1990 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Engine And Engine Cooling 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENGINE FIRE. MJS

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

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

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.

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

HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS.

HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TRANSMISSION SLIPS.

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

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

FACTORY INSTALLED CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELDS SEPARATED FROM CONVERTER UNDER OIL PAN, COULD CAUSE ENGIN EOVERHEATING OR OTHER DAMAGE. *AK

ENGINE REPLACED.

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED.

ENGINE REPLACED.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED.

EVP SENSOR REPLACED.

BELT REPLACED.

RADIATOR REPLACED.

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED.

WATER PUMP REPLACED.

THE AXLE FOR THE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED.

ENGINE HEAD CRACKED DUE TO OVERHEATING.

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED, POWER STEERING FLUID VERY LOW. *AK

HAD MOTOR MOUNTS RECALL DONE, MOUNTS ARE CRACKED AGAIN. TT CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT MTOR MOUNTS FAILED AGAIN BECAUSE DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE REINFORCEMENT AS DESCRIBED INT HE RECALL NOTIFICATION NO REINFORCEMENT PLATES WERE INSTALLED ON THE FIRST RECALL WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*JB

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS DETERIORATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHIFT. (RECALL 93V-106.002)*SD

THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. *AK

THE FRONT AND REAR STRUT/SHOCK WENT OUT, THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THE BALL JOINT , THE ALTERNATOR. TT

REPLACED BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS DUE TO PLAY IN DRIVE TRAIN/CLUNKING NOISE.