Lincoln Town Car

0rnery · July 2005

I'm seeing specs of 1,500 - 2,000lbs. What the heck happened to these cars? A few current FWD minivans can supposedly tow up to 3,500lbs!

nvbanker · July 2005

"Besides the styling on the 1990 to 1997 is better."

Have to agree with you. The new ones look ok with a 60 inch middle inserted, but stock - they're a little wierd. An improvement was made in 02 on the styling, but the interior is still neglected IMO. I understand, they leave the dash the way it is, for livery service, plenty of room for radios, computer, etc., under there.

beernut · August 2005

I have the same question. I can get my late father's '03 GM from his estate for dirt cheap - low miles, garage kept, blah, blah....., but I need to tow a 2k# trailer. I can't do it with the GM.

euphonium · August 2005

Fomoco wants to sell you a pickup for towing.

IMO the 03 GM can tow up to 3k# when using a Class III hitch, adding a 10,000 lb. transmission cooler, and air shocks if not already installed. Start and stop slowly and lock out O/D if the engine lugs.

Our TC is not supposed to tow, but after installing the cooler, it runs fine.

2,000 trailer should not be a problem. Have fun.

corsicachevy · August 2005

I tend to agree with euphonium when it comes to the issue of towing with a Town Car. It just has to be able to tow more than 2000 lbs., given what it is.

A few years ago was engaged in a "how much can it tow/how much can it haul?" discussion in a now infamous Edmunds SUV topic. I asked how auto makers arrive at their cargo capacity and towing ratings. At the time no body could give me a straight answer. To this day I have no idea. Are there federal standards? Is the SAE involved? Does anybody know how Ford came up with 2000 lbs. for the Town Car or, for instance, how Cheverolet determined that its 1/2 ton Suburban has a near 1000 lb. cargo carrying advantage over a heavy duty Excursion? Doesn't seem to make sense.

0rnery · August 2005

I guess it's only as able as its weakest link, but I can't imagine how it can be less than a stinkin', FWD minivan! :confuse:

alston28 · August 2005

A salesman at a Lexus dealership a rough estimate is that a car can tow the car's weight.

beernut · August 2005

That's is "rough", but after all, he is a salesman. How does an '85, four cylinder Caravan or F-350 diesel fit in to that equation?

Too many parts of the car are involved to make that statement, IMO: HP, torque, trans, frame, brakes....

euphonium · August 2005

Really? How many models of Lexus have a receiver installed? Will the 430 tow 3,000 lb boat, motor, & trailer? Where would the receiver be attached?

shaffer · September 2005

i got a used Town Car it has 220000 m-i on it. how much can you put on it?. can i put 400000 mi on it

scootertrash · September 2005

Is your car yellow?

euphonium · September 2005

That many miles indicates the car is brave, not yellow at all.

Taxi is what a plane does following a landing.

unclefletch · September 2005

I have a 95 Sig Searies and have the same issue, when the outside temp is 80-85 and above. Like you I've had everything checked, the fan clutch has been replaced and it helped a little, but no one can seem to tell me what the issue is, a little advice will be greatly appreciated. The only thing that I can think of is that there's no setting for just recycling the interior air, the way it's set up, you can only draw in outside air.

nvbanker · September 2005

Not true - the MAX AC button will override the outside air, and recirculate constantly.

euphonium · September 2005

On the other hand if you want Hot air - listen to a politician.

marsha7 · September 2005

To add to your thought, I believe that MAX AC actually recirculates about 70-80% of the air, it always must draw in SOME fresh air, or else it may just get stale, and some air must come in from the outside...just a random thought late on a Fri nite, with no real value whatsoever... :shades: :shades:

nvbanker · September 2005

But, you are correct. I don't know the exact %.

medi8642 · September 2005

I am original owner, kept up all maintence. now has 130, 000 miles. transmission seem to be going from 1st to 2nd then stops and won't go into 3rd. any ideas of the problem also should i go to dealer or transmission specialists.

