New to the LS, need some advice

techweenie

techweenie

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I recently decided I want to sell my ZR2 pickup and buy a car, and the Lincoln LS is the only car on the road I can picture myself driving. I test drove an 06 V8 at a dealer and instantly fell in love with it. I have been doing some research on the car and came across a few common problem areas. Apparently the transmission only lasts about 60k miles and the window motors and clock spring fail regularly. The minor mechanical and electrical stuff doesn't bother me because I own two S10's and they constantly need something fixed. However, I am a little concerned about the transmission. I can swap it myself, but I won't be able to afford to keep having it rebuilt or replaced. Is there a trick you guys know about to make it last longer? Also I hear there's some funkiness with the shifting such as harshness or hunting. Is there a solution for that as well? Thanks in advance for any help.
 
techweenie said:
Apparently the transmission only lasts about 60k miles and the window motors and clock spring fail regularly.
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Who told you that? I (actually my daughter now) have 167+K miles on the original transmission. The solenoid pack was replaced at ~110K, but the trans is just fine. Lincoln tests the mechanicals to last 150K miles. With proper maintenance you should get well over 200K miles; YMMV. The window regulators were redesigned in late '02 so that shouldn't be an issue either. Our 2000 Ls has had the same regulators for the last 7 years and 135K miles. Clock springs on all cars will eventually fail. The more the wheel is turned the more wear and tear on that piece. I replaced mine around 150K miles.

Get the '06. You won't be disappointed. Just for reference; in 1986 I bought a brand, spanking new Sable for ~$12.7K. I paid ~$15.7K for my "new", loaded '06 with ~33K miles.
 
I was reading reviews on kbb.com or some similar website and a vast majority of them mentioned problems with the transmission. Normally I assume a lot of repairs and money involved with that are unnecessary since the common population doesn't know jack squat about the mechanical aspects of a car, but the sheer number of complaints got me worrying. However, the more I learn about these cars the more I like them. If my truck ever sells I will definitely be looking for a LS. It really hits the mark on what I want in a car, especially in terms of performance and looks.
 
unless you, or the previous owner, really beat the hell out of the car, id say it should last well past 60k
 
Maybe look at a 2005 V6, easier on the transmission, only 6 COP's to replace if ever and all the same options and better milage.
 
03-06 LSs have the same basic trans as the S197 Mustangs. They are fine. Like LS4me said the window regulators have been redsigned and and now fine too. The only real issue is the coils going bad.
 
I got to thinking about the coil situation and I'm wondering if I can't just convert it to a MSD digital setup or something like that to eliminate the coils. Like use a single coil and run wires directly to the plugs. I'm not quite sure if thats possible, but if it is I'd do it.
 
V6 or V8

pagluy said:
The tranny reliability is fine. Avoid the V6. Good luck converting anything on this car. :P
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Why avoid the V6, from what I read on this forum there are more problems with leaking valve covers and COP on the Lincoln V8's than with any other car on any car forum.
Myself I do avoid the V8 like the swineflu and would buy a Ford V8 car before a Lincoln V8.
I would and never did knock the V8 but since you did I feel I should response, also why do you think the LS loses money faster than anything else on the market not because they are so reliable.:( :( :(
 
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Velo said:
Why avoid the V6, from what I read on this forum there are more problems with leaking valve covers and COP on the Lincoln V8's than with any other car on any car forum.
Myself I do avoid the V8 like the swineflu and would buy a Ford V8 car before a Lincoln V8.
I would and never did knock the V8 but since you did I feel I should response, also why do you think the LS loses money faster than anything else on the market not because they are so reliable.:( :( :(
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My 2000 V6 also had the gaskets fail. ALL VC gaskets will fail over time. The LS loses so much money at resale because it is a high dollar luxury car. Luxury cars from American manufacturers especially (all in general) lose a ton of money from sticker. Good thing I never paid sticker! Check out how any Town Car does; or Cadillac. Even MB isn't immune.
 
I say let the LS lose all its value! Thats the only way I can afford one in the first place. :p Valve cover gaskets don't concern me. That's like a 15 minutes job unless you have to remove the brake booster like on my S10... :rolleyes: I would much rather have the performance of a V8 and some minor issues along with it than suffer behind a V6.
 
