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My "adjustment" is a little on the hokey side, but it works and prompts some interesting discussions, although few people notice.
I bought four mini-funnels from the kitchen supply area of my local hardware store. These are about 1" in diameter at the big end, and are smoky-gray translucent. I cut off the tips, stacked them, and placed over the light sensor. "Calibration" is by adding or removing funnels.
The light sensor is the little dome at the front center of the instrument panel ... close to the windshield.
The LS's lights are the perfect example of this and I would suggest that everyone check this out on their own. They also will not blind other driver's in the least (unless they are adjusted improerly).
One other bit of info on lights, DOT only allows red, white and yellow/orange lights on any vehicle and also only allows a maximum of 4 lights to be used for illumination. There is a maximum wattage range for those lights as well and I believe it is 55W each for low beams and 80W each for high beams. A lot of the blue lights you see on boy racer cars are simply 100W bulbs with a blue tint to try and impersonate the HID lights (but just end up blinding everyone).
Bruno
If I can't talk the dealer into changing the sensor out, I'll be off in search of the Mini funnels you suggest.
Regards,
Airwolf1000
PIAA driving lights are really high beam enhancers and have to be dimmed for approaching cars. They also make auxilliary low beams which extend the beam pattern on the sides and fills in between the regular low beams. That's what I really want but they won't fit the OEM openings.
Brian
-Drivers Side heated seat stopped working
-License Plate bulb burned out
-bulb behind the little blue arrow on the drivers side of the temp control burned out
-"clunk" emanating from the steering column when turning the wheel
-rear portion of the headliner loose/hanging slightly low
-drivers side-side view mirror vibrating excessively.
Dealer gave me a loaner (Galant) for the 7 day repair period.
-Heated Seat issue was outsourced to an upholstery shop for repair. Job done perfectly, with no damage to any portion of the leather. (I examined it pretty closely) Total charge for this including parts and labor $216.04.
-License Plate Bulb replaced. Labor $22.83, part $1.68
-The bulbs behind the climate control are apparently part of a circuit board. This required replacement of the Air Conditioner Control Assembly followed by a download of NGS and replacement of the control head. Some sort of "service kit-ac" was needed. Parts alone for this repair were $275.22. Labor was $53.28. Unfortunately, they had to peel off my woodgrain plate from that section in order to perform the replacement. Its fairly cracked up now, and I will need to order a replacement. The dealer did call me prior to removing it, and I did give them the go ahead with instructions to not replace it, that I would do it.
-Headliner resecured. Labor $15.22
-Steering Column had to be replaced. Labor was $76.11, part was $339.11
-Drivers Side mirror replaced, and painted to match. Labor $167.44, Part $128.02
Total cost;$1540.68, all covered under warranty.
Everything seems to be repaired. No dirty interior, no grimy fingerprints anywhere after the job.
-cons: Didnt wash the car this time.
: Bummed about having to get another woodgrain piece. But in all fairness, it was aftermarket installed by me, and they did call me before removing it.
I still heartily recommend this dealership for anyone close to it.
Brian: Feel free to update the LLSOC FAQ with any info gleened from my post. A few have asked about the steering wheel clunk and about the vibrating mirror, so my info might be helpful to some.
What was the cost of the R4S brake pads after the discount?
Airwolf
gregwo: I think they are similar to the Greenstuff pads. I do know that the carbon kevlar pads are very rotor-friendly, but I haven't had any experience with the Greenstuff pads.
I don't normally use my auto lamps. When I've tried them the often turn on and off as it gets dark until they finally decide to stay on. CT is also one of those states with a law that says to turn your lights on when it is raining.
Although I'm nuts for getting involved in the urinary Olympics going on about the LS's extra front lights, the LS brochure that I have lists them as "Fog lights"
Stanny, I highly recommend the Michelin Pilot XGT-V4, although you may not like it that they are unidirectional. All around great tires with very positive user ratings on tirerack.
