Mystery Symptoms Lincoln LS

[bitetto603]

Hello this is my first post. I own a 2003 Lincoln LS 3.9 V8. There are a couple of things going on that have me stumped and I haven't had good luck with dealers. First thing that has been going on is when I start my car a loud rattle happens around 1500 rpms and occasionally when I accerlate too, but mostly when I start it from a cold start. I have had the coil packs replaced twice. First time for free under the recall but the Irwin mechanics forgot or didn't care to change the plugs along with it. This caused a snowball effect and my catalytic converter went bad. After getting no where with Irwin, I changed the coil packs a second time and plugs and bought a magnaflow cat system for my car. Things were great until I started hearing the "rattle" noise. I've heard over and over its just the heat shield but I'm not to certain.

Now onto the major problem. 2 days ago I was driving to work and my dashboard needles on the speedometer and rpm gauge went to zero while driving. The radio turned off, power steering went out, the message icon said check traction control, check engine light, red oil symbol, the chime noise, and a couple others. It only does it for 2 seconds at a time but it happens maybe 4 times on my 15 minute drive. Previously I had an issue with it saying E instead of D5 and that was corrected. Turns out it was the abs box contraption. A new one was put in. A new starter has been installed. New battery, new cat and coil packs. So I was hoping someone might know a cause of the electrical problems I'm having.

 

[joegr]

I'd start with a check of the PCM relay and its socket. Of course, you should also verify that the alternator is working correctly (all of the time), but I don't think this is going to be a battery/alternator problem.

 

[smithy27]

The problem seems complicated. Any luck finding out what's causing the electrical issue?

 

[G-RELL]

The problem seems complicated. Any luck finding out what's causing the electrical issue?

working on that ol' post count Eh

 

[bitetto603]

The rattle has stopped after the Exuast was tightened up. The local mechanic couldn't find the problem of the electrical issue but said the alternator was good. On my way home sparks from the back center would fly out when I hit a bump. Possible relation to electrical issue is still unknown.

 

[don-ohio]

Did you check the PCM relay and its socket like Joe advised? don-ohio

 

[1LoudLS]

sparks? you should get that looked at immediately, cause if its not because youre bottoming out somewhere, then you have a major issue.

 

[Telco]

The only thing I can think that would cause sparks, baring a piece of metal dragging the ground, is the battery positive with a hole in the insulation hitting the frame.

 

[don-ohio]

Good guess and THAT would explain a lot,Telco. don-ohio ^)

 

[FDR]

Reminds me of what I saw a few days ago going down the highway. A car was sparking from its tire. The tire. The rubber part. Just a few sparks from a certain part on the tire. I can't explain that

 

[don-ohio]

Steel belt swarping against the pavement? don-ohio ^)

 

[1LoudLS]

or he had a nail/screw in it? after the wife had a flat, we went to pick it up after they fixed it, following her pulling out of the tire shop, noticed just a couple of sparks a couple of times and had to tell here to pull over...

morons some how got confused which tire was which while also rotating the tires... they "patched" a tire that didn't have a problem.

 

[don-ohio]

Good thing you were vigilant. The last thing most drivers look at is the tires. don-ohio

 

[1LoudLS]

I'm always watching peoples wheels and tires... too many of them... just wobbling, or flat... wondering how they are even staying on the road, or , why are they on the HWY going 75...

 

[don-ohio]

Me,too. I watch the tires in parking lots,on the freeway,etc. It's MY tires I hafta remind myself to watch.LOL! don-ohio ^)

 

[RigsLS]

The chains dragging or bottoming out on the road is a favorite of mine, looks real cool at night. If they have propane tanks ... I always place a little wager on when it might actually happen.

 

[don-ohio]

Yeah,believe it or not,the old fuel tank trucks used to have that metal-impregnated strap hanging down behind years ago. Must've been a few accidents,because I haven't seen one since the 70s. I could see it maybe on the front bumper,to keep down static,but not the rear. don-ohio ^)

 

[Telco]

Grounding techniques got better. On the sparking tires, it's almost certainly either a steel belt or a nail/screw doing it. What you are looking at is a tire about to die, not a good thing to be near.

I've pointed enough wheel issues out to the wife that she's able to point them out to me these days. It's amazing how many people have no idea they're driving on a flat, and I mean an actual flat tire. I can tell when one of mine gets 3 pounds low.

 

[don-ohio]

I'm maybe able to tell 6 lbs. low...depends on the profile.Those low profiles all look like they need some air. LOL don-ohio ^)