I have to see any MB, Audi's, Lexus and many others have problems with valve cover gaskets, ignition and transmissions like a Lincoln LS
Volkwagens a few years ago had coil problems but blamed it on Bosch and most of them were replaced under warranty.
Went to the auction and 2005 LS models 6 and 8 cylinder models went for
around $8000 Canadian about $7000 US with 100 to 120.000 Kilometers that is 60 to 80.000 miles. Never seen even Honda or Camry loose that much money.
BTW still love my 2005 LS6
 
V6 sufferer?

techweenie said:
I say let the LS lose all its value! Thats the only way I can afford one in the first place. :p Valve cover gaskets don't concern me. That's like a 15 minutes job unless you have to remove the brake booster like on my S10... :rolleyes: I would much rather have the performance of a V8 and some minor issues along with it than suffer behind a V6.
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I would rather suffer behind a Asian V6 than have my V8 Lincoln at the Lincoln dealer where very few mechanics can diagnose the problem but will replace parts untill they fix it.
Went to have the A/T fluid changed and the proper procedure is hooking it up to a special machine and flush the s... out of it, please give me a break.
Lucky for me I was able to do it the proper way and took the pan of and replaced the filter, than with no filler tube another Lincoln inovation had to remove a plug and pump the fluid into it.
Hey I still think my 2005 LS6 is a great car but don't ever tell me they are trouble free cars or easy to work on, if you can replase the V/C gaskets in 15 minutes on a Lincoln you should work for a Lincoln dealership and make lots of money on flat rate if you know what I mean. LMAO :confused: :confused:
 
most modern cars are now impossible to work on - especially on the lux models. nowdays you can not even see a hint of actual engine in most engine bays - they are all covered and tucked away.

you can blame Lincoln all you want, but any $45k car that you would be working on is no better.
 
Velo said:
Why avoid the V6, from what I read on this forum there are more problems with leaking valve covers and COP on the Lincoln V8's than with any other car on any car forum.
Myself I do avoid the V8 like the swineflu and would buy a Ford V8 car before a Lincoln V8.
I would and never did knock the V8 but since you did I feel I should response, also why do you think the LS loses money faster than anything else on the market not because they are so reliable.:( :( :(
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Because there are no real benefits to the v6. You get slightly better, but barely any better, gas mileage, with extremely reduced power (the v6 is not good for this car, power-wise) and as many problems as you can have with a v8.
 
Velo said:
Why avoid the V6, from what I read on this forum there are more problems with leaking valve covers and COP on the Lincoln V8's than with any other car on any car forum.
Myself I do avoid the V8 like the swineflu and would buy a Ford V8 car before a Lincoln V8.
I would and never did knock the V8 but since you did I feel I should response, also why do you think the LS loses money faster than anything else on the market not because they are so reliable.:( :( :(
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what?
its incoherent posts like this that clog message boards. resale is only an issue if you sell your ride within a couple years. most people on this board now took advantage of that fact. unfortunately, this depreciation in value directly impacts the quality of this board.

there are issues with any car. go to their forums and you'll get a list of theirs.
amusingly, you will not find many transmission issue posts on this board. people who have bumped power by 50% don't have transmission issues.

of course there will be more issues with V8's on this board- its what the majority of people own. unless you compare failure rates for each, you can't say one is more reliable than the other.

what's the difference between a ford and a lincoln v8 anyway? perhaps you meant ford vs jag v8?

it also sounds like you need a new mechanic. i will agree that dealer service is a joke and something they need to fix.

I'm actually about to replace coils and plugs and i'll inspect for leaky VCG's. If they need to be done, I'll time the job and post back.

rant over. carry on
 
My 01 LS V8 Sport had 178,800 miles on the original transmission.
On an unrelated note, I saw someone walking off with my damn driver side door when I went to the yard to pass my title today :sad:
 
'04 V6 and love it

I've drove both the V6 and V8 models, both Gen1 and Gen2. Setting in the seat the Gen2 V6 puts out nearly the same power as the Gen1 V8s at anything under 95MPH.

