Lincoln LS

v8lincolnguy

Some of that "bump" noise could be the tires. My 01 still has the factory Firestone Firehawks on it and they are a bit noisy, especially now that they have pretty much reached the end of their useful life. Even as such, I still don't find the noise level in the LS bad at all. My previous car(Oldsmobile Intrigue) was much worse in this regard.

kysideman

I have recently purchased a 2004 with the six. It has more than enouph power for any situation that you will be in. when I hit the gas at 65 MPH I feel the car pull ahead smoothly with no effort.Expect 18-20 MPG in the city and 26-27 on the highway.Buy it, you'll like it. Kysideman

exalteddragon1

well, the car i drove was brand new, and it had the top of the line tires on it. Also, when there were no bumps, with the windows closed, I do not remember hearing any tire niose at all, it was only in the bumps and rough edges of road when the suspension needed to kick in that i heard the intrusive noise, know what i mean?
DO all LS's come with this problem? meybe Ford quietly fixed it for the 2004 model year?
Either way in response to the origional question, if can get a good deal, the 2003 LS V8 Sport will not dissapoint at all. The V6 has enough power, but v8 baby, thats the meal ticket.

div2

http://www.onelapofamerica.com/History/2004/results/OVL_[non-permissible content removed].HTM

rayainsw

LS8 vs LS6

Well – you did not provide quite sufficient information for me to respond. I’d need to know a lot more about your personal preferences to make a recommendation.

I bought a (new 2003) V8 Sport early this year. I had previously owned a Y2K LS 8 Sport. The differences are quite dramatic. The improved power and torque from the V8, the substantially enhanced trans. shift quality and control of the SST, the various interior upgrades are all significant. (I personally like the new exhaust system sound, as well!) And now that Summer has arrived here in Hot-Lanta - the cooled front seats are as wonderful as I'd expected! I have driven at least 10 other LSs – all V8s, so V6 vs V8 is not something that I can address – but a “back to back” drive ought to tell you whether or not the V8’s additional increment of performance and smoothness is worth the extra $$s and fewer MPG – TO YOU.

If you specify your requirements and desires, perhaps they can be addressed here.

As a general statement: If your priorities (for instance) include: Excellent acceleration, performance, sporting capabilities, terrific handling, refinement, etc. – then either one, from a “bang for your buck” standpoint, is a bargain, IMHO. And I looked seriously at a bunch of other comparable vehicles in the $30K – $40K+ region.

(But then, I am clearly biased.)

- Ray
Happy with my ’03 LS V8 Sport

akirby

A great effort by team LS. They got a late start preparing for this event and as a result had some overheating problems and ended up blowing an engine early on. But from what I understand they went to a local Ford dealer, bought a Crown Vic and the mechanics swapped the engine (including the supercharger) in less than 12 hours and they were able to finish the race. Top 10 w/ 3 DNFs is very respectable. They also didn't have time to fit a manual tranny. This got a lot of exposure at higher levels in Ford and Lincoln, so don't be surprised to see a better prepared team next year.

cdnpinhead

Two places behind a '71 Sentra? . . .and every mini in the race? . . . with what amounts to a factory-prepared vehicle?

At what position do the DNF's begin? One hopes somewhere above #49.

I'll have to look at more of the information on this event -- this snippet certainly creates more questions than answers.

Thanks for providing it. . .and thanks to Allen for beginning to answer some of the questions (our posts crossed).

the_necroscope

The team had nothing but trouble from the second day. Nearly continuous overheating problems until the last couple races kept them from pushing the car to its limits and once the engine was sorted out, the tranny decided to act up by throwing codes instructing the engine to enter limp-mode as well as lots of gear-hunting. The team gave up over a thousand cumulative points because of the engine failure and gave up another 500 or so because of transmission problems. They finished with 3030 points. Add 1500 to make 4530 points and they would have finished in ~26th place overall and ~5th in class. These men put forth a Hurculean effort to even FINISH the race, let alone place 49th overall.

