Hello everyone! This is my first post on here but I've been following this forum off and on for over 2 years. I recently purchased a 2003 Lincoln LS Sport (picture attached) and I have a few questions regarding it. Please be kind in your responses as I have seen many answers/solutions/diagnosis in reading before. Using the search feature however I'm not very successful in finding the proper thread. Just a link to a thread would be greatly appreciated!

First off, there is a slight smell of oil from my engine compartment. I'm fairly knowledgeable about this problem dealing with leaky valve cover gaskets and oil seeping or leaking and causing the engine coils to go bad (ok, perhaps I don't know that much about it). Anyways, I'm not noticing any hesitating or performance issues, so how long will this take to turn into a bigger problem? Should I get it addressed now, or wait till it throws a code so I can have ford fix it under recall 07M07/07N09?

Second, when I turn the steering wheel at low speeds it makes a whilry noise? Is this a common/pressing issue I should have inspected? I believe I remember reading something about needing to replace the rack & pinion. Is that true?

Third. Has anyone had to replace a Duct Assembly? I just ordered the part from Ford and was wondering how difficult of a job it would be.

Fourth. My climate control, in my opinion, is acting strange. It blows ice cold air when it's hot in the car and quickly gets the car to the temp I have it set to. once it reaches this temp though it seems like the AC shuts off, the fan stays on, and heat blows out of the vent. What's up with that?

Lastly, is there any quick fix for a drooping headliner? The guy at the ford service department told me to take it to an interior detailing shop and they would fix it for me a lot cheaper than they could.

Well that's all I got now. I apologize for a long first post. Thanks in advance.

Proud Lincoln LS Owner,
soccerplayer2007

First off, there is a slight smell of oil from my engine compartment. I'm fairly knowledgeable about this problem dealing with leaky valve cover gaskets and oil seeping or leaking and causing the engine coils to go bad (ok, perhaps I don't know that much about it). Anyways, I'm not noticing any hesitating or performance issues, so how long will this take to turn into a bigger problem? Should I get it addressed now, or wait till it throws a code so I can have ford fix it under recall 07M07/07N09?

Like you smell it from the inside of the car? If so... replace AC filter.

Second, when I turn the steering wheel at low speeds it makes a whilry noise? Is this a common/pressing issue I should have inspected? I believe I remember reading something about needing to replace the rack & pinion. Is that true?

Same thing happen to me, replaced it under warranty.

Third. Has anyone had to replace a Duct Assembly? I just ordered the part from Ford and was wondering how difficult of a job it would be.

Why are you replacing it?

Fourth. My climate control, in my opinion, is acting strange. It blows ice cold air when it's hot in the car and quickly gets the car to the temp I have it set to. once it reaches this temp though it seems like the AC shuts off, the fan stays on, and heat blows out of the vent. What's up with that?

Remember that it is climate control. It will adjust everything to what temperature it is set at. Is it actually blowing HOT air out?

Lastly, is there any quick fix for a drooping headliner? The guy at the ford service department told me to take it to an interior detailing shop and they would fix it for me a lot cheaper than they could.

Yup, take it to someone who reupholsters seats and stuff like that. It will be WAYY cheaper.

Like you smell it from the inside of the car? If so... replace AC filter.

I only smell it inside the car when the AC is not on and it is blowing out hot or neutral air.

Same thing happen to me, replaced it under warranty.

Warranty that came with the vehicle when you purchased it, or a recall warranty that follows the vehicle?

Why are you replacing it?

The previous owner somehow managed to break it.

Remember that it is climate control. It will adjust everything to what temperature it is set at. Is it actually blowing HOT air out?

Yes, it blows out hot air. Here's an example. It's currently 84 degrees out. I have the climate control set to 74. At start up it blows out cold air on high and then slowly slows the speed of the fan down till it reaches that temp, slowly blowing out cool air. After a minute or so the air coming out stops being cold and turns hot. The hotness of the air does seem to be affected by if I'm cruising on the highway or if I'm accelerating. The air is not too warm with the first, but can get pretty hot while accelerating. After a a couple minutes the AC kicks back on, presumably as a result of the temperature rising in the cabin.

Yup, take it to someone who reupholsters seats and stuff like that. It will be WAYY cheaper.

Thanks, will do.

Beautiful car!!

Is the headliner drooping by the rear third brake light? If so use the high strength velco and use gorilla glue on the sticky side of the velcro to hold it in place.

Sounds like you have a DCCV that is starting to stick. Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon failure. (Dual Coolant Control Valve)

I have that whirly steering sound to on my 06. It is very quiet, can only barely hear it when going slow like parking.

Anyways, I'm not noticing any hesitating or performance issues, so how long will this take to turn into a bigger problem? Should I get it addressed now, or wait till it throws a code so I can have ford fix it under recall 07M07/07N09?
Those are extended warranty numbers, not recalls, so you can't have the problem addressed until the problem exists. As for if/when it will become a problem, my Magic 8 Ball(tm) hasn't been the same since it fell off my desk, so I can't even hazard a guess. :D

Love that color!! :D

That oil smell is from a leaky valve cover gasket/plug well seal. Mine did that for the longest time and then I had a coil die. Last year they did the passenger side gasket, a few months ago they did the driver's side - all under that extended warranty.

Thanks for all the responses! I'm looking forward to some happy years with my LS!

Love that color!! :D

Of course you do. :p