nvbanker · September 2005

I think your transmission is done for.

euphonium · September 2005

Try a transmission and turbine oil change at a transmission specialists shop. They will open it up to change the oil and filter, inspect what they can, and make a recommendation to you as to what may be the problem. It, hopefully, is a minor R & R of a worn part. Good Luck to you.

nvbanker · September 2005

It's a band aid. Unless you're going to sell the car soon, I'd rebuild the transmission and do it right. A rear snapper band may fix your problem for now, but not for long. This transmission has served pretty well its life expentancy.

euphonium · September 2005

I have a Minor in Music, play several instruments, & been a member of a few musical groups, including a very snappy Honor Guard Band, but what in the world is a snapper band?

nvbanker · September 2005

If one of the bands break - some shops will put in a replacement. It's one though, that isn't one piece, it has a snapping mechanism like your waist belt, that will buckle it together, once it's slipped around the drum. That way, you don't have to disassemble the whole transmission to put it in. They can work for a while, if that's what is wrong with your transmission.

beernut · September 2005

I prefer Minors. They have sort of a moody, sometimes mysterious sound.

marsha7 · September 2005

transmission got stuck in first gear, I could not shift out of 1-2 even with the manumatic...I thought the tranny was cooked...this happened at 70K miles in 2004...I babied it over to the Dodge dealer, and they replaced a $50 sensor that went bad...the sensor, when it malfunctioned, was designed to prevent the tranny from upshifting so as not to ruin the tranny...what the sensor did when it worked, I do not know, except that it allowed my tranny to shift up and down normally...so, there may be a bad sensor on your TC tranny that does the same thing...my speculation, of course, but it may not be "cooked and done", or, so not be be confused with paint, "Cook and Dunne"...

:shades:

nvbanker · September 2005

I hope you're right - but he has a lot more than 70,000 miles on his Townie.

scootertrash · September 2005

But, you forgot the conversion formula:
Intrepid (70k) > Town Car (120k)

nvbanker · September 2005

Hmmmmmmmm, good point, scooter....

marsha7 · October 2005

It was only a suggestion, guys, not a diagnosis...I was just relating my experience and it just may be the same in the TC, even tho your formula has validity...

wwest · October 2005

It is highly likely, VERY highly likely, that your engine water jacket is on the verge of overheating and the system is disabling the A/C to save the engine from overheating.

catmanzeke · November 2005

My 1989 TC is in mint condition with 89,000 miles. The only thing wrong is the upper heat control lever changes nothing when slid from full cold on left to full hot on right with the lower selector lever in the "floor-mix-defrost" section. It does control degrees of cold with the selctor in the Air Condition section. What do I do to trouble shoot and hopefully find a simple solution? If no such solution possible, what are my options and projected costs? Thanks.

nvbanker · November 2005

What you describe sounds like a stuck water control valve - which should be inline in the water hose from the engine block somewhere. Easy to replace, and cheap. IF that's it. Good luck!

unclefletch · November 2005

Question, is it possible to replace the rear air suspension with regular shocks?

marsha7 · November 2005

those shocks that have coil springs around them for the support of the weight of the body, or maybe you can just add standard coil springs, probably not too expensive, and then add normal shocks, IMO...

ehardison · November 2005

wanted to check in and say hello as I have been away from the forum for a few months. Had back surgery and some other health problems but all is well now. Only have 18,000 miles on my 2003 town car but it has been perfect. Not one thing has happened to it and I still love it. Hope to do some travelling soon.

euphonium · November 2005

Good to know you have returned after success in surgery. Take your time during the continued recovery and be Thankful you are recovering in a Town Car instead of a Kia.

beernut · November 2005

Yes, you can eliminate the air suspension system, but its not a "regular shock" substitution.

I can't remember the companys' names, but if you Google the right stuff, you can find vendors that sell air suspension elimination kits for TC's that come with coil springs, shocks and some other stuff with directions on what gear needs to be removed and replaced. The kits were comparatively inexpensive and didn't seem difficult to do yourself.

