new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

D

Daniel

Registered
Hello ...

I'm new here , and i've searched alot on the net to find a forum with Lincoln owners. I live in Europe, in Romania more exactly, and i've bought recently a 1999 Lincoln Continental. It's a very very rare car here , not in Romania, in Europe generally, so i have alot of questions to ask you guys, becouse nobody here does the service for Lincoln cars, not even the Ford dealers around , most of them dont know that Lincoln is owner by Ford ... what can i say more :)

here are a few pics with my car.

[URL=http://img418.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg13354lh.jpg]

anyways

the car looks to work fine, it has 136.000 km , ~ 85.000+ miles but i dont know its service history. the previous owner kept the car ~ 1 year in a garage , it was a gift from someone and he run it just a few kilometeres.

for a few days i receive a message in the dash , CHECK TRANSMISION.

what should i do now ? from the owners manual i should change the transaxle oil right ? but i cant find that type of oil here in Romania. anyone knows a place were i can buy some online on the web ? or any alternatives to other type of oil ?

i would like also to change the fuel filter, the air filter and other stuff that must be changed on the regular inspection.

i had owned previous 4 BMW's, 318iS cabrio, 2 x 320 diesel and one 530dA so it wasnt any problem to find parts or to do the inspection since we have many bmw dealers around. with the american cars it's a big problem here. there aren't so much and the only US cars dealer here is Chrysler/Jeep that does the servicing for those cars.

please help.

sorry for my poooor english :)
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

oh, one more thing

i've noticed yesterday morning when i was waiting for the engine to heat a little, that from the Vehicle handling menu , the 3rd setting of the suspension , the "FIRM" has gone. i only can set PLUSH and NORMAL. what happend people ?
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Welcome! :)

I hope some others here with a Continental can answer your questions, but I would guess the 'Check Transmission' message to be a low fluid warning. Mercon V is the fluid you need. You may want to consider an alternative, such as available through Amsoil... http://www.amsoil.com/index.aspx
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

please tell me that is a website who sells online this Mercon V fluid :)
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

great. so , now i've found the transmision oil. do you know how much do i need ?


one more thing, another message appeared on my Message Console.

CHECK COOLANT LEVEL.

what the hell is this coolant ? i cant translate it into romanian :)

were can i buy some coolant ? or i dont know...

is that antifreeze liquid ?
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Coolant is antifreeze. Should commonly be available... even in Romania. :)

This is a cut and paste from the Amsoil website(metric quanties):

1999 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4.6L 8-cyl VIN Code V 32-valve

BOSCH SPARK PLUGS
All submodels
Wire......NR
Plug......B4458




BOSCH WIPER BLADES
Driver side......B40924
Passenger side......B40920


FILTERS
Oil Filter......EaO11/SDF11
Oil Vapor Filter......N/R
Air Filter......EaA191/TS191
Fuel Filter......GF326
Fuel Vapor Filter......N/R
PCV Valve......HV82
Trans......TF151, AX4N
Cabin Filter......AF1068



LUBRICANTS & FLUIDS
Engine Oil
Grade 1......API*
SAE 5W-20 XL Synthetic Motor Oil
Series 2000 Synthetic 0W-30 Motor Oil
All Temps......5W-20[1]
Automatic Transmission.....MA5[2]
Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid
Fluids
Power Steering Fluid.....MA
Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid
Brake Fluid.....HBH

1. Use Ford part no. XO-5W20-QSP or equivalent
motor oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C153-H.
2. Use Mercon V, part no. XT-5-QM. Do not use regular Mercon.
Ford Motor Co. recommends the use of Mercon V in AODE/
4R70W TRANSs which experience vibration & shudder
under light to moderate acceleration above 35 mph or
TRANS fluid brakedown.When changing to Mercon V
drain all TRANS fluid including torque converter
Cooler & cooler lines.


CHASSIS LUBRICATION
0 Fittings, 0 Plugs



CAPACITIES
Engine, with filter..........5.7 liters[1]
Cooling System, Initial Fill..........15.0 liters
Automatic Transmission, Total Fill..........13.0 liters

1. After refill check oil level


TORQUES
Oil Drain Plug.....10 ft-lbs


CAUTIONS
ENGINE
Crankcase oil level must be no higher than
the 'F' in FULL on the dipstick.
ENGINE
Remove the engine oil dipstick when
refilling in order to avoid contamination
of the PCV system.


Hope this helps.

:)
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

With all the issues you are having with check lights coming on, make sure your battery and charging system is good. If the battery is more then 5 years old you should replace it.

