Budd Rice

Burien, WA 98146

buddrice@juno.com