If I come across the info, I'll let you know.

nwraaa · November 2005

You can replace the regular shocks on your Town Car with air shocks. This is presuming that your air springs have started to leak down fairly frequently and you don't have a complete failure in the air suspension system. The air shocks, however, should not be used as a substitute for the air springs. Infrequently, you will have to put air in the air shocks but you won't have to replace the air springs.

nwraaa · November 2005

I have a 1996 Town Car. The heating system does not send warm air to the floor. I suspect that the A/C electronic blend door actuator is not working. Is there any way to replace/fix/repair the A/C electronic blend door without removing the instrument panel?

nvbanker · November 2005

Nope.

beernut · November 2005

That's right. The factory air bags hold the car up off the axle as do coil springs. If they fail completely (not entirely unusual), the car will sit down on its [non-permissible content removed] just like it would with a broken or removed spring. Air shocks help in some applications by offering some additional support in the rear, but can't and won't take the load of the bags/coils.

euphonium · November 2005

The astute potential buyer of your TC in the future would expect the factory type air suspension to be operable. Thus, why not repair and/or replace the air suspension now and get the use advantage for yourself before your sell the car?

beernut · November 2005

euphonium · November 2005

How deceitful to sell or trade in a broken car? Good faith expects all major components be working. Sure it costs $ now, but what price your reputation? Besides, what price your family's personal safety? Would you not recover part of the present cost of repair ($) when the vehicle is sold? "Penny wise..........."

beernut · November 2005

What in the world are you talking about? Who said anything about deceit? Who said anything about broken? Who said anything about personal safety?

These conversions kits are common and you are darned right its "Penny Wise". Its also personal choice. Auto levelling a was good idea that was executed poorly. Conversion kits back to the conventional Ford design on MY car is smart - in MY opinion. Opine to your heart's content.

Now, if someone tries to sell the car as "original", that's deceit - judges call it "fraud" - and you can do time.

beernut · November 2005

Also, there are upwards of 20 Honda's, BMW's, Accura's and the like in my small neighborhood driven by people that I would call "youthful". I can count the one's that have original suspensions, shifters and combustion systems on one finger.

We've been modifying cars since the turn of the LAST century.

euphonium · November 2005

We've been modifying cars since the turn of the LAST century. True, but.........

It is amazing to see graduate automotive engineers with advanced degrees producing factory stock vehicles that are "modified" by others who couldn't pass junior high Algebra.

beernut · November 2005

Ouch!! You've gone from "deceit" to "couldn't pass junior high algebra". All I said was "youthful". I happen to like intelligent, creative, responsible young people.

I may be too common for this particular discussion...

nvbanker · November 2005

"It is amazing to see graduate automotive engineers with advanced degrees producing factory stock vehicles that are "modified" by others who couldn't pass junior high Algebra."

LOL! That is so true!!! I was thinking just today at the auction, how moronic kids (not beernut!) will take a vehicle that has tons of engineering in the suspension, and put aftermarket wheels and tires on it, that are too large, or too small, totally destroying the balance and dynamics engineered at great pain into the vehicle. In MOST cases, they make the car handle worse, to unsafely.

scootertrash · November 2005

""It is amazing to see graduate automotive engineers with advanced degrees producing factory stock vehicles that are "modified" by others who couldn't pass junior high Algebra." "I was thinking just today at the auction, how moronic kids (not beernut!) will take a vehicle that has tons of engineering in the suspension, and put aftermarket wheels and tires on it, that are too large, or too small, totally destroying the balance and dynamics engineered at great pain into the vehicle. In MOST cases, they make the car handle worse, to unsafely. "

Do you mean like the dozens of cars modified exactly as you describe that Ford, GM and Chrysler had on display in THEIR areas at the SEMA show I just came from?

Engineers can dream all kinds of great stuff but only what the accountants approve gets produced.

Lincoln Town Car

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles