1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVER HEAT.ONCE IT GOT HOT, THE POWER OF CAR IS,WAS LOST. AFTER HAPPENING A FEW TIMES,I FOUND A VERY SMALL [PIN SIZE] HOLE IN THE THERMASTATE RECIEVING UNIT.THIS IS A PART OF THE MANIFOLD IT SELF. ALL ATTEMPS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM HAS FAILED.! TRYING TO FIX THIS PROVED IMPOSSIBLE.THIS PART IS IN FACT MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC.AS IT HEATS UP THE PLASTIC EXSPANDS, AND RE-OPENS THE HOLE,WHICH HAS NOW BECOME A CRACK. ALL EFFORDS TO FIND A SEALENT TO STOP THE LEAK,HAS FAILED. TO HAVE THIS CRACK REPAIRED MEANS THAT THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE MOTOR [MANIFOLD] MUST BE RE-PLACED. FORD RE-PLACED THE TERMASTATE HOUSING UNIT IN 2000-2001, WITH AN ALUMINUM PIECE,PROBLEM SOLVED.THERE ARE NO RE-CALLS,NOR EVEN A NOTIFICATION,SENT OUT, TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL STORNLY THAT THIS IS IN FACT A KNOWN PROBLEM,WHICH FORD WAS AWARE OF,BUT DECIDED THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ENOUGH TO FIX IT.PLEASE NOTE::WHEN THE CAR OVRT HEATS IT SHUTS OFF THE POWER TO THE ENGINE!!! THIS COULD POTIENTIALLY BE AVERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,ESPECIALLY IN HIGH TRAFFIC,HIGH SPEED SITUATIONS!!!! *TR

Mileage: 137,352

FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM. LOSS OF COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATED, LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL BY MANUFACTURER.

Mileage: 73,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AND THE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HE REFERENCED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

1998 LINCOLN TOWNCAR PLASTIC INTAKE LEAKAGE PROBLEMS FROM CRACKS THAT ORIGINATED FROM OEM FAULTY DESIGN. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE, "FORD AND/OR HIS LEGAL DISTRIBUTOR DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THE DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT CONTACT ME THEREAFTER IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER WHEN AND AFTER I PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE". IF FORD'S LEGAL DISTRIBUTOR HAD DISCLOSED THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE DAMAGE IS ENORMOUS. FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR NEGLECT TO DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION FOR BUYER'S OF THIS VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 102,783

I TOOK MY 1998 LINCOLN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE NOISE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE COSTING $1400.00. THE DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM BUT EXPIRED IN 2005. CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FORD WOULD NOT GRANT ANY CONCESSIONS AND BEING ON A FIXED INCOME, I'M LOOKING FOR SOME FINANCIAL RELIEF. I HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERS IN THE PAST FOR SERVICE AND NEVER ONCE DID THEY MENTION A RECALL, EVEN PRIOR THE EXPIRATION DATE. I NEVER RECALLED A NOTICE POSSIBLY BUYING THE CAR IN 2000 BUT YOU WOULD THINK THE DEALERSHIP COMPUTERS WOULD ALERT TO THE RECALL. YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE BEGAN LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HAVING HER VEHICLE REPAIRED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER WAS ALSO UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE SHE NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. UPDATED 07/03/08.

Mileage: 16,000

PLASTIC MANIFOLD LEAKING AND OVER HEATING ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACTUALLY START. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND A LOUD BOOM OCCURRED AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THERE WAS SMOKE AND LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE POWERTRAIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR CAUGHT FIRE. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT DRIVERS SIDE. CAR BURNT TO GROUND, FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 111,000

THE FAN BLEW ONLY HOT AIR, AND IT DID IT ALL THE TIME WITHOUT STOPPING, WHETHER IT WAS ON OR OFF. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE HOT AIR FROM BLOWING RIGHT OUT. THE FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE FOR $100, AND SAID THAT THE BLEND-DOOR WAS STUCK ON HEAT, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ANOTHER $1600 TO GET IT FIXED. THE MOTOR WASN'T EVEN BROKEN, AND IT WAS THAT EXPENSIVE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD APART TO GET TO THE PLASTIC PLENUM, WHICH THEY WOULD REPLACE WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC BREAKABLE PLENUM.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR HAD AN ANTIFREEZE ODOR. THERE WERE ALSO PUDDLES OF ANTIFREEZE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SLOWLY LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS IMMEDIATELY PERFORMED.

Mileage: 142,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH., ON A CLEAR DRY DAY, THERE WAS A SOUND HEARD RESEMBLING THE SOUND OF A TIRE BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR A FLAT. WHEN NO FLAT TIRE WAS FOUND, THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DRIVEN TO A NEAR-BY SERVICE STATION. ON THE WAY TO THE STATION, A RECURRING HISSING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE SPARK PLUG WAS BLOW OUT OF ITS THREADING FROM #8 CYLINDER AND THE SPARK PLUG FROM #7 CYLINDER WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE HEADS WERE SENT OUT TO BE DRILLED AND RETHREADED.