People are stumbling all over themselves to praise the Firestone brat for his efforts to finish after a wreck at Road America. Bah. The REAL heroes of this year's One Lap are Chet, Matt, and Jaime from Team LS. Take it to the bank.

rgnmstr

Greetings, Does anyone know who makes this spoiler (it doesn't look like the factory LSE)and if the exhaust extensions are available over the counter? Thanks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item- =2476726832

rgnmstr

The Zephyr is not bad looking except for that chrome grill. If it's FWD and it replaces the LS I'll be going to another manufacture next time and I own 2 LS V8 Sports. A 02 and a 03. By the way when are American manufactures going to realize that "pretty" names went out the window years ago. Cars have numbers now. 540I, G35, RS470. Most people think cars with candy [non-permissible content removed] names are candy [non-permissible content removed] cars.

the_necroscope

akirby

is not replacing the LS. The Continental might replace it, or they could co-exist (at least for awhile). But the Zephyr is definitely the new entry level Lincoln which will move the LS back up where it belongs.

kelleyo

I think this spoiler came from Spoilerdepot. You can et it painted from them.

http://www.spoilerdepot.com/Catalog.asp?A=20&S=35123.jpg&- idProduct=552&idMakeTemp=&idModelTemp=&idB=

kelleyo

You can put straignt tips on your LS if you do not mind cutting the rear valance to acommodate them. A dremel tool works best. lot of guys have done this.

bob550k

2000 LS V8

I put in 2 1/4 pipes from the Cats back with magna flow mufflers, I posted that the car crackled like a 62 chevy with the new set up. I had an X pipe installed and the crackle is almost completely gone with a little above 5,000 rpm. The X pipe made the system very quiet as well, magna flows are pretty much free flowing mufflers and I am very supprised at the noise reduction (it's to quiet now). I'm going to have some 3" tips put on to enhance the sound. It sounds like a fuel infected V8 Ferrari now. Cool!

dcls

Any idea what tire you will replace them with? My '01 V6 will be due for new ones soon - I'm looking for quiet, smooth running tires.

nvbanker

I have to disagree with you on this. Personally, I like the heritage names, and despise the alphabet soup names like Cadillac has gone to. Call me a candy [non-permissible content removed] if you wish, but I can't keep an STS and an SRX and a CTS and a DTS straight. Nor do they have any appeal. I hate the fact that Lincoln named that great little car an LS, frankly. Everybody has an LS, including the Mercury Sable!!! What does LS do for you? It should have been something definitive, IMO.

I'm sure I won't convince you, nor will you me, but you're just wrong anyway....

rgnmstr

I don't like 'LS' either. Every maker has an LS. It more like an option name than a model name. I could live with LS4.0 or some other number that indicates liters or cu. in. though. Anything!

rgnmstr

<<<<You can put straignt tips on your LS if you do not mind cutting the rear valance to acommodate them. A dremel tool works best. lot of guys have done this. >>>>>>>>>>>

An how would you do that since the stock pipe turns downward at the tip? Cut it off?

ANT14

LS nomeclature was chosen under the Jac Nasser period. Lincoln was going to adopt the lettering system for their vehicles.

Examples...

CS= Continental Sedan
TC= Town Car

But plans changed...

So we'll be left with names such as Zephyr, Continental, Cosmopolitan, Navigator, etc.etc.

v8lincolnguy

I prefer names for cars as well.

dcls, I haven't really done any tire shopping yet. I plan on keeping the same size as the stock tires so this limits options. I've been leaning toward Michelins but have been told they are a bit pricey. We had some rain today and I took a curve at a fairly moderate clip and the tail end started to come around before the Advancetrak kicked in so it is definitely time for new shoes.

exalteddragon1

Well, the 2003 LS rides on Michelin Pilot P235/50VR17 tires, if you can talk Ford into getting you the wheel designs too, it would be a bomb b.c at least IMO the older wheel designs were unbefitting a Lincoln compared to the new ones.

This is also a good tire, but I dont knw if it fits for the LS:

nvbanker

I was hoping they'd bring that one back! Actually, thought that would be a good name for the one called Zephyr....

