# Trouble Making It Uphill **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** crownvictoria, ford\ **Created:** [April 23, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256 "2017-04-23T23:33:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tripptrippy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@tripptrippy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tripptrippy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/1 "2017-04-23T23:33:04Z")
I have a **2005 Ford Crown Victoria** It has **340,600** miles on it.Yeah I know thats alot.Recently it started having Trouble making it **uphill** it has trouble making it to **15mph uphill**.I Took It to a Mechanic 2weeks ago. I got a New **Fuel Pump** installed in it.He said Its The **SPARK PLUGS** because the car keeps misfiring bad like **5 cylinders** are msifiring.he said the car needs **Spark Plugs,Intake Manifold,Air Filter & Exhaust Work** but mainly the uphill problem is the **BAD SPARK PLUGS** I just wanted to get an 2nd opinion from more people to see if y’all also think it could be the **spark Plug** s that’s causing it to Move Slow Uphill ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/2 "2017-04-23T23:36:43Z")
Is the Check Engine light on/flashing? Tester ---
**Author:** ![tripptrippy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@tripptrippy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tripptrippy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/3 "2017-04-24T00:43:13Z")
yes it is flashing ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/4 "2017-04-24T00:48:25Z")
[quote=“trexxsales, post:3, topic:103256, full:true”] yes it is flashing [/quote]That means you need to stop driving the car. You risk damaging the catalytic converter if you keep driving. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/5 "2017-04-24T00:50:35Z")
That’s not good! A flashing Check Engine light indicates a major misfire is occurring. And depending how long the vehicle is driven with the flashing Check Engine light, it can cause damage to the engine and the catalytic converter(s). > **[Flashing check engine light - CarMD](https://www.carmd.com/wp/flashing-check-engine-light/)** > > A flashing CEL (Check Engine Light) is something serious to be concerned about. A flashing check engine light indicates engine misfires and can result in costly repairs Tester ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/6 "2017-04-24T04:09:16Z")
I would be very hesitant to replace all of those items considering the high miles unless some very thorough diagnostics were done. How does the mechanic determine that spark plugs are the cause of the misfiring and inability to go uphill? Apparently he’s already made a somewhat expensive guess as to the fuel pump. If he replaced the pump on a guess without checking fuel pressure and so on I would be skeptical of the short laundry list he gave you helping things very much. What would I do if the car were mine? While the spark plugs are out run a compression check and determine if the engine is on its last legs before sinking money into it. If the engine has gotten tired it will struggle on the uphill and misfires just make it worse. Keep in mind low compression can cause misfires and ruin the converters as Tester mentioned. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-making-it-uphill/103256/7 "2017-04-24T15:11:01Z")
I had this problem. After trying everything else, I replaced the fuel pump, which cost $40, which made the difference. Mine was mounted on the engine and run by cam, so I didn’t have to fiddle with the gas tank. If I thought the plugs were the problem I’d just replace them. What do they cost? $2/each? Doesn’t asking a mechanic cost more than replacing them? The Chilton and the Haines have color pictures illustrating the common problems from which plugs can suffer: inspect them to see if your engine shows any of those signs. An air filter is also much cheaper than a professional consultation. I haven’t had to replace my intake manifold yet.