Mileage: 71,735

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST VISIT, THE DEALER CHANGED THE #4 COIL. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT THE DEALER DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED WHICH WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CLEAN AND THE CONTACT WAS DIRECTED TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THIS VEHICLE IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR THE MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER PRODUCED IN PLASTIC.

Mileage: 162,000

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD-MY CAR OVERHEATED AND DIED. IT NEEDS REPAIR THAT IS ESTIMATED TO COST A LOT OF MONEY THAT I DO NOT HAVE!!! *JB

Mileage: 83,532

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WAS WATER LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/09/06

Mileage: 133,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WILL START, BUT NOT GO ANYWHERE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN STALL; IT WILL RESTART AND GO AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 44,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT, AT 45 MPH, AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY FIXED THE VEHICLE WITH ADHESIVE, BUT IT IS LEAKING AGAIN.

Mileage: 125,000

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. 1998 LINCLON PURCHASED 9/6/98. ORIGINAL OWNER AND CAR IS MAINTAINED AT DEALERSHIP AT APPROX 3500 MILES. FULL COMPLEMENT OF OIL AT TIME OF INCIDENT. 56087 MILES. FV826006ARM 4.6L . 1LNFM83WIWY718403. ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 56,087

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH FORD 4.6 LITER V-8 ENGINE CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. THE CAR HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. SO FAR, REPAIR COSTS HAVE COME TO $1250.00. THE LEAK ALSO DAMAGED THE ALTERNATOR WHICH WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $400 TO REPLACE. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AT MY COST BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE PART WAS NOT SAVED. *JB

Mileage: 102,000

DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB

Mileage: 73,000

INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND COOLANT SPILLED INSIDE THE ENGINE, TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE NEED TO BE REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $967.40. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER VALID BECAUSE THE COMPANY WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MANIFOLD REPLACED AT A SERVICE STATION. *NM

Mileage: 87,986

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. *AK ABOUT AN INCH AWAY ON THE WHEEL WELL, THERE WAS A 1/4 HOLE WHICH ALLOWED SALTWATER FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO BE SPRAYED UP AND CAUSED CORROSION TO ACCUMULATE IN THE FUSE BOX. *SC *JB

Mileage: 95,000

1) LEAK FROM MANIFOLD, INVOLVED REPLACING WHOLE MANIFOLD. 2) PAINT PEELING FROM BUMPERS. 3) AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE. 4) SPECIAL SWITCH DEVICE LOCATED UNDER DASHBOARD THAT CONTROLS COOLING/HEATING FOR THE VENTS IN THE DASHBOARD FAILURE. 5) GENERATOR WARNING LAMP FAILURE.

Mileage: 48,000

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

I HAVE A 1998 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. ON JANUARY 11TH, MY CAR WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT THE HEADGASKET WAS LEAKING AT THE 4TH CYLANDER AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $300.00 AND STATED IN WRITING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE HEAD GASKET. ON JANUARY 19, MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY I WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS MY HEADGASKET AND THEY OVERLOOKED THE LEAK AT THE EXACT LOCATION I TOLD THEM BASED ON MY MECHANICS ADVISE. NOW THEY WANT AN ADDITIONAL $1200.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEALER. MY CONCERN IS NOW THE ENGINE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE LACK OF PROPER ATTENTION BY THE DEALER.

Mileage: 89,000

GOING UP HILL IN 2 INCHES OF SNOW, VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING, TRACTION CONTROL MOTOR MADE NOISE. CONSUMER APPLIED GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE WOULD NOT REV UP. AS STATED IN OWNERS MANUAL. ENGINE STALLED. *AK WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY GO 32 MPH, AND WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS LET OFF, THE ENGINE CUT OFF. *YH

ENGINE CUTS OUT, TRACK ACTIVE LIGHT COMES ON, NO RESPONSE TO ACCELERATOR UNTIL CAR HAS COASTED BELOW 25 MPH -- CAUSED BY REPLACEMENT MICHELIN TIRES BEING 1.5" LARGER THAN ORIGINAL MICHELIN TIRES

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED LEAKAGE. YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED THE 10MPH MARK, EVEN IN OPEN ROAD SITUATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CAR WAS DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF. IT WAS EASILY STARTED RIGHT BACK UP, AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TWO TIMES AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN COMING FROM A SECONDARY HIGHWAY TO A MAIN HIGHWAY, IF THERE IS A LITTLE GRAVEL AND THE TRACTION ENGAGES THE ENGINE DIES. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

PARKED VEHICLE AT SHOPPING MALL, ABOT 30 MINUTES LATER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START DRIVER DECIDED TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO ALLOW POSSIBLE CAREBURETOR FLOODINH TO RETURN TO NORMAL. WAITED FIVE MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPRING TO START. THIS TIME VEHICLE STARTED. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING INTO PARKING AREA DISCOVERED STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TURNING. PUT GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART. VEHICLE RESTARTED. *AK