Issues - Engine = smoked????

[RobF]

Need some advice - this forum seems like the best place to get it. My 95 Continental died on the way home from work. When you crank it over it sounds like it's free-wheeling. Compression test shows consistent 40-50 psi in all 8 cylinders - no fuel spray in cyls 1,3,7 - only #5 has good fuel. (can't see in rear bank). Can see valves moving in rocker cover when oil cap is removed and no rattling noise coming from engine (ie timing chain). I don't know a whole bunch about these cars (I work for a Chrysler dealer - we got the car on a trade-in and I got it for nothing) and both Ford dealers I've asked about it told me to just scrap the car. The rest of the car is in excellent shape and I don't want to give up on it just yet (rest of the car in fabulous condition - trany strong, interior mint, a/c cold, body excellent, etc.) Any ideas/advice from anyone???

[ContiDave]

Welcome to lincolns online. Sounds like you might have some fuel issues, but first have you checked to see if you have any spark. By the way--don't scrap the car--if the tranny and body are good this car has a lot of life left in it.

[98TC-Cartier]

Need more info, what's the milage on the engine? Did you have the throttle WIDE open when you did the compression tests. Sure about the cylinder numbers, IIRC 1,2,3,4 are the rear bank and 5,6,7,8 are the front.

Try this, turn the key on for two seconds and then off, do it three times. Could you hear the pump run each time you turned the switch to run? Check for fuel pressure in the injector rail by pressing in on the schraeder valve. Fuel should spray all over the place if the pump is good. You might want a plastic bag wrapped around a rag to catch the fuel spray.

If the pump doesn't run, there is an impact pump cutoff switch in the trunk, reset it.

[RobF]

Thanks for the input, guys. Mileage = 260,000 km (about 162,000 mi.) - throttle was closed during compression tests - fuel pressure = 40 psi at the rail. Spark is present at all 8 cyls. I forgot to mention that just before it totally died there was a loud tapping sound as it was idling - seemed to be coming from the pass. side of the intake manifold along with some heavy duty misfiring. I can't pull the thing apart to see what's going on without causing a big ruckus cause it's now parked at my work.
I found a place that will drop a used engine (106,000 mi) into it with a 1 yr unlimited mileage warr. for $2000.00 Cdn. (approx. $1785 $US) taxes in - seems reasonable, yes?
That's why I grabbed this car - I don't know much about the newer Fords and Lincolns but I have heard that the 4.6 is pretty much bulletproof as long as you keep up on maintenance, which is why I'm so surprised about this - figured the trany would go before the engine! Plus it's such a treat to drive that I don't want to toss it unless the $$ involved start getting insane....

[blackbeauty]

If you got the car literally for nothing, and they'll drop the engine in and do all the labor for $2k - then I say you got a good deal going! I've got about 130,000 on mine and I love it! Nobody believes that car can haul a** like it does - I've posted before that the acceleration, etc. reminds me of the "thrown back in the seat G-force" that my 69 GTO had. The 4.6 really is a good engine - I've been driving it for about 6 months with no cooling fans in the car (old ones burned up, so I removed them and just haven't gotten around to replacing them yet - temp gauge still stays around middle of OK range.)

[98TC-Cartier]

Well a closed throttle explains your low compression numbers. All compression tests have to be done with the throttle WIDE OPEN. Otherwise you are comaring apples to gravel.

Loud tapping and misfire at idle, now thats important info and not good news.

[ContiDave]

I still would not be ready to give up on the engine. I still think you need to rule out fuel supply/ignition problems. Have you tried to pull any codes--if not that is your next step.

[pro-five-oh]

This one seems worth saving, even with a used engine swap.

Scan for engine codes, it almost sounds like a bad crank position sensor or something minor like that.

[RobF]

Thanks for the input, guys - sorry I haven't been able to check back.
Found out what happened to it - timing jumped. Going to pull the heads next wk and see if we can save this engine. Quick question - everything I've seen about this vehicle says you have to drop the engine to remove the heads. Is this true???

[pro-five-oh]

Its probably the easiest way. Drop the K-member and the body no longer is a clearance issue.