1997 Continental with a short laundry list of "quirks"

[jrhartman]

If you have any ideas on what I need to do correct any of these, please chime in accordingly. I am not in the least bit afraid to get dirty and tear into the car as long as instructions and/or pics of what I need to do are available.

#1 - Low Washer Fluid Warning Light comes on despite being full.

#2 - When I push the gas down WOT and the car accelerates and then all
of a sudden right after the shift it feels like the car severely bogs down
if I let of the gas a decent amount the car started picking up quickly
again.

#3 - Speedometer/Odometer not functioning - "Data Distance Error"

#4 - When I start the car, the power steering only works for about
4-5 seconds, then it seems as if there is no PS at all, not insanely
hard to turn the wheel, but certainly not like it should be. I am thinking
PS pump because the fluid level is correct.

#5 - Anti-theft system randoming goes off without reason.


Thanks in advance for any/all help. Some people have already given me a couple ideas of what to check out on a couple of my problems, but I just wanted to put everything into one thread so I could keep track of it.

 

[napoleon1072]

If you have any ideas on what I need to do correct any of these, please chime in accordingly. I am not in the least bit afraid to get dirty and tear into the car as long as instructions and/or pics of what I need to do are available.

#1 - Low Washer Fluid Warning Light comes on despite being full.

#2 - When I push the gas down WOT and the car accelerates and then all
of a sudden right after the shift it feels like the car severely bogs down
if I let of the gas a decent amount the car started picking up quickly
again.

#3 - Speedometer/Odometer not functioning - "Data Distance Error"

#4 - When I start the car, the power steering only works for about
4-5 seconds, then it seems as if there is no PS at all, not insanely
hard to turn the wheel, but certainly not like it should be. I am thinking
PS pump because the fluid level is correct.

#5 - Anti-theft system randoming goes off without reason.


Thanks in advance for any/all help. Some people have already given me a couple ideas of what to check out on a couple of my problems, but I just wanted to put everything into one thread so I could keep track of it.

My alarm kept going off when my battery was low. Maybe you have the same thing?? and the steering wheel should fix itself if u turn the car off and turn it back on again

 

[john1978]

If you have any ideas on what I need to do correct any of these, please chime in accordingly. I am not in the least bit afraid to get dirty and tear into the car as long as instructions and/or pics of what I need to do are available.

#1 - Low Washer Fluid Warning Light comes on despite being full.

#2 - When I push the gas down WOT and the car accelerates and then all
of a sudden right after the shift it feels like the car severely bogs down
if I let of the gas a decent amount the car started picking up quickly
again.

#3 - Speedometer/Odometer not functioning - "Data Distance Error"

#4 - When I start the car, the power steering only works for about
4-5 seconds, then it seems as if there is no PS at all, not insanely
hard to turn the wheel, but certainly not like it should be. I am thinking
PS pump because the fluid level is correct.

#5 - Anti-theft system randoming goes off without reason.


Thanks in advance for any/all help. Some people have already given me a couple ideas of what to check out on a couple of my problems, but I just wanted to put everything into one thread so I could keep track of it.

:eek2: wow big list bud first is first low washer is probaly a sensor in jug might be integrated into pump,second iac motor tps sensor hard to say but maybe related to your speedo prob which is probaly the speed sensor in the tranny,also try dropping the pan and chnging the filter in the tranny.the power steering issue could be electronic or maybe a blockage in the line i think tere is a filter in that system.anti theft i am still having problems with that.

 

[Sagitta]

Never underestimate the harm old tranny fluid can do.

I had a car that was giving me all sorts of problems that, when we dropped the transmission pan, revealed that it was the original fluid/filter from the factory (it still had the plug that is ejected in the assembly process in the pan).

The car? 10 years old with 125K miles. The fluid was nasty, to say the least.

 

[BatMobile]

I agree about the trans. had similar problem until I had the gasket and fluid changed. As far as the steering, did you check the settings. I haven't driven mine in a while, but I know it has settings for steering and ride control on the instrument panel. You can only change them in park but I think it's like firm, normal and easy or something like that.

 

[Linc97]

My 97 Linc Continental was waking the neighbors at all times of the night with the anti theft alarm going off. . .but since I turned the Auto Lamp off, the problem has gone away. I also manually lock the doors and then open them with the keyless entry. I priced a new Auto Lamp Module at Ford and they run $600.oo for the part. Let me know if you find one cheaper as I would be interested in replacing mine at a lesser price.

 

[aristo1963]

My 97 Linc Continental was waking the neighbors at all times of the night with the anti theft alarm going off. . .but since I turned the Auto Lamp off, the problem has gone away. I also manually lock the doors and then open them with the keyless entry. I priced a new Auto Lamp Module at Ford and they run $600.oo for the part. Let me know if you find one cheaper as I would be interested in replacing mine at a lesser price.

bought two from ebay for 10 bucks each.and they both work perfectly.

 

[Linc97]

Thanks Aristo. . . I will keep checking Ebay. . nothing on Ebay yet, but hope something comes up soon. . I like that $10 part. . is the install easy???

 

[aristo1963]

actually one of the easiest fixes the car has.when you get it ill let you know how.

 

[jrhartman]

UPDATE: Every quirk I listed above with the exception of the "Low Washer Fluid" warning was corrected by replace fuse #21 in the under dash fuse panel. It was completely missing for some reason. When I put the correct fuse in, everything on the car works like it should, EVERYTHING.