Maintenance questions

[ZackFair]

Hello guys, I recently found this board because I was looking for advice on a few problems I was having with the car. I was given my uncle's 92 Lincoln a few months ago and it has 219K miles on it. I'm normally a Audi/Saab lover but fell in love with the Lincoln even though it couldn't pass a gas station. I did some basic maintenance such as a tune-up and changing all the fluids but need advice on the following problems..


The problem I'm having is that when I'm in 3rd gear the vehicle looses power and I sometimes hear a "clicking" noise.

When the Lincoln is at idle, the A/C blows cool, but when I start driving it get's warm.

Check air suspension light comes on because the rear of the vehicle sits and stays high in the air.

Vibration coming from left front of vehicle when driving, only occurs when letting off the accelerator and cruising. Goes away when accelerating and doesn't happen when braking.

Are there any recommened components that I should replace before they cause me problems?

[cason1]

Congrats on the car and welcome to the boards.

The 3rd gear thing, is it dropping out of gear and revving and then dropping back in or just seems to lose power. Also, what speed does this happen. If you don't have the OD locked out, it will shift to 4th (OD) at about 38 mph and is so smooth you would never know it except it lugs the engine and you have no power.

Unfortunately, A/C isn't my thing so I will leave that to one of the many on here that know A/C systems.

The air ride, I'd say a frozen vent valve on the compressor. A new compressor/drier assembly should have you back in business. Before you stick the new drier on though, get under the rear and let the axle hang to look for any cracking of the rubber on the bottom of the air springs where they fold up under. They typically will develop cracks there and leak at odd times until they get so worn out that they won't hold air. If they are cracked, go ahead and get a new pair of air springs along with the compressor. If not, you will be having to either refresh your new drier or replace it soon as moisture will enter the system through the holes in the spring and that is what causes the vent valve to get stuck. By the age of our cars what has ususally happened is the air springs developed a leak and were replaced but the compressor was left alone. The old moisture had done it's damage and then we get them with fairly new air springs but the compressor is left to be replaced during our ownership.

Other maintainance things, change the trans fluid and filter and do so religiously every 20k miles or so. If not, you will be putting another in soon. Go with Motorcraft plug wires. For some reason these motors can tell if you don't go motorcraft and it will eat them. Plugs, most have the best luck with cheap Autolite copper plugs. I have tried platinums in my 94, my dad's old 96 TC, and my ex's grandparent's 97 Vic. All 3 hated the plats. Will never put another set on an earlier 4.6L. Other than that, check the tech section on this site. There is more info there than you could imagine.

Again, welcome aboard.

[ZackFair]

Thanks for the advice, the speed my car does this at is around 29-40. It will lose a great bit of power and move very slow while making that clicking noise. How hard of a job would replacing the compressor/drier be for an average DIY'er?

For changing the Transmission fluid, would I be able to get all the fluid out by draining out of the cooling line and then the pan?

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

Thanks for the advice, the speed my car does this at is around 29-40. It will lose a great bit of power and move very slow while making that clicking noise. How hard of a job would replacing the compressor/drier be for an average DIY'er?



Incredibly Easy.
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00012.html


:)

[cason1]

Just drain the pan and the torque convertor. Check the tech section and their is an article called changing your cars vital fluids. It has some pics IIRC of getting to the torque convertor bolt.

On the trans thing, turn off your overdrive. If I'm not mistaken you have on your shifter P, R, N, OD (d inside the O), D, and then probably 2,1. Put the car in the D and drive a bit and see if you still have the issue. I'm betting it is shifting into OD way too early and lugging the engine a lot. Don't know the date of manufacture on your car but if it is an early 92 you may have an AOD trans and the throttle valve bushing is gone. That's why I got such a great deal on my Mark VII. Previous owner killed the transmission by not replacing that $5 part. Do a search in the 80's Towncar and Mark VII forums and archives for Throttle Valve bushing and you will come up with reading material for weeks. I believe there is a tech article on the repair in the tech section here as well.