The round-trip between Chicago & Dearborn (650 miles) in my "01 LS8 Sport averaged 24 mpg @79+ mph (same as my old '99 Bonneville SLE with 3800 V6 & 3.08 rear end). I even left the radio off for 100 miles to just enjoy the hum of the DOHC V8 and the total lack of wind noise. What a fantastic road car!
I had the privilege of visiting with the LS program manager for the next generation LS. He has been with the LS program since 1991. He was very interested in my ownership experience and reiterated that the Lincoln team is not satisfied with even the small amount of problems of the new, first generation, sophisticated and complex DEW platform. I have not had one problem with my LS8 (13,000 miles), Dec. "00 build.
The program manager promised that the engineers and product planners have listened to buyers concerns and confirmed that the next generation LS will be substantially improved.
He certainly convinced me. I will be a repeat LS buyer at lease expiration and will strongly consider a Lincoln Aviator when the Explorer lease is up next May. Experiencing the dedication of the Lincoln Team at Wixom encourages me that they are doing their best to continually improve their product and provide vehicles that fit my demographic needs and desires.
And last, but certainly not least, THANKS to Debbie and Brian for an outstanding experience.
The history has been several change outs of the insulator between the instrument cluster transparent cover and the Dash. Most recently directly from the dealers notes: "the noise was located from Left dash mount and reference vent: Loose retainer repaired and secured mount"
Initial Results: This is the most quiet the car has sounded upon receiving it back from the dealer. I'm a little skeptical, but pleased so far and will continue to report back after a few hundred miles or so. Perry Ford in San Luis Obispo did a nice job of returning the car directly to my office after checking it out thoroughly.
Has anyone requested a bid from any Lincoln dealer for changing from a factory automatic tranny to a manual?
Jerry McGovern is the man around Lincoln especially with the Design Forum. He made us change the furnishings in the prototype Lincoln dealerships about six times and I think they are still discussing the look and feel of American Luxury. I look forward to the 2004 product selection.
Gerry McGovern is a designer not an engineer so I don't think he's going to get into the dirty bits.
Also sometimes when turning i hear this clunking sound that seems to be comming from the right front wheel, not that annoying yet to take back to the dealership. I purchased the car in April and now have 6k on it and loving it. Just wanted to know if anyone else had these minor problems that i have encountered.
Thanks
Is the clunking sound coming from the wheel area or from the steering wheel column? If it's from the steering wheel column it might be a defective steering column bearing which the dealer should replace as well.
Thanks you so much for you advice.
Just beyond the trees-section of the highway, another road intersects at an angle and I was watching on on-coming car turn onto this road. Next thing I know... I look back to the road and there stand 3 chickens! (Go ahead and laugh... I am!) I turned the wheel to the left... but alas, it was too late... I mowed over at least one of them.
The sad part is that the impact burnt out my passenger side fog/driving light. I haven't had the chance to look under the car to pull the feathers out, or anything... but I'm not too worried, either!
I'm still laughing...
Glad to see it didn't ruffle your feathers too much.
I had to get back on my chair after I read your post since I was laughing so hard.
So are the feathers adding anything to the aerodynamics of the car? Are you broiling or frying the chicken?
You know, if you really wanted a hood ornament you could have gone with something other than a screaming chicken
Stanny is correct; it's what's under the skin that counts. But, the car has to look like something. I'd be afraid to ask Mr. McGovern what he thinks of the Aztec.
Scott (planning to outlive current car, plus several more, & hope they're Lincolns)
Does it occur at the same RPM in 4-th gear?
If you tap the brake while the noise is present, does noise go away for a second or two?
Does noise occur at: Light throttle, medium throttle, heavy throttle?
Today was the down side. I got suckered into the 2 year service plan for $299 when I bought the LS in July of last year. It was supposed to be included in the sale but I found it tucked in as an add on in contract after I was home.
