1990 Lincoln Continental Engine Problems

I PURCHASED A 1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL IN DECEMBER 2002, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO RVERSE, THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. BEFORE I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED, I CHECKED THE FLUID TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT, AND TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. THEN I CHECKED WWW.ALLDATA.COM AND FOUND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGH A CHECK OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETINS: ATRATB331; ATRATB267; 94247; ATRATB029; AND 89225. BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS MENTIONED ABOVE, FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AS A CONSUMER, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO MYSELF. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. ON 12 DECEMBER 2002 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT WHEN THE COMPUTER SIGNALED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE BURNED WIRED. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE FAN HAD SEIZED UP AND STARTED TO MELT THE WIRES. THE FUSE HAD FAILED TO BLOW, AND I HAD TO UNPLUG THE FAN FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO KEEP THE WIRES FROM BURNING MORE.

NHTSA ID

10069823

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

ON THE INTERNET IT STATED FORD HAD CALLBACKS FOR ALL3.8 ENGINES FOR HEADGASKET PROBLEMS BUT ONLY RECALLED A FEW VIN NUMBERS. HOW COULD THEY GET AWAY WITH THAT? YOU AND I AND EVERY MECCHANIC KNOWS THE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE BY FORD WHY CANT SOME THING BE DONE. I WASNT TOLD OF ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. LUCKY I WAS DRIVING NOT MY DAUGHTER. SHE WOULD HAVE DIVEN TILL IT BURNED THE MOTOR UP. AND THE AIR SHOCKS AT $ 4,000 FOR THE 4 OF THEM THATS ANOTHER FARCE. CANT YOU MAKE THEM AT LEAST INSTALL AT COST ? MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA. TURNPIKE LUCKY I PULLED OVER AND GOT TOWED WITH A $350 BILL.*AK

NHTSA ID

752346

Incident

Jul 26, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING HEATER WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO, NOTICE WHITE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE BLOWN UP GASKET CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAILE AND THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO ISSUE RECALL. *YH

NHTSA ID

877147

Incident

Dec 26, 2000

ENGINE WAS TAKEN IN FOR OVERHEATING AND FAILURE TO COOL. DEALER CHECKED OUT AND RLEASED THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER (WITHIN 5 MILES) I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS HEATING WAY ABOVE NORMAL. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND RAISED THE HOOD. I NOTICED THERE WAS NO COOLANTIN THE RESERVOIR. I BOUGHT A GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE AND POURED OVER HALF OF THE GALLON INTO THE TANK. I CONTINUED HOME ABOUT 5 MILES AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS STILL OVERHEATING. I RAISED THE HOOD AND PUT OVER A GALLON OF WATER INTO THE RADIATOR. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE AND I DROVE THE CAR TO CHECK IT OUT ASSUMING THAT THE FORD DEALER GARAGE HAD SIMPLY FAILED TO CHECK OUT COOLANT AND WATER AND IT WOULD BE OKAY. THE CAR HEAT GAGE WOULD RISE AND FALL DEPENDING UPON PRESSURE ON THE ENGINE. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE GARAGE AND LEFT IT FOR MORING REPAIR. WE GOT A CALL THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP AND THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THE GASKETS HAD FAILED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

725438

Incident

May 27, 2000

THE TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM CHECK SYSTEM ON MY DASHBOARD GAVE ME NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON AT THE MADISON TN BP SERVICE STATION SAID MY CAR SAID THAT HE WAS HAVING SEVERAL LINCOLN HAVING THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM ONE WAS IN RIGHT NEXT TO MINE AT THE TIME IT WAS WORKING ACORDING TO HIS COMPUTER MY GAUGES WORKED THEY JUST DIDNT SENSE ANY OVERHEATING I HAVE SPENT TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT A BLOWN HEAD GASKET TWO FUEL INJECTORS AND A THERMOSTAT WATERPUMP AND TWO SPARK PLUGS AND TWO OXYGEN SENSORS ALL DUE TO THE CAR OVERHEATING I CONSTANTLY RAN A SYSTEM CHECK WITH MY ON DASH SYSTEM CHECK AND HAD ALL SYSTEM NORMAL NOW DUE TO THE CAR OVERHEATING WITH NO NOTICE THE GAUGE ON THE DASH READ TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE CENTER NOT HOT NOR TOO COLD EVEN WITH THE NEW PARTS THE CAR IS NOW HESITATING AND CUTTING OFF THE GAUGES SHOW CHECK ENGINE CHARGE SYSTEM BAD AND THE CAR CUTS OFF CONSTANTLY AND THE MECHANIC CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT EACH TIME IT CUTS OFF HE KEEPS FINDING SOMETHING ELSE WRONG AND IS ASSOCIATING EACH WITH THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM OF THE CAR OVERHEATING LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM ALSO IT HAS A NEW RADIATOR SO IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS DESIGN FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM NOT TO MENTION THE MINOR BRAKING AND STEEERING PROBLEMS I SEEM TO HAVE HERE LATELY HELP PLEASE I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE HERE. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

