What Parts Should I Replace On My 97 Mustang After 188k?

[Jeremiah Emerson]

I have a 1997 Mustang coupe, and it has over 185k miles on it, with plenty of problems. All seemed lost, but then just recently I found out a coworkers dad is parting his 1997 Mustang out!

I immediately embarked on the 4 hour journey to the location of my savior Mustang to replace as many of the interior panels as I could, as they rattled due to the rough treatment dealt by the previous owner. I picked up both front door panels, the rear side panels (but I couldn't remove the seat belt to get to the upper panels), the driver side mirror, insulation for under and along side of the rear seat, and a replacement passenger side blinker housing.

I drove back that night with a car full of panels, and it began to sink in that there more important things than interior panels that needed fixing/replacing..

Here are some of the things that door panels won't fix:

• The parking brake does not work, I think the line is rusted/broken.
• The steering wheel shakes when I brake.
• There is no padding behind any panels except under the back seat.
• The driver door does not stay open, (does not lock in to open position).
• The carpeted trunk liner is torn and misshapen.
• The rear axle had to be re-aligned and the right-rear bearing had to be replaced, now it squeaks.
• The right side blinker is missing after a small accident. I have a replacement blinker but one of the mounting holes are broken and there are weird bowling pin shaped connections that I think need something else to make fit in the female receptacle as it is to big.
• The right fender has a fist-sized dent directly behind the blinker.
• The gasket around the passenger door window is ripped and caulked back together and looks horrible.
• The steering wheel has a bite sized chunk missing from the outer wheel.
• The Air Conditioning control has limited functionality, I can adjust fan speed and temperature, but third control dial for vents and AC (floor, vent, windshield, AC, MAX AC, OFF) only works for shutting it off. Other than being off, only the windshield gets air, no air blows out of the front vents or floor, (although you can feel it get cold, it doesn't blow out).

After this revelation, I almost turned around and went back for more parts, but then I had another revelation.. Even if I did turn around and go back, I wouldn't know what to grab to fix these problems! Replacing the dial on the air conditioner control might not fix the problem, and the dial is the only part of the AC that I am familiar enough with to recognize as being part of the AC unit.

If anyone knows what parts might help me fix any of these problems, please let me know, because he is parting it out fast and I don't want to miss snagging a near-free repair if I can help it.

If you don't know how to fix any of the problems I listed, just please post something you thing could be getting worn down after 185k+ miles, its an old car.

ALL HELP IS APPRECIATED!

 

[AnotherOtherMe]

Wow, that's a lot of stuff. I'm not a big car mechanic or nothin, but what I would say is that you can try to replace anything cosmetic on your car. I wouldn't reccomend anything that is vital for the car to function like ball joints or any engine parts. and even if you miss this oppurtunity, you can always stop by a vehicle scrap yard nearby you, they almost always have a mustang.

 

[N8Dogg98]

Drive car to scap yard, sell to scrap yard for $$$, buy a newer vehicle w/o problems.