Hi all,
My 2003 Lincoln Town Car (82 thousand miles) is beginning to accumulate issues and making my head spin. I still love the car but it's taking a toll on me financially. Please see the following below:
- Got side swiped while parked that scraped my car from the side of my rear bumper to the passenger side mirror and messed up my window actuator. (I was grocery shopping and was not present at the time it happened). (April 2023)
- DDM (Driver's Door Module) went out so key fobs don't work. I can live with this, but would like to have it fixed sometime. Junkyard ones cost about $40, but every one I've gotten so far has not worked 100% (5 DDM & counting). Online ones are way overpriced.
- The last time I posted was regarding a misfire for TID $56 - Unresolved (July 2023) https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/mode-6-tid-56-fail-ford-vehicle-diagnostic/
- Transmission started to slip in 1st-2nd which was making the car jolt - (No codes) (August 2023)
- Air Suspension light comes on periodically and vanishes (Code C1726) - Bags probably need changing as the air compressor seems to operate as it should (August 2023)
- Ran over a screw on my way back from school on my tire's sidewall-ish, the tire blew and I'm not able to simply plug it. Currently on a spare. (yesterday)
- Found that my rear differential started leaking - not sure if this is making the transmission slip since there's less fluid to lubricate? I assume it needs a reseal and crossing fingers that there are no major damages to the gears. Also hoping this would fix the transmission issue above ^ (Just noticed yesterday while swapping to a spare)
For those who say I should keep it, what should I have repaired in order of importance?
Thank you all for the years of advice and help I received from this community.
Best regards,
Lofi
Found that my rear differential started leaking - not sure if this is making the transmission slip since there's less fluid to lubricate? ... Also hoping this would fix the transmission issue above
Huh? As far as I know that's an old-school rear-drive car with a solid rear axle completely separate from the transmission. Unless I'm missing something (which is possible) why would there be an expectation that low diff lube would affect the transmission's shifting?
Overall, aside from external factors like being sideswiped and road hazard damage, what you're experiencing is why we caution people about cars that are decades old. Even if a car is a good design with low mileage and basically solid there are things that are going to deteriorate just from age such as rubber seals, hoses, gaskets, wiring, electronic components, and more.
If you can work on the car yourself it can work out OK. (I drive a car even older but I work on it myself.) However for someone dependent on a mechanic an old car can quickly become a money pit. So I would say if you fall into the latter category the best bet would be to sell it.
Thanks for the timely reply and advice. You are correct about the solid rear axle, I have 0 clue as to why I put rear differential lol. I thought that since the town car is RWD, the rear axle leak could maybe affect how the transmission acts. I'm not knowledgeable about this stuff, so please correct or inform me of any bad information.
I believe I can do most things from my list except the transmission related issue and the tire change.
I thought that since the town car is RWD, the rear axle leak could maybe affect how the transmission acts. I'm not knowledgeable about this stuff, so please correct or inform me of any bad information.
The transmission is completely separate from the rear axle. One uses ATF (short for Automatic Transmission Fluid), ATF is quite thin compared to gear oil, which is almost aways heavy.
Gear oil is splash lubricated, as opposed to the automatic transmission, which serves two purposes. It acts as both a lubricant and is powered by hydraulic action. The automatic transmission acts like a pump of sorts. The automatic transmission fluid is located in a pan, underneath the transmission. The transmission's fluid level is critical to properly perform its duty, overfilled transmission fluid and underfilled fluid are both quite detrimental to proper functioning (delays, etc).
When ATF is brand new, it's bright red, gear oil is always a brown color. When it comes time to empty the differential fluid, simply empty the differential by unbolting all of the bolts. When it's empty, replace the gasket with a new one, replace the cover, making sure the bolts are tightened in a star pattern, fill it up to the line with the car on a level surface, and that's it.
Thank you for the informative breakdown between the two. That makes a whole lot more sense.
I believe I can do most things from my list except the transmission related issue and the tire change.
The transmission problem may be a deal-breaker if it's not just caused by something easily corrected like low fluid. (However even if so since it has been happening since August there's a good chance that friction materials have been worn by now.) Replacement of the transmission could very well exceed the value of the car. Same if the differential is damaged due to low fluid, but those generally start making noise when worn so it may be OK if you get to it in time.
Those two items would be the most important to address to keep the car going. It sounds like your air suspension is going to need attention soon as well. Just a few days ago I saw one of those cars stuck on the side of the road with its front suspension completely collapsed and its owner on a cell phone, presumably calling a tow truck.
So we're talking some $$$$ to get the car sorted out.
I thought I was ready to hear some bad news, but I was wrong. You're definitely right on all aspects. I love the car but it seems that it's killing me slowly. Thanks again for your advice as it is very much appreciated.