724168

Incident

Jun 3, 2000

WHEN DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MANAGED TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. 8AK

NHTSA ID

860663

THE FORD 3.8L V6 HAS KNOWN HIGH INCIDENCE OF PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THIS COMPONENT -- THE HEAD GASKET. MY EXPENSES TO REPAIR THIS COMPONENT WERE 1371.77 SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR 9000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THEY HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE AND/OR SALES INCENTIVES TO 1994/1995 OWNERS, BUT WILL NOT EXTEND THE SAME CONSIDERATION OR COMPENSATION TO OWNERS OF OLDER VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME CONDITION. I AM SEEKING THE SAME INCLUSION OF MY MODEL YEAR UNDER THE SAME SETTLEMENT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT FORD DENIES THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT RATHER FEELS THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS CMPENSATION IS TO INFLUENCE FUTURE PURCHASES, AND THAT CONSIDERATION MADE ON ANY VEHICLE PURCHASED BEFORE 1994 NO LONGER REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT OWNER RETENSION / MARKETING OPPORTUNITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

721106

Incident

Aug 21, 1995

ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW. THEY WERE REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN IN1 995 AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL 92M77, NHTSA# SBO30958. IT SEEMS AS IF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECIDED TO KEEP REPLACING THE SYMPTON(BROKEN MOUNTS) UNTIL ALL THE WARRANTIES RAN OUT RATHER THAN FIX THE INITIAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

714749

Incident

May 4, 1999

ENGINE FIRE. MJS

NHTSA ID

549074

Incident

Nov 27, 1998

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING PASSENGER TO HIT HEAD ON WINDHIELD WHEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NLM

NHTSA ID

547907

FRONT END/ENGINE/ FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS THE MOST TROUBLE I HAVE EVER HAD OUT OF A CAR, AND THE ONLY THING THAT CAME UNDER WARRANTY WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND THEY DIDN'T GET THAT FIXED RIGHT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LINCOLN PRODUCT IN MY LIFE. *AK

NHTSA ID

708477

Incident

Jun 6, 1996

VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN & NEEDED REPLACING. MOUNTS WERE BROKEN TWO YEARS AGO & WERE REPAIRED THEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

837527

Incident

Sep 17, 1998

THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL BECAUSE OF A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER SAID HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

837031

MOTOR MOUNTS WILL NOT HOLD THE MOTOR TO THE FRAME. WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY THE MOTOR WILL JUMP UP AND HIT THE HOOD. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

835523

Incident

Mar 10, 1998

POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

544587

Incident

Nov 27, 1998

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE HEATER TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR.

NHTSA ID

544327

Incident

Feb 15, 1999

RECALL ON THE SUB-FRAME MOUNTS WHICH HOLD TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE DOES NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH VEHICLE EXPERIENCES.

NHTSA ID

544122

Incident

Feb 17, 1999

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

544091

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AIR GETS OUT OF THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ALSO, THE MOTOR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

835134

Incident

Feb 14, 1999

THERE ARE 17 TBS ON THE TRANSMISSION! I PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR A LOW MILEAGE CAR, NOT I AM STUCK! THERE IS A TBS DATED 7/98 ON THE HEADGASKET! BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

700547

Incident

Nov 11, 1998

MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED, CAUSING A VIBRATION , WHICH MADE A HOLE IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE , RESULTING IN FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

827453

Incident

Aug 25, 1998

HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

537801

Incident

Feb 10, 1997

HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

535478

Incident

Oct 15, 1997

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TRANSMISSION SLIPS.

NHTSA ID

532814

Incident

Nov 23, 1996

INTERMITTENT STALLING DURING LONG TRIPS IN HOT WEATHER WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

523392

Incident

Aug 24, 1997