The next thing you should do is go to e-bay and get the repair manual on CD or DVD. This way at least you will have a referance to help you with repairs.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

thanks driller :)

if it's antifreeze liquid i will find it in any autoparts shop or gas station :) i should change the coolant liquid next week.

i will also order the Mercon V oil for the transmision.

oh i forgot. what about the 3rd setting of my air suspension. the "FIRM" one has disapeared. i can only set on PLUSH & NORMAL. were the FIRM one did go ? ;(
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Jp, does this '97 Cont. of Daniel's come oem with Mer V, or is that a service recc. to change to Mer V? If Daniel installs MV in a trans with MIII in it, they are incompatible with each other. You must drain trans and torque converter of all MIII before adding MV.
That's one of the neat things about Amsoil Universal ATF, it meets or exceeds the specs for all blends of ATF and is compatible with them all.
Daniel, I have no idea what is involved in shipping ATF fluid to Romania, but the web site Driller posted earlier in this thread is to the Amsoil Corporate site, and I feel sure they know how to ship to you.
If you take a look over in our "Goods and Services Boutique" forum, you'll find my ad and if you e-mail me with your address I'll mail you a free copy of an Amsoil catalog.
But I'm sure you want some ATF now for your new acquistion, and you can order directly through the web site without a catalog.
Hope you get things worked out, and I agree, check your system voltage, first engine not running, then under starting load, and then with engine running at a seed sufficient to allow alternator to put out a full charge.
These late FoMoCo products show up all kinds of crazy warnings when the voltage gets low.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

i check the voltage every day with the SYSTEM function. it's OK everytime.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Daniel has a '99 Continental. My sources say by '99, Ford had migrated to Mercon V.

Good point though. Sometimes assumptions can be dangerous.

The transmission fluid dipstick should be marked which fluid was OEM. Every one I've seen that used Mercon V was so marked on the dipstick. If by some chance it says "Mercon" or "Mercon III", it would necessitate a complete fluid change, including the torque converter, since you would not want to add the Mercon V.

Or use the Amsoil fluid in either case. ;)

In Europe, are fluids sold by the Litre or the quart?
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Daniel, the "system function" test is barely better than nothing at all if that Conti's instrumentation is as poor as that on a MK8!
Surely someone you know has a good volt meter?
Don't know much about how auto parts stores in Romania work, (actually, I know nothing at all about them), but here in USA, many of the chain stpores such as Advance or Auto Zone have meters and testers with which they will test your car right there in the parking lot free of charge, hoping to sell you any parts you may need.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

@dirty old man: yes, i know a good service were i can do a volt meter. i will do that on Monday i guess.. and i will go to a tester too to see the error codes it may have in the computer. you can find all the stuff you need here except

@driller: in Europe the fluids are sold by Liters. 1 Liter = ~1 Quart right ? ... as i found on the web.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
@driller: in Europe the fluids are sold by Liters. 1 Liter = ~1 Quart right ? ... as i found on the web.
[/div]

Pretty close.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Hi Daniel,
I too live in Europe - England (U.K.). It has been my experience that it will be almost impossible to get Mercon V unless you get it shipped from the U.S. but that will cost you plenty - my quote, including shipping to Romania, was $605 for 15 quarts!!!! It was about $400 to the U.K. I don't know what taxes you would have to pay in addition but in the UK it would add about 25% to the price on your doorstep!
I have heard that the fluid for the Ford Fiesta automatic, is Mercon 5 with a different name but I have been unable to get it here, even though my son works for Ford UK.
I agree that Mercon V would be best but I have had to settle for Dexron 3 and use an additive. The one I use is a LubeGard product. OK, I know many on this site will say otherwise, with regard to additives, but our problem does not exist for them. Anyway, it works for me in my Mark 8 and '95 T/bird. There is a supplier of LubeGard in Switzerland, so email me if you need the information.

Dave (BRITLNC)
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

well the official Ford Dealer here in Romania said they can supply me with whatever i need ( fluids and other parts like filters, etc.) in January when i will do the revision i will tell you the prices here for the Mercon V.

i have a new question for you guys

the previous owner of my car sell the car to me with only one key + the remote for the alarm. Were and how can i order a second key + remote ... just in case i lost the first one.

Thanks.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

Here in the USA, it would be eBay. A quick search reveals some sellers ship worldwide.
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

like a .. blank key + remote so i can clone it here ?
 
RE: new Lincoln Continental owner , have a lot of questions...:)

The remotes are programmable. Programming instructions for your model would best be found in the owner's manual. They can also be found on eBay or at helminc.com.

The new key however is a blank PATS(Passive Anti-Theft System) key and will need programmed as well as cut to match your key. Some versions of PATS require only one programmed key to allow new keys to be programmed while later versions required TWO programmed keys to be able to program new keys or it must be programmed at a dealer or some locksmiths.
 
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