LJS30
Active LVC Member
So gentlemen as far as engine design is the LS pretty bullet proof?
Lincoln LS (First Gen) Design flaws
- Thread starter LJS30
- Start date
drag214
Well-Known LVC Member
I hope you found some wood to knock on.
drag214
Well-Known LVC Member
Surprised no one's mentioned the ignition coils and failing valve cover gaskets. The covers for the spark plug wells and how readily water gets past them. The plastic locking tabs on the wire harness, I break them all the time.
Also, I understand the reasoning behind the plastic parts in the water pump, but durability is an issue. And have you ever had to replace a wheel stud? Arrgh!
Last edited:
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
The gen II 3.9 seems to be pretty much so, internally. The early years gen I 3.9 has a pretty serious issue with the timing chain tensioners.
Gotta agree. Both my '06's needed a DCCV, one an alternator and A/C compressor and the other an upper radiator hose and I did the plugs and coils on both (IMHO routine maintenance items). Both are on all (other) original cooling system parts; my wife's '06 is at ~68K miles and mine is about 132K miles.
NickT88LSC
Dedicated LVC Member
Thats why I said I am sure it is coming, one day, just lucky I guess has taken this long, I even took a good look and the degas bottle the other day when I moved it to do the upper control arm, still looks damn good
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
the 2nd gen really seems to be as far as internally(if ran in the stock condition), any and all problems they have tend to be all external (cooling, coils, plugs)
really the only blown motors I can remember seeing were all in boosted applications.
I spoke too soon.... My wife's '06 sprung a leak somewhere in the thermostat area. I will have to purchase all the parts locally (I can't wait to see that bill!!!) as I can't wait for the parts to be delivered. On the plus side we got to use our extended AAA tow benefit as the leak sprung at my mother-in-laws house 88 miles away (we had 100 miles)! At least I won't have to pay for a dealer to a job that I can do!!
Lucky for you...I was in Encinitas a few year back when my car generated a code and barely ran. Since I was 5+ hours from home, I had the dealership in Encinitas do the repairs. 1 or 2 coils AND also the DCCV, I was on my way. Did not want to have an issue driving across the desert in July and a 300+ mile tow was not a possibility!
Telco
Dedicated LVC Member
Funny, because that electric parking brake they replaced the hand brake with IMO is a disaster. It can either be on or off, no intermediate setting, so no using it to help control the car on slick roads. I've had plenty of RWD cars that had decent sized center consoles in them. I think the main problem with the center console size is the size of the car itself. It sits fairly low, as do the seats, so the console just can't be that tall. If the roof were a bit taller, the car were a bit longer and a bit wider, there would have been room to put the seats a bit higher and make a larger console. Just rented a 2013 Charger for a trip, and it had a huge console.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
I must assume that you have never tried it. Your assumptions are incorrect.
You can apply it at three different levels (four if you count completely released).
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
so now were down to the actual size and shape of the car being a designer error? what the fukc is that about? I dont want a super wide car with a super high roof line with super high chairs and an F350 center console... I wanted a smaller tight well balanced car, everything the charger/300/magnum is not. if I wanted something the size of a land rover I would have just bought the E class they were made from. for as much as you hate everything about this car, I'm really surprised that you haven't sold it yet and got something you actually want...
I've also never need to use a parking brake to drive on slick roads either, but then again, I believe in the advancetrac system...
I've also never need to use a parking brake to drive on slick roads either, but then again, I believe in the advancetrac system...
Telco
Dedicated LVC Member
Never said the shape of the car was a design error, just pointing out that there's only so much room to work with, and a larger console would need a larger car. Either that, or the console would be too tall, or the seats would be too narrow, or the tunnel would need to be lower which would put the trans/driveshaft below the bottom line of the car. If you want a car with the profile of the LS, then the center console's size is going to be limited to about what it is.
Advancetrac isn't going to help when not under power, and trying to slow down using just the rear brakes.
On the parking brake, how exactly does an electric switch go partial on applying the brakes, and how do you know what the setting is? You are correct that I've never tried it as I didn't see any indication that it worked in any way other than on or off. Even if it does have 4 separate settings, I'd have preferred a handle that I can modulate according to what the car is doing, not according to one of 4 settings.
Advancetrac isn't going to help when not under power, and trying to slow down using just the rear brakes.
On the parking brake, how exactly does an electric switch go partial on applying the brakes, and how do you know what the setting is? You are correct that I've never tried it as I didn't see any indication that it worked in any way other than on or off. Even if it does have 4 separate settings, I'd have preferred a handle that I can modulate according to what the car is doing, not according to one of 4 settings.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
AdvanceTrac works with your foot off the gas. It's not just traction control, it's direction control.
