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Lincoln Repair Questions and Answers


 

Answer:  We are not surprised that the shock support had to be drilled out and bolted back in place to do a proper wheel alignment.  The reason for this is that the car manufacturers no longer have adjustable front-end alignment options.   If done correctly, it will not affect the structural strength of your car.

Question:  1997 Lincoln Town Car 8 cyl_mileage: 85,000. At about 75,000 miles, 70 mph, outside temperature at 95 deg the car overheats, and the A/C cuts out. Wait awhile, leave A/C off and car stays hot but doesn't overheat. Cooling fan motor changed, thermostat changed twice, cooling system flushed twice and pressure tested twice. This condition only happens at high speeds and hot outside temperatures.

Answer:   Check for blocked air-flow to the radiator.  Flushing the cooling system will not fix a partially plugged radiator.  Check for a blown head gasket; hot exhaust gases may be escaping into the cooling system.

Question: 1990 Lincoln Continental 3.8L v6 mileage: 123,000. My Lincoln has air shocks that do not inflate properly when the weather is below 45 F. On any given day, the front shocks inflate, but the rear end won't inflate. Sometimes, the rear comes up, without the front inflating. Most of the time, neither will inflate unless the weather warms up a bit. Every day I have different results. The compressor works fine and I'm thinking that there is a solenoid or regulator valve not closing, "location unknown." If there is no air leaking from any of the air hoses or rubber boots on the shocks, what else could it be? When the weather is warmer, the car goes up, stays level and does not constantly run the pump motor. Is this a common problem with the older Lincoln's, or do I need to move to Florida?

Answer: You are lucky they will work sometimes. Most older Lincolns have a totally failed system. Test for pressure at the shocks that are low. Chances are the shocks are not holding air and need to be replaced.

Question: 1994 Lincoln Town Car V8 mileage: 100,000. I jacked up the car and did not turn off the switch in the trunk. Now the suspension bag still will not inflate; the bag is good. Now what?

Answer: Driving the car should activate the system to level the car back up again. While driving the car, stopping and starting causes the car to rock back and forth which activates the system.

Question: 1993 Lincoln Mk VIII 4.6 mileage: 128,000. I have just had the transmission rebuilt in this car and now I have developed two problems that did not exist prior to the rebuild. The first is that I get an intermittent "check engine" light. This comes on usually after 3 minutes and goes off and on with no pattern as to engine/speed. The second is that my gas mileage has gone from 22-24 mpg avg. to 16.5 or less. The error codes and the computer have been reset but the light keeps coming on and the mileage is horrible. The shop replaced one of my oxygen sensors at their expense believing they had somehow damaged it during the rebuild. My transmission shifts as if new and there seems to be no problem with the rebuild. The engine is running smoothly and has plenty of power and all normal startup computer checks read OK. Any thoughts on where to look/things to try would be helpful.

Answer: We think you are on the right track with the oxygen sensor. However, your car has four oxygen sensors and with 128,000 miles they should all be replaced.

Question:  1992 Lincoln Continental  mileage: 115,000.   The Check DCL indicator light keeps coming on.  When it does this the engine surges and almost loses its power.  I've taken it to two repair shops now and nobody really knows what is wrong.  What I've been told was that DCL stands for 'data control logger'.  Do you have any suggestions or clues?  I hope so! 

Answer:  The only thing we can suggest from what you have told us is to scan the computer for fault codes if it has not been done.

Question:  1990 Continental, Lincoln v-6 3.8 Liter mileage: 154,000.  When my compressor engages the A/C system works very well. The problem is to get the system to engage the clutch.  The vacuum motors all seem to work appropriately.  The temperature selector seems to work ok.  When you vary the temperature selector up or down the vacuum motors, doors and blower act appropriately.  The heater works ok.  Every button on the control panel works, as it should.  But when the system demands cooling the compressor may or may not come on.  When you select AUTO, MAX, FLOOR/ PANEL or DEFROST the compressor may or may not come on.  The temperature setting seems to have no effect on getting the compressor to engage.  For some unknown reason and at an indeterminate point in time it will decide to engage the clutch and the system works well for the rest of the trip.  But shut off the engine and start it again and the compressor clutch may or may not engage.  I have checked the plug-in at the clutch and when the clutch is not engaged there is no power there.  I do not know where the clutch picks up its ground.  I have found 3 grounds under the hood and they all have continuity.  When the car is not running and the ignition is off, I have removed the plug to the clutch the plug then seems to have continuity to ground from either or the two pins of the plug-in.  This intermittent problem is driving me nuts.  Do you have any ideas?  Thanks, Augie

