My new ride -- black '06

[Fundy1842]

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking this site for about 6 months now. At first because my '95 Mark VIII was on its last leg, and because I knew I wanted an LS, have for a long while. So after searching high and low for a black LS with decent miles, I ended up driving 4 hours from Dayton to Detroit to buy my car in February.

The car has been great. But I have had some issues already that I would like to ask about. Specifically because I am about 5 hundred miles from running out my 3k mile warranty. I have searched pretty extensively on some of these issues here:

1) I am getting the service parking brake light. It generally comes on after driving it after 10 minutes or so, but sometimes right when I start up. The amber park brake light stays lit as well, when driving and sometimes when the car is off. Getting this light also coincided with a squeel i am getting from the front left wheel when I apply about 1/3 brake pressure. I am guessing I need new pads, and I am not sure if it is related to problem 2:

2) I am getting a whirring or humming sound from the front (left i believe) when driving over 40 or 45 miles an hour. It doesnt seem to dampen the sound when going left or right, although there arent a lot of highway opportunities to swerve and listen for wheel noise lol. I am thinking i need a new hub assembly on that side?

3) When I shift from park to drive, the car "settles". Almost like it slightly moves forward, more so if i dont let the rpms go to idle before shifting. I read an article on solenoids going bad when the car "lurches" into drive. I dont know if this is the same action or not.

I have a couple of other asthetic questions that I will save for another time. I am mostly concerned about the tranny and any wheel issues, as they will be covered by my limited warranty.

I cant tell you how much I have enjoyed the website, and I hope to be an active part of the community.

Thanks again.

 

[bmxbang]

My 04 V8 does numbers 1 and 3

For number 1 it bothered my for the first year I chalked it up to battery voltage which I read some where on here that a low battery could cause this light to come on and know that the LS is very finicky about voltage. Replaced the battery even though I wasn't having problems with it. Solved the problem for about a month if I recall then bam light came back. I just deal with it. Parking brake works great I use it with no problem whatsoever.

For number 3 I have learned that if you don't let the car warm up properly it will lurch into drive. I just let it warm up and go on my merry way. No transmision problems and I'm about at 60,xxx... So I'm probably not the best guy to answer your questions but that's been my experience.

 

[Talbotway]

Hello everyone,


3) When I shift from park to drive, the car "settles". Almost like it slightly moves forward, more so if i don't let the rpms go to idle before shifting. I read an article on solenoids going bad when the car "lurches" into drive. I don't know if this is the same action or not.

.

I can't comment on the other issues but my LS always settles when going in to gear. I have learned to make sure that my car is stopped (rolling) and foot firmly on the brake before putting it in gear. I always notice the car drops,(at least it feels like it does) when this happens.

Another thing I have had to get used to is that early morning when leaving my subdivision, I drive slow and about 1/8 mile till I get to a stop light, my car will ALWAYS slow to a stop and then act like it goes in to a LOW gear and lunge forward. The first couple time it caught me by surprise but now I look for it. And it ONLY happens at that same place and light.

Neither of these have caused any ill side effects or noises or shifting problems,, just something that I have gotten used to with my car. Not sure if that is sorta what you were describing.

 

[joegr]

1. The electronic parking brake issue on an 06 is unlikely to be a battery voltage issue. (They fixed that sometime in the late 04 model year.) I suspect that your rear pads and rotor are worn too thin. Pads being worn out would also explain your low brake fluid light. You might want to add some until you can get the pads (and probably rotors) replaced.

2. Wheel bearing.

3. Normal, if it is just slight.

 

[Andrizzle]

Welcome to the forum!

Nice looking ride there.

Yup everything is pretty normal (despite wheel noise), and joe is right about the worn pads and rotors. Mine are in need of replacement and I have that message almost every other time I drive.

 

[Fundy1842]

Thanks alot guys, I really appreciate the input.

I am relieved to hear that my problems dont seem as severe as I thought.

I am thinking that the brake pads (and possibly rotors) will need replaced on the back end -- do you recommend I replace all four at once? I have noticed quite a bit of brake dust appearing on the rear wheels, would this be indicative of the pads/rotors going bad? Hopefully getting this fixed and getting the brake fluid topped off will fix my light. (that would be awesome).

I am also relieved to hear that other people experience the "settling" when setting in to gear. It seemed like the weirdest thing once i really started noticing it.

*does anyone know at what mph the gears change? it feels like 2nd gear kicks in at about 20-25 mph, then 3rd maybe again at 45 or so... it just seems odd sometimes when it shifts out of first because i do alot of driving through neighborhoods, and when cruising at 25 it seems like sometimes it wants to shift early, or that i am almost in between gears? Maybe I am being too paranoid, and Ive never had a car that was throttle-by-wire. Anyone know what it would cost to have a Ford dealer just give the tranny a once over? (i have approx 500 miles left on my warranty).

Finally, the odd whirring or humming noise is concerning to me. would a legit mechanic be able to identify the noice of a bearing being bad? If so, how hard is it (or expensive) for a mechanic to diagnose which one has gone bad? Do the front bearings need to be replaced with the entire hub as I have read? is there any other way to diagnose the sound? if at highway speed i am getting the sound, and going left or right quiets the noise, is that a good thing -- or conversely, is it a bad thing if the sound does not go away with turning? (is changing lanes sufficient to dampen the noise of a lousy bearing?)

Thanks again guys, I just always get nervous when talking about repairs, but i guess they say dont buy a lincoln if you cant afford to fix one.

 

[02LincLS]

Almost assuredly a bad bearing (my front left only has been replaced twice), but it may also possibly need ball joints. It probably gets louder when turning one way vs another (hub assy)? You don't have to go fast to check.

The other possibility is that it was just out of alignment for a while and the tires wore funny and now are just noisy. Get the alignment checked somewhere else and get them to look for what needs to be replaced.

Do new pads and rotors all around. If the backs are gone, the fronts probably need it very soon anyway. Also, a bad hub/bearing assy can cause uneven wear on the rotor and creates a dragging sound as the caliper can't release far enough to prevent the pad from dragging along the outer face of the rotor. Just do it all now and enjoy the new car. It looks sharp.

 

[LS4me]

#2. Rear wheel bearing. I thought I had a right front going and replaced the hubs (should have done the brakes while I was there.....). That job is as easy as replacing the rotors and not too expensive. That didn't eliminate the noise so I got smart and took it in. The right rear was past it and the left on it's way. I had them both replaced for ~$400.

 

[joegr]

...I am also relieved to hear that other people experience the "settling" when setting in to gear. It seemed like the weirdest thing once i really started noticing it.

*does anyone know at what mph the gears change? ...

The settling is a completely normal rear-wheel-drive thing. All of the RWD cars that I've had do this. (I've only owned RWD cars, and I found it odd that the FWD cars I've rented didn't do this.)

The automatic gear shifts happen at different speeds depending on conditions and learned behavior.