Re: Problem with 1974 Mercury 402 Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Problem with 1974 Mercury 402 › Re: Problem with 1974 Mercury 402 retiredozUS Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)Replies: 565Topics: 27 June 6, 2018 at 1:38 am #77502 Try jumping the negative battery terminal to the block. If you’re REALLY lucky, your problem may be a bad ground..