Answer:  It is impossible for us to tell you what is wrong from our vantage point -- without seeing your car.  The only thing you can do here is to follow a wiring diagram and troubleshoot each of the components that can affect the problem.  We check ground wires by putting the voltmeter on the positive side of the battery to the ground wire that you are checking.  A Mitchell, Chilton or Haynes auto repair manual or a specialty repair book for your make of car will have diagrams showing what you are looking for.  The manuals and books give step-by-step instructions.  Click here to find out more

Question:  1990 Towncar 5.0 L mileage: 130,000.  The wipers go to straight up position when turned off. Is this a problem in the wiper motor or is there a relay in the circuit, which controls this function?  If so, where is would this relay be located?  None of the service manuals I've seen mention this problem.

Answer:  Sounds like your problem is in the windshield wiper motor.  Replacing it should fix your problem.

Question:  1995 Lincoln Town Car 4.6L V8 mileage: 95,000.  Engine code displays bad # 2 fuel injector...replaced the injector but after about two miles same misfiring and sputtering under acceleration.  What else is wrong?

Answer:  The injector driver in the computer may be causing your computer code.  Also, check the spark plugs and plug wires and if they have not been replaced recently, this could be a contributing factor to your problem.

Question:  1990 Lincoln/Continental.  Husband is trying to replace rear brakes...is having problems getting the caliper to go in far enough!   If you have any tips to help him and to keep any more tools from flying through the garage I would REALLY appreciate it ALOT!   Thanks!

Answer:  We have thrown a few tools ourselves.  The piston in the rear calipers must be “wound” or “turned” back in.  They do not push straight back like the fronts.  A special brake tool is usually required in order to perform this task.

Question:  1987 Lincoln, Continental 3.8 mileage: 105,325.  Car came in head gasket blown.  Head was cracked replace both heads, tuned up car, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, fuel filter, PCV.   Car going down the road has a surge in it; power bake it you can feel a skip in the motor.  We have 147 lbs compression good fuel pressure (35 lbs) fill a pint bottle in 10 seconds injector seem to check out good ohms; did a flow test all were the same.  Looked on the machine #5 & #6.  Look funny fire line.  Burn time on 6 and 5 is 1.38 to 1.66 ms, all the others is 1.98 to 2.10 ms. Now when it skips you can spray choke cleaner in bore it will level out.  Check EGR valve good EGR valve.  Timing is on the money; advancement on time is 20 degrees.  No cracks in intake or upper intake. HELP PLEASE!

Answer:    You may want to replace the oxygen sensor in view of the fact that you had a blown head gasket (oxygen sensor’s hate coolant).  If it still runs poor, scan the computer and check for codes.

Question:  1992 Lincoln/Towncar 5.7 litre mileage: 80,000.  Having a problem with the air suspension.  Air suspension light came on and the car would not self-level, as it should have.   Came to discover that the 30-amp fuse in the fuse box under the hood was blown.  Replaced it and car leveled itself OK.  However, about 2 days later while driving and car leveling itself, the air suspension light again came on.   This time it will not release the air and level out.  Fuse has again blown.  Does this mean that there is a short in the solenoid, or possibly a sensor is shorting out.  Do not know which circuit the fuse belongs to.  Any comments will be appreciated.  Thanks.

Answer:    What normally happens on the air suspension system on the Lincolns is that the rubber boot around the shock wears our and leaks air.   When this happens, the pump is overworked and will run continuously until it overloads the circuits, which in turn causes a fuse to blow.  Check the condition of all four shocks.  Your will probably find the rubber boots in poor condition and in need of replacement.

Question:  1989 Lincoln Continental V-6  mileage: 105,000.   From time to time the "ride control' light and buzzer indicates a warning.  That happens after I am driving for about 10 -15 minutes.  The buzzer sounds about 12 times, then the light that reads "ride control” stays on until I restart the car.  I have found that if I jack the car up just a little without turning the ride control switch (in the trunk) off, the air pump starts and the light and buzzer do not sound a warning sometimes for a few months.  How can I correctly fix the problem?  Thanks.

Answer: Your shocks are leaking air and the only fix is replacement.

Question:  1989 Lincoln Towncar 302 mileage: 121,250.  What does trouble code 34 indicate?

Answer:   Code 34 indicates the EGR valve positing sensor voltage is above closed limits. 

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