You forgot Premier. Is Premier off the table?

ANT14

Doubt they would use that, sounds more like a trim level, but anything is possible.

nvbanker

LS sounds like a trim level...... But, you're right - my wife's Mountaineer is a Premier. Well, I'm remembering the 1958 Lincoln Premier. It had power windows, you know.....

ANT14

Have I mentioned the story of when I was in high school and my friends asked me to open a window using something called "a crank" and I had no idea how to operate it, let alone I almost pulled it off the door... Wow how we take Power accessories for granted.

Now toys such as heated/cooled seats will eventually be taken for granted.

One thing we can be sure about (for awhile at least)... You won't see Lincoln implementing an I-Drive system like BMW, heh....

v8lincolnguy

Other than the ones on the current V8 Sport model, I like the older style sport wheels better. Isn't the Symmetry more of a ride biased tire? I think thats what they put on the Town Cars. I wan't a decent ride myself, but also want to be able to exploit the LS's excellent handling abilities.

leadfoot4

I'm currently using Falken's high performance tires on my 2000 LS. They're the ZX-502s, which have been superceeded by the ZX-512s. So far, (3-4,000 miles) I'm completely satisfied with them.

nvbanker

That'll keep me quite happy. I love one function buttons, and on the steering wheel, if you don't mind.

kelleyo

Sure! You cut off the tip at the straight part and leave about an inch of pipe to put the new tip onto (or get a new Magnaflow muffler)!

Then using the dremel you carve out a half moon shape cutout of the lower valance so you can fit a straight tip.

Here is how it looks on an 03 (valance on the 03 already has straight tip cutouts)

I replaced my mufflers with Magnaflow straight through mufflers and added 4 inch tips
http://home.mindspring.com/~kelleyo/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilde- - rpictures/.pond/lsrear.jpg.w560h373.jpg

Here is a shot with one of the new tips installed on the left compared to the old one on the right:
http://home.mindspring.com/~kelleyo/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilde- rpictures/tips.jpg

rgnmstr

I took my 02 V8 Sport in to the dealer today for an oil change and tire rotation and asked them to check for the imfamous valve cover oil leak since the car was displaying the symptoms talked about on here. Burning oil smell at a traffic light and smoke exiting from under the hood in front of the winshield on the driver's side. The dealer tells me after checking the car that the steering rack is leaking and that is the problem. Quotes me $700 to replace the rack. Has anyone heard of this problem? I haven't read about it and I am pissed that a steering rack would go bad at 55K miles. Thanks.

rgnmstr

Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures.

akirby

I've heard of a few but don't remember the details.

Ask your dealer for an AWA - after warranty adjustment. Lincoln allows 2 of these per car but it's at the dealer's discretion. It helps if the dealer is the one you purchased from but not required. Should pay for at least part of it if not all of it.

nvbanker

First steering rack problem I have ever heard of.

rgnmstr

<<<<<Ask your dealer for an AWA - after warranty adjustment. Lincoln allows 2 of these per car but it's at the dealer's discretion. It helps if the dealer is the one you purchased from but not required. Should pay for at least part of it if not all of it. >>>>>>>>>

Before I left the dealer I asked the service guy if I should get someone higher up involved just to put the bug in his mind that I didn't expect to eat this thing if the repair is necessary. I'm just not totally sure there is a problem with the rack. First how would anything leaking from the ends of the rack drip on any exhaust components when at rest? The rack is in front of and below any exhaust parts. Secondly, I got under the car when I got home and as far as I could tell there was nothing wet on or around the rack boots. However, my driver's side valve cover is "wet" The dealer told me that is normal. Well our 2004 V8 Sport's driver's side valve cover isn't wet. Does burning power steering fluid smell like burning oil? I don't know.

saz_1

I need to get some new tires for my 01 v6 ls. The dealer recommended a set of Michelin MXV4+ tires (215/60/16 H rated). Any comments? I live in Louisiana (i.e. no snow), and I am primarily interested in 1) safety, 2)durability and 3)performance. I do 60/40 town/highway mileage of 12K/year.

