Soon to be new owner of 01 Conti! Couple questions...

[matchgame90]

Well an 01 Continental might be in my future and I thought I'd ask a couple questions I have.

The car has 40k on it now and has been babied its entire life. It is my father's car that they are trying to sell due to a sudden change in their financial situation. Before that, it was owned by a friend of my father, so I know the complete history. There aren't any major problems with it, just some scratches on the back bumper and a squeak in the dash from when a blender door had to be replaced. I've tried to find the squeak myself by taking the glove box out (or rather, let it hang down all the way) but I couldn't find the culprit, so I'll take it to the dealer I guess. But here's my questions:

Is there any way for the digital clock to be shown on the radio? I do like the classy looking analog clock but still like having the digital one. I see the unlit digits on the radio display when it's bright, so I know the functionality should be there.

Is there any way for the key fob settings to be changed? I know you can tell it to not honk when you hit Lock on the remote, but is there any way to have it honk after two hits of Lock? I only ask because my 01 Taurus honks only if you hit the remote twice. I like that... I can double check when I'm at my door or inside the house. Or, if its late, I won't have it honk and wake anybody up.

None of the keys open the trunk lid. The remote key fobs work, the keyless entry works and the button on the driver's door works, but if you insert the key in the trunk, it won't turn. Any ideas? I've tried de-icer when it was colder thinking it was frozen. I'm worried if the battery dies and I need something in the trunk (like jumper cables), I won't be able to get at it.

Is there any way to turn off the auto-headlights completely? Even when I turn them off on the toggle switch on the dash, they still turn on after the wipers have been on over 30 seconds.

Thanks in advance for any possible help, I greatly appreciate it!

 

[JLewisinSyr]

The autolights with wipers is a part of the time control module, it cannot be changed unless you do some hard core wiring changes. Why would you want to disable this safety feature anyway, some states require you to drive with your lights on when your wipers are in use too.

The trunk lock is probably corroded. This happens a lot on cars now a days as people use the keyfobs and internal releases more then locks, so unless you use them often, they tend not to work. You can try liquid graphite or lithium and see if it releases, but I have not had any luck fixing mine.

 

[mark0101]

I don't know about the newer conti's but I have another key to open the trunk. Its not the same key that I start my car with.

 

[matchgame90]

I didn't know if I was missing something with the auto-headlights and the wipers turning the lights on. I thought I had the auto-lights off and yet they still turned on with the wipers. While I do like that feature, I was worried that something wasn't working correctly with the autolamps since I had turned them off.

Unfortunately, I started the car this morning and the rear suspension went. I called for a tow to a lincoln dealership (thank god for warranties) after I had cycled the on/off switch for the air ride suspension and it didn't help. The tow truck came... he opened the hood, found the air compressor and literally punched it. It clicked back on the car rose almost immediately! I still took it to the dealership and they're "baffled". So we shall see. We've had the car in the family for 2 years and never had a problem, but I'm afraid that the suspension is going to go again and we won't be lucky enough to have it happen in our driveway. The warranty is good for a couple more years and we're well under the milage for it.

Thanks for everybody's help so far!

 

[formerknown]

I know you can tell it to not honk when you hit Lock on the remote, but is there any way to have it honk after two hits of Lock?

Actually, you can. Check the owner's manual; supposedly you can turn on the horn warning using the numeric keypad on your driver's door. It might even disable the honk under the dash computer- I forget. I owned a 2002 Conti a while back.

Is there any way for the digital clock to be shown on the radio? I do like the classy looking analog clock but still like having the digital one. I see the unlit digits on the radio display when it's bright, so I know the functionality should be there.

No, I don't think you can. You could buy an aftermarket radio with a clock display, though.

None of the keys open the trunk lid.

Trunk opening piston could be broken. It's a fairly easy fix, but a bit heavy on the wallet. It may even be a fuse- check your manual. If you don't have a manual, let me know and maybe I can find you a .pdf version.

I didn't know if I was missing something with the auto-headlights and the wipers turning the lights on. I thought I had the auto-lights off and yet they still turned on with the wipers. While I do like that feature, I was worried that something wasn't working correctly with the autolamps since I had turned them off.

That feature can be turned-off using the dash computer.

Good luck with the car- they are really nice and a great bang-for-the-buck! I regret ditching mine...

 

[matchgame90]

Thanks for the info, everybody.

One other thing... what is this for:

I'm referring to the front-most compartment (that would be closest to the moonroof if this pic had one). In my car, I open it up and there's literally nothing there. I read in the manual that its a tissue holder... am I missing a piece or something? Where could I get it?

 

[formerknown]

Yeah, it's a tissue holder. You're missing the small package of tissues Buy them at CVS, Walgreens, or whatever pharmacy you have where you are...

 

[matchgame90]

Yeah, it's a tissue holder. You're missing the small package of tissues Buy them at CVS, Walgreens, or whatever pharmacy you have where you are...

I'm gonna sound like an idiot, but i don't see how tissues will stay in there. When i open that compartment, there is literally nothing in it... no holder, no nothing. I'll have to take a pic of it tomorrow.

 

[formerknown]

It fits these

You're supposed to have some kind of removable holder in there that velcroes to the top of the tissue holder. You put the Kleenex in there.