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Things That Eventually Bite You in the Rear


kemokimo
01-13-2004, 05:44 PM
I own a 1999 Town Car Executive series. The last Lincoln I owned was a 1979 Towncar. It was a great car but had to sell it because the plastic dash was falling in my lap due to the heat here in Houston.

I was hesitant to buy the '99 due to the fact that that there is only a limited amount of work that you can do on them yourself and I had always done about everything except the major stuff. I was out voted, however, by my better half.

While it is a great handling and highway car and smooths the bumps out of the roughest road, here are a few problems that make me question my purchase decision:

- the rubber air bags that provide the rear suspension have no
back up suspension system so when they fail, the car drops to
about 5" off the ground.

- up until recently, I thought that one of the cooling hoses under
the intake manifold was made of rubber(it is on the '97 and '98)
so that you would have to pay to have the manifold removed to
replace, can you believe it, a water hose!!!. Luckily they
switched to a metal hose in '99

Towncar
01-14-2004, 12:44 AM
I have a 1996 with 47k miles on her now. So far I've had no problems with the air suspension. >>knock on wood<<

Good luck with your new 1999 :smokin:

kemokimo
01-15-2004, 06:49 PM
I have a 1996 with 47k miles on her now. So far I've had no problems with the air suspension. >>knock on wood<<

Good luck with your new 1999 :smokin:

Unless you are in a cooler climate than me or have treated your rubber air bags (assuming thats what you have) with something, its hard to see how they have lasted so long. Mine are cracking at 54K mi. Could it be related to the fact that I have forgotten to shut off the air suspension switch several times before jacking the car up? Maybe that puts some unreasonable stress on them.

Towncar
01-16-2004, 09:13 PM
I'm in sunny So. Calif. near Los Angeles, not quite as temperate as Texas, Houston...

I expect mine will deteriorate some time soon, although looking at them.. they look fine.. no cracks, no dirt, no signs of wear whatsoever.

I don't "treat" them with anything other that a blast with the hose now and then.

I do park in a garage at night (usually) and covered parking at work daily.

I was expecting them to fail around 35k miles according to the folks at http://www.lincolnsonline.com .

borty
01-21-2004, 08:06 PM
i just wonder on mine 87 town car i have a kind of compressor and the rear end of the car is kind of low could it be my that i have an air suspention and it's broke or some thing.

Towncar
01-21-2004, 11:28 PM
If you do have air springs, they'll be easy to spot up on top of the rear axel.

If you do, the system is slightly adjustable using the ride height sensors.

ltdltc
01-24-2004, 03:43 AM
1990 Town Cars and all newer ones have a Rear Air suspension Standard.

Earlier models had air shocks, Not sure how they work but they do last a little longer than the air springs.

For 1990 and later, The Springs generally last about 5 years 80,000 miles from what I've heard but this is a generic guess some could go longer and other shorter.

It's a pretty simple system and is not as expensive to fix as some make it out to be. If you do it yourself you could replace all the mechincal components for less than $450. It's the cost of labor that gives the system a bad name.

But if you don't like the idea of the system than it is possible to put regular coil springs. They have kits on eBay and other places. Heck it is even possible to get springs from a Grand Marquis or Crown Victoria and put them in.

Hope this helps.

innacsai
02-14-2004, 05:08 AM
I have a 1991 Town Car with rear air suspension, and though I bought it used, the maintenence records don't show any work being done to the system, and they still look and work fine, and it just passed 122k.

It actually amuses me for some reason to hear the compressor kick in when people sit in the back seat.

I don't know how much climate is a factor in that, or if I'm just lucky, i live in central wisconsin, so it gets really darn cold here and also pretty hot at times.

moxlon69
03-16-2004, 08:43 PM
I had a 1991 Town Car with 370k miles on it. The car ran decent, but it started burning oil before I traded it in. The air suspension on the car looked about ready to break on the passenger side, with only some visible wear on the driver's side. They were never serviced, so I'd say I beat the odds with that one. ;) I'm working on a '96 town car now.. Michigan roads are pretty rough on cars.

Adrianjohnm
11-18-2005, 01:51 AM
I live In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and have a 1997 Towncar Cartier Edition with the Original air bags. The car has 180,000km on it and I have never had a problem with the suspension.

Mind you, the shocks need replacing, however the ride is not bouncy yet. I just want firmer shocks...Bilstein I think!

But no probs with the Aid Suspension.

Maybe I am lucky!

sreilly77
11-18-2005, 04:31 PM
i have a 1995 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. It has 198,000 miles on it and the only thing I had to replace was the air compressor for the air suspension. The air bags are original, however the air compressor shorted out due to the fact that my mechanic did a tune up on it and for some odd reason, the compressor failed and the rear end of the car lowered itself to the ground. but that is because he replaced all the fuses and relays and put the wrong relay in for the air compressor and killed it. other than that, i have never had a problem with this car besides the water pump (was leaking, but was the original and I replaced that at 180,000 miles). i am very pleased with this car and the power and comfort it still has with almost 200,000 miles. i have driven this car to california, up to main, and all the way down the florida. and it still wont quit!

Remnar 87
12-15-2005, 11:08 AM
I have an 88 Town Car Signature Series with 250,000 miles on it and the air suspension has never failed. Not one component in the system has been replaced. The car has been in central wisconsin for all 17 years of it's life, so I'm pretty amazed (and anticipating about $500 worth of suspension parts in the near future!).

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