Thanks in advance.

bob550k

Isn't power steering fluid flammable? Transmission fluid caused a heck of a fire in one of my cars...

nvbanker

1, I would go to another dealer if you can and get a second opinion.
I hate to say it, but I gave a perfectly good car away once when the dealer said the engine was blown. Its still running fine for the girl I gave it to.

v8lincolnguy

Any strange noises or feel in the steering? The rack on my Oldsmobile Intrigue had to be replaced last summer and when it went, you got a loud "rubbing" type noise when turning one direction and at times lost power assist. If the sterring seems fine, I'd bet it's the valve covers. How many miles? That seems like a pretty common problem on 00-02 LS V8s from what I've read here and in another forum. I had mine done almost two months ago and have not had the burning smell since.

rgnmstr

<<<<<<<Any strange noises or feel in the steering? The rack on my Oldsmobile Intrigue had to be replaced last summer and when it went, you got a loud "rubbing" type noise when turning one direction and at times lost power assist. If the sterring seems fine, I'd bet it's the valve covers. How many miles?>>>>>>>>>>

No strange noises and no difference in steering feel from new. It's a 02 with 57k miles.

leadfoot4

Steering racks have been, or are becoming somewhat of a problem. The one on my 2000 LS was replaced a couple of weeks ago.

mlvande

I have an 01 V8 Sport. The rack started leaking on mine at about 30K. One item to check is the power steering fluid. Is yours low, does it ever need to be refilled? That is how I knew mine was bad, plus I got under car and saw it was leaking. I have heard of others that have gone bad.

medphys

I have my 2nd LS V8 sport, an '03 Ivory/Parchment with sunroof. I had a wind deflector installed on my previous '00, and did the same for the '03. We had some torrential rains recently and when getting in the car, I discovered water filled to the top of the lower forward storage compartment on the drivers' side door. The carpet was also very wet. I brought it in yesterday and they called this am to tell me that the small brackets used to secure the wind deflector, had impeded the drain from clearing the water from the trough, at the forward edge of the sunroof. They have to take out the seats, dry and change the padding to the tune of $367 dollars, because the deflector was not a factory item, it is not covered by warranty. FYI

gunnersmate

had valve covers replaced on mine, 00 v6 sport, at 55k. have you looked around the oil pan or t along the edges of the engine spalsh guard under the car.

At 90k they needed another replacement. Check your oil daily and look for 1/4 dollar sized oils spots in the garage or driveway.

I would place some card board under the car just so you know you can catch it. Good luck.

rgnmstr

<<<had valve covers replaced on mine, 00 v6 sport, at 55k. have you looked around the oil pan or t along the edges of the engine spalsh guard under the car.
At 90k they needed another replacement. Check your oil daily and look for 1/4 dollar sized oils spots in the garage or driveway.>>>>>>>>>>>

I've seen no oils spots on driveway. Only symptoms were burning oil smell inside car when sitting at a light and smoke exiting from under hood in front of driver's side windshield.

gunnersmate

Have you noticed any engine oil loss between changes?

have you looked under the black and silver plastic piece that covers the engine? IIRC mine leaked from the left, when facing the engine bay.

Use a small bright flash light.

can you tell what color the smoke is?

Black smoke indicates a rich fuel mixture, blue smoke indicates burning oil, and white smoke indicates water in the combustion chamber.

dcls

I noticed a strange noise below 32 degrees this past winter. It was diagnosed to be the steering rack and was replaced on my '01 V6 under warranty. Don't know if there is a TSB on it.

dcls

Noticed a resonating sound (not vib) between 60-70 mph. Diagnosed as the driveshaft. TSB instructed to replace half-shaft and it seems OK. I really love this car!

dcls

Noticed a pump humming sound about 10 seconds after start-up. Was told it's the air suspension pump and the sound is normal. Is this what others are experiencing? Didn't know the LS has air suspension.

dcls

Noticed some gear shift resistance going from reverse to park. Dealer said this is normal for the LS. Please weigh-in w/ your thoughts.