3rd Jun 2007, 14:23

The small quarter window on each side will have either the signature series script or executive series script. The VIN will also tell you.

23rd Jun 2007, 20:42

92 Continental, bought from my father-in-law in summer '06. Needed front brakes (~$300) right away, and then my son and I were driving it and it sounded like a gunshot under the engine. You guessed it - blew a front bag, ~$900. Saw The Transporter last night, and now I want to paint it black and wished I would've gone with some stiff springs/shocks. Heard that Taurus/Sable stuff from a boneyard was cheaper than all those other options. It is after all a Taurus chassis.

My dash gets the Check DCL and dimming problems now and then. Do yourself a favor and unplug the chime under the dash - it's more or less straight under the radio and near the front edge. Easy and well worth the effort. Both my driver's side door locks make a whirring sound, so I need to fix them. Seems to be missing a bit lately at expressway speeds, and the exhaust is getting loud - I think I need a donut between the rear exhaust manifold and the header pipe. I was under it with the creeper today, and I couldn't even get back to see it with jack stands. Bought some ramps and I'll try again.

Go to lincolnsonline.com tech section and read how to yank the air silencer from the air cleaner box. Breathes better and sounds great when you stomp on it. Might add a couple horsies as well.

I love this car. I had a '67 Continental until 10-11 years ago, and I'm a sucker for old Lincolns. I love to tinker and I can live with a few gadget problems. I was disappointed to find out about the front wheel drive after I bought it, mainly because I never had one before, and they're hell to work on with so much crammed up front and the bigger Essex 3.8L to boot. But I loved the FWD in the winter, and I finally just built a garage so now I have a place to work on this. I'm committed to keeping it in the family and in good shape. A 735i it's not, and never will be, but it's really a nice ride when all goes well.

-MZ.

12th Jul 2007, 07:49

I am making peace with my 1991 Lincoln Continental, but I really need to switch off the chime and there are no mechanics in my neighborhood who will do it!

MZ, said that it was located under the radio on the front edge? How do I get there? Do I have to take off the front panel?

Is this that black box?

Please help!

Thanks, jjiro.

16th Jul 2007, 00:52

I bought a 1990 in 1995 when I was 19 and was so smart that I bought a 1994 in 1999. Both cars had about 60,000 miles on them. From the day that I bought my first one I wanted to start a support group for that car. It was the most fabulous thing. At least once a month I pulled into a gas station and had this conversation.

Some dude, "what year's your Continental?"

Me, "1990."

SD, "I had a 91. Your head gaskets go yet?"

Me, "Replaced at 89,000 miles."

SD, "MIne went at 42,000. How about the air bags?"

Me, "Not yet."

SD, "They're expensive. Cost me two grand just for the back end. How about the transmission?"

Me, "nope."

SD, "Ohh, man. You got one of the good ones. Good luck with it man."

By "one of the good ones," he meant that it only ate brakes at a rate of four per year, had the drivers side window slide off of its track, had the AC converter clutch DIE on the hottest day of the summer and needed an all new rack and pinion and power steering unit since the hose ruptured.

I ended up having to trade in the 1990 when, after getting a bent power antenna replaced, it developed this odd electrical short. You'd be driving along and *blip* the power would kill and come back on. Two minutes later *blip* Two minutes after that *blip*.

And of course, as I'm lookng for the replacement for my '90, lo and behold, there's a 1994 staring me right in the face on a used car lot saying, 'you know you wanna' continue this hell summore.'" This car had the illustrious honor of having it's transmission seize up and DIE on day 64 after the 60 day warranty expired. I bought this car from the used car lot of a Lincoln-Mercury dealer and Ford did absolutely nothing for me.

Little more than a year later, after the car had developed a bizarre water leak that left my carpet wet and nothing else after a rain or car wash, it was traded in on a 1994 Cadillac DeVille that caused me not one abundant, inane, problem that was the result of bizarro engineering.

Sadly, its still one of the prettiest cars I've ever owned. Baby blue with dark blue leather. Great ride when everything worked, which was roughly four weeks per year. That bosy style was discontinued 13 years ago and I'd be willing to bet that there are still people digging out from the financial hell they were put into.

Any questions, feel free to e-mail at paradisekeith@yahoo.com

23rd Aug 2007, 08:24

I recently bought a 1994 Signature Series Continental with the 3.8 liter V-6. It has approximately 122,000 miles on it right now.

I had false alarms from the instrument cluster and fixed it by cleaning the electrical contacts on the back of same.

Other than that, it runs fine. I hope it turns out to be a good car for me.

The transmission does make a clunk sometimes if you start out too fast, and someone has removed the air pump thing for the suspension and put regular struts all around.

19th Apr 2008, 18:43

I currently own a 1994 conti. exec. with air ride issues. Thanks to comments I read, I am selling.

20th Apr 2008, 17:09

I have a 1994 Lincoln Continental Executive Series. First off, for those of you with air-ride suspension problems, I highly recommend the kit mentioned previously from Arnott Industries. I too have felt the pain of watching my car blow up like a monster truck, then explode and rest on the tires. But $600 for the coil spring kit and the car rode like new. I have never had engine or trans problems. Brakes (pads, rotors, calipers, lines) are extremely expensive to repair (I got that done too). Other problems have already been mentioned on this forum (constant beeping, erroneous display for oil pressure and temperature, driver's side window, radiator hoses, serpentine belt/idler pulley, etc.). I am trying to sell it now for $300 and everyone has the same question - does it run good? Why would anyone expect a $300 car to run good. I tell people, it's for Lincoln enthusiasts only. Only problem with it now is it won't start. I suspect the starter as the battery is fine but it could be a relay or something. I am not putting any more time or money into this car to figure it out! Good Luck fellow LC owners, you'll need it.