31st Aug 2004, 18:46
Hello Fellow Continental Owners - I bought my 1990 Continental 2 years ago with 140,000 km on it. At first it seemed like a nice car. Then it started: I replaced the rear suspension bags, the power steering system blew and leaked power steering fluid all over my driveway, the alternator went, the voltage regulator went, the trunk lid pulldown motor blew, the AM/FM Stereo quit and the battery went. All this within 6 months!
No trouble for the last 5 months... until this morning. Lost all the power steering fluid again! The car's in the shop right now... just waiting for the verdict.
Other than a run of bad luck and MAJOR repairs, the car runs well, rides great and is a joy to drive. Too bad things wouldn't stop breaking. Still cheaper than a new car (so far).
Enjoy!
8th Sep 2004, 21:07
OK, the verdict is in... turned out to be the power steering fluid cooling rad... it was the original and mounted in a bad position (rocks, ice, snow, salt, sand, etc)...cost to replace?...$302.00...parts and labour... not too bad.
I think I'll keep it for a while longer.
Enjoy!
28th Oct 2004, 20:51
I am in desperate need to find out what DCL is. The noise is driving us crazy. We have just purchased our 1991 lincoln from a co-worker. The car looks beautiful, but we need to find out what the DCL is so we can stop this dinging sound. Please help.
4th Feb 2005, 15:43
Hello, I just put a deposit on a 1990 Lincoln Continental and I was really excited about it until I found this sight. It supposedly had one owner with only 75k. 2700 dollars was the price. Runs real nice except for the air suspension or something when the car is still it readjusts itself?? Any how I'm 5 months pregnant with our first child and was changing out my 2 door 1991 Honda accord. It just wasn't functional enough for a car seat and all. I thought the Lincoln would better protect in case of wreck, but we really can't afford any repair to this car for a while. Thinking I should go get my money back! Does anybody think this is a good family car? I don't want to be stranded pregnant or with an infant!
3rd Feb 2007, 09:58
I have a 1994 continental and I want to know how do you know if the head gasket is going bad or is bad.
25th Sep 2007, 15:48
1990 signature edition and no problems for five years, until now:
Yes, it has been a wonderful, trouble free car, and more room and comfort than many modern apartments!
However, here are the current problems, which came all of s sudden:
Front air bags or shocks deflate when car is parked. Sometimes they re inflate when it is started, other times not.
2 weeks later, the batttery was dead (that's a new development) and then when I jump started it, it ran for 15 minutes or so, but when I tried to drive it the WHOLE SYSTEM DIED. yes, just crashed, like a house goes dark when the power grid goes off.
I suspect (hope) it is a mere FUSE in the control/instrument panel, but I sure don't know.
Anyone have this problem, can share any experience or advice?
Thanks much.
1990 lincoln owner.
Fser@cox.net.
11th Feb 2009, 16:28
I have a 90 Lincoln Continental from my friend for free in FL. I live in Ohio so I started driving it home; had all kinds of problems, so I put in in the shop in GA, spent like 840 for tie rods, head gasket, rotors, brakes and a few other things. The car was sitting for a while.
Ran great for the rest of the ride back to Ohio, then it got really cold and the back of the car never came back up. The front drops down from time to time as well.
The check DCL light keeps coming on, and the battery light is flashing and charging up (the car acts real funny when this happens).
Was thinking about changing from the air suspension to http://www.strutmasters.com/
Was wondering if you guys think it's a good idea?
6th May 2009, 23:27
I bot my 1994 Continental for $1500, July 28, never going to forget cos it was and still is my first car. I drive it to school everyday, so far I all had to repair was the radiator, but recently the "check DCL" light starts to pop up and bugs the hell out of me.. by reading the comments I see that I'm not the only one. I'm sure the next car I buy is going to be a Lincoln.
13th May 2009, 22:46
Interesting forum, hilarious comments, Jim Davis (creator of Garfield cartoons) once said we don't laugh at things because they are funny, but rather because they are true... that describes this forum to a T.
Lots of familiar info on 1994 Continental, Signature series...here's my $0.02 for anyone considering getting one of these sandbags...
Parents car, got it for song and dance several years ago used. Was OK for first 6 months or so then...
Tranny went (replaced twice outright, also had pan gasket leak).
Head gaskets - the car should have come with an extra set as well as extra heads since they are prone to crack. Swear there is a sensor that says "new owner/driver, time to blow." White smoke and lingering smell of coolant are something you just have to deal with on this car.
Air bag suspension failed. Car sank at the driver rear corner and would not rise. THIS IS THE KISS OF DEATH. Replaced several years ago with aftermarket hard-ride coils after discovering that ONE corner airbag assembly was $900 from the factory. Say what? Got an aftermarket coil spring replacement kit for less than half that price (for the whole car), wasn't too bad to install, brother and I did it ourselves... definitely worth it, still rides great.
Check DCL light started coming on in the past 2 days. This is a minor problem compared to some of the other stuff.
Automatic door locks quit functioning on passenger side, needs manually unlocked from inside. Horrendous grinding sound from locks when you put it in gear (automatic locks). Easy to lock keys in by accident (family member did this once). Keep a spare key somewhere safe.
Windows have failed in down and up position, all around, new regulators cured the problem but you never know when it will strike next... careful at those fast food drive-throughs...and in colder weather.
I do wish to add one positive note:
Steering is smooth as silk, not sure how Lincoln does it. Only thing I've ever driven with smoother steering was Mom's 1962 Buick Electra 225. Unbelievable.
Good luck to anyone buying this car, the ride and steering are great, but the car can become a money pit in a hurry.
31st Aug 2004, 10:54
I bought a 1990 Lincoln Continental from a used car dealer. I should have taken it back the next day. Why? Well I went out to start up the car, and it wouldn't turn over. That was the beginning of my problems. Not too long after, my car started to over-heat. I couldn't take the car back to where I bought it, because they closed up shop. Anyway, I had to have the water pump replaced twice. Then one day my car started to fill the street with nothing, but white smoke. I blew a head gasket. Everything that had to be replaced, cost a lot of money. Then the struts needed to be replaced. Luckily the mechanic I went to, was able to save me hundreds of dollars by replacing the factory struts with after market struts.
All in all this car has been nothing, but trouble. I would never recommend getting a car like this, to anyone. I bought the car for about $4,000 and have wound up putting well over that in repairs. Oh, by the way, right now my air conditioner has stopped working. Stay away from this car people.