I took it in today for 25K service stating I had the service plan. The service tech came back 20 minutes later saying I didn't have a plan as I wasn't in the computer. Told him he had better look a little harder as I was and all service to date had been free. He came back and said I couldn't possibly have the plan as they don't offer it on used cars. Told him I bought it new. Took and hour of back and forth before they even took the car in. Finally told him to do the work, I'd pay and they could credit me when I faxed them the paperwork. Finally did the service no charge but still hadn't resolved the problem . I got no receipt, no service record so they must have slipped it in under misc. That was the last freebie so I'm into doing my own service from here on in. I always preferred to do so anyways.
Six years ago, I bought a Camaro for myself. The dealer asked if I wanted the extended warranty. I was planning on keeping the car for a while, so I thought it might be a good idea. A couple of weeks later, I get the paperwork on the warranty. I bought a GM car from a GM dealer, so silly me, I expected a GM warranty. Instead, my good friends at Doyle Chevrolet, in Webster NY slipped me a third party, warranty company deal.
I go back to the dealership to register my unhappiness, but they ASSURE me that this is a better deal. The "hook" that they use to convince me that it's better, is that I'll get my purchase price back if I don't make any claims against the warranty during the three year, extended period.
To make a long story short, I still own the car, it's now six years old, and I've made no claims against the warranty. Call the dealer, tell them I want my refund, and now it's a whole new story.
They ask for the "letter" that I got stating I'm entitled to get the refund. There never was one sent to me, but now the scam is that this "refund offer" was a limited time promotion. They say,"We sent out letters to those who bought cars during this time stating so, and since you "lost" your letter, no refund".
Now I'm embroiled with GM, the State Attorney General, The Better Business Bureau, the FTC, and anybody else that I can think of. If I can't get a refund, at least I'll get my money's worth out of dragging them through the mud.
Please pardon my ranting, but this really has me cranked up !! Has anyone else had this happen, and did you get a good resolution ??
Thanks for any info you can provide.
If it's on a Lincoln LS, please check out the questions I posted.
The 300M is one of my other cars. I have other issues with it.
I'll have to check the question you posted re the brakes when I get home tonight.
Thanks again.
Send me your dealer name and location and the name of the person you've been dealing with on your vibration problem. I've contacted Lincoln and they will contact you once I forward that information on to them. I know you've done this several times but if you can also include in the email as much detail as possible about the problem it will help them get it resolved quickly.
Thanks,
Brian
Age group was older 40+. Almost no good things were said about the CTS interior. Very "designed" but not appealing to the test group. Most also did not classify the car in the same price league with LS and A6 interiors.
Heard a few "this is a Lincoln?" statements at the end. It's amazing how little is known about the LS even 2+ years after launch.
While we haven't seen Gerry McGovern's touch yet, I tend to think from his statements so far that we will get a much more friendly and "crafted" interior than the CTS has. After all, the interior was the only part of the mark 9 concept car that was acceptable.
I have a wood kit from Joshua Tree (joshuatree.com, I think.) Very good quality, good instructions, free shipping to LLSOC members. Another source is Exotic Wood (exoticwooddash.com). I've never actually seen their products, but they will sell smaller kits, i.e. partials of the entire kit, whereas Joshua Tree only sells the whole shebang, maybe pieces you don't want.
You will be able to purchase the body kit, but it will be quite expensive.
Sorry, can't help with the bra. Most people I know recommend against them due to damage they cause to the paint underneath.
One more invaluable asset to the Lincoln LS owner/driver: Membership in the Lincoln LS Owners Club. Check out www.llsoc.com.
Was looking under the hood and did you know we have a modified tower brace? There is a metal bar running across the back of the shock towers, under the plastic cowling. It looks like it attaches to the firewall under the cowling.
And for all those that think our V6 is anemic. I was reading the 300M board and one of those guys had his 300M dynoed. IIRC the advertised HP is 253 for their 3.5L six. He said the dyno showed 163 at the front wheels! My "anemic" six had 169 stock with only 210 HP and 3 liters! Talk about parasitic loss!
rgnmstr, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Welcome to LS land! You won't be able to have real fun 'till that motor loosens up, but once it does...HOLD ON! Now you just need to join the club. There are MANY benifits to membership. Hop on over to www.llsoc.com to see all about us.
Happy LSing!