You control emergency brake force by the number of times that you pull the button up. Also, (I think) if you just pull it up and hold it long enough, it goes on to full force - kind of a panic mode.
You control emergency brake force by the number of times that you pull the button up. Also, (I think) if you just pull it up and hold it long enough, it goes on to full force - kind of a panic mode.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
thats pretty much my thought too... there has been times when the engine braking has been enough to cause a loss of traction, any more than that with out front braking to even it out for stability is just dangerous. its called a parking or emergency brake for a reason, it's designed to take stress out of a trans while parked or to aid in slowing you down if your normal brakes fail. just don't see the benefit in using it for anything else when there are more efficient methods...
Anpav
New LVC Member
My 2001 LS Sport had a devil of a time with the window regulators. I replaced the drivers side at least twice (third regulator) and every other window at least once. Ford even issued a TSB on the rear regulators. The drain tubes from the sunroof were also subject to clogging and I can't tell you how many times I had to drain a trunk full of water out of the spare tire well.
Doesn't sound like a design flaw (BMW has been using that type of window lift mechanism for ages and where else is the accumulated water in the sunroof channel supposed to go??). Do you even know what the TSB was for or even what a TSB is (there are TSBs for everything from what cleaner to use on the interior to how to rebuild an engine)? Sounds to me like a UAW flaw not a design flaw.
LJS30
Active LVC Member
What's your take on the five speed auto in these first generation cars? Not being able to visibly check the fluid kind of bothers me guys as I'm old school and want to actually see my fluid.
We've discussed this many times. I, too, am old school here. I'd like to be able to check the fluid too, but in my 14 years of LS ownership have found it to be a non-issue. I have the fluid flushed every 50K-75K miles and keep an eye out for leaks. The LS isn't the only car in the road without a dipstick; the '09+ Mustang doesn't have one either. IIRC, BMW doesn't even let you check, let alone change, your own oil! You must rely on the computer to tell you when a change is required.
Get used to it. Drivers are becoming operators more and more and drivers less and less. The era of the Shadetree Mechanic is slowly dying and sooner than most if those here would like, we'll be required to visit the dealer or a specialist shop for even the basic of maintenance. The vast majority of owners don't even know how to do a fluid check let alone change the fluid. "Driverless" cars that seem to be all the rage. Those people are in no way inclined to do a fluid change! Don't even get me started on the EPA (both state and federal) and their over-complicated disposal requirements. I could go on but it's just too depressing.......
LJS30
Active LVC Member
I agree and apologize for a repeat thread. I am somewhat new to the LS world and am weighing this car out heavily before going all out in a committed relationship with this car. Besides my 2012 Camry the 2001 LS is the newest car I have ever owned and not being able to work on it much myself is somewhat daunting. I'm used to checking all my fluids, changing my own oil, changing out spark plugs, radiators, etc...... So thanks for the patience.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
hell a lot of first gen owners put the wrong fluid into the wrong places quite a bit (coolant in hyd fan system, not putting ATF in ALL the places it goes...) so actually I see the trans not having an easy way to check/add fluid just makes one less thing the idiots can mess up... trannys don't consume fluid, so if you're not leaking fluid, its not going to be low. and if you go to check the fluid and it burnt, varnished, or has particles in it, you're pretty much too late, the damage has been done... all trans problems I have seen have always had symptoms you should be catching first...
and if you are so hard core that no matter what everybody thinks, you still need to check your fluid, its really not that hard to throw a set of stands under the car and actually check it out the proper way.
and if you are so hard core that no matter what everybody thinks, you still need to check your fluid, its really not that hard to throw a set of stands under the car and actually check it out the proper way.
FDR
Dedicated LVC Member
To be fair, the fan fluid reservoir does have a picture of a fan on it. I would associate that symbol with the cooling system. Compared to my other cars, the actual coolant reservoir is hidden and camouflaged pretty well. And the only other non-electric fans in the fleet are the classic Mustangs with crank-driven fans. It's a weird car. Yes, if you're adding any fluid you should be familiar with the car, or if you even open the hood, but there's some justification.
As for jacking up the car, it still scares me a little every time. The Taurus and Mustangs are a hell of a lot more flexible.
Telco
Dedicated LVC Member
Interesting. I'll go play with it in a parking lot sometime or other then.
Yes, I've used the emergency brake to regain control on slick roads before. Been using it as a method of control for decades now. The hand brake is easiest to control with, the foot brake is a bit of a challenge as you have to either hold the release handle out while steering, or slam it on then immediately release when the brake is released by pushing the pedal a second time. Works great, provided you can control the braking force as you go. It's not a matter of just slamming the emergency brake on full.