In these WV mountains, typically extra power on the hills means better fuel economy, but that's not the case on a LS. The V6 has a plenty high enough HP/Weight ratio to not labor when pulling hills. That and two less cylinders does translate into it doing a better job of sipping lightly on the tank. I get 23MPG combined city/highway, mostly city.

I'm yet to have seen the 3.9 from either generation do so well other than on longer highway trips.

I originally chose to get the Gen2 V6 over a Gen2 V8 because the power of the Gen2 V6 is plenty sufficent for anyone up to serious power modders, and the V6 is the model that touts the TRUE 50/50 weight ratio. V8 model shifts that to 51/49. On these WV twisties that little bit makes a very noticable difference.

The V6 can be outfitted with the same sport or euro shocks and should be. Virtually nobody changes their stock shocks on a vehicle and suffer premature and uneven tire and brake wear as well as ruin stopping and handling performance. Most times shocks have lost their efficency by about 40-70k miles, depending on the roads driven and the manner in which they're drove.

Given the choice now, I might have waited for a late model 05 or early 06 because off the line, they have had the least issues (according to Ford's warranty services records) not to mention all the last models got all the goodies. So I'd say jump on the 06 wagon and roll happily.

Keep your car out of dusty areas and keep the inside clean and you'll have less clockspring issues, transmission issues beyond shift solenoids is a first for me too.

As for COP issues, they're more common on the V8s due to the VCG leaking more frequently. V6s have a different issue, the motor and car weren't created with each other in mind, there is a small defect in the way water is routed at the windshield cowl that when there is allot of water at a certain angle, it will drip on the left side of the engine at the back part of the head and settle around the COPS and seep into the plugs and create havoc. I'm not sure if the same leak occurs on the right side, or if it is simply protected by the upper intake, but the passenger side bank of COPs remain flawless.
 
Just noticed in our local paper that the new Lincoln has the same engine as the new SHO with the two small turbo's. According to the road test with those two turbo's there does not seem any turbo lag but o.a.o. the small turbo's the top end suffers. Will have to road test this Lincoln and see what they mean. Might have to go to a HP Mustang but I do love the room in my LS with all the options.
 
Velo said:
Went to have the A/T fluid changed and the proper procedure is hooking it up to a special machine and flush the s... out of it, please give me a break.
Lucky for me I was able to do it the proper way and took the pan of and replaced the filter
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Yea, and only got a partial fluid change. The proper way is to flush the system which also puts clean fluid in the torque converter.

Given the choice now, I might have waited for a late model 05 or early 06
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Alas, no '06 V6.

I get 23MPG combined city/highway
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I get that in my '06. My wife doesn't, but she has her foot on the throttle of brake. She doesn't coast up to red lights. She also has a very heavy foot. I have (my daughter actually, now) a 2000 V6 and two '06's. The mpg between the two engines are negligible. The V6 has to haul around too much weight to be efficient. The only reason there was a V6 in the first place is the LS was destined for Europe.

the power of the Gen2 V6 is plenty sufficient for anyone
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Until you drive the serious mountains of the western states on the family vacation with a full load. Get over 8K feet and watch the power fade with the thin air. Or try getting up the steep grades and watch the fuel needle plummet. Been there, done that.

the motor and car weren't created with each other in mind
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Huh? As stated above; with the LS going to Europe, the V6 was mandatory due to the UK's tax structure.

V6s have a different issue, the motor and car weren't created with each other in mind, there is a small defect in the way water is routed at the windshield cowl that when there is allot of water at a certain angle, it will drip on the left side of the engine at the back part of the head and settle around the COPS and seep into the plugs and create havoc. I'm not sure if the same leak occurs on the right side, or if it is simply protected by the upper intake, but the passenger side bank of COPs remain flawles
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With over 167K miles on it our V6 has never demonstrated this issue. The VC gasket wore out and leaked oil causing some coils to fail. I just replaced them all.


Get the V8. The V6 has no operational advantage over the V8.
 
Listen guys, the debate here is not which engine is better than the other. I'm getting a V8 no matter what. That has already been decided. If at all possible, please clue me in to some other problem areas and solutions. I have read something about the 3rd brake light falling off or leaking or something like that as well. Its those kind of issues I want to know about. Oh yea, and how do you fix the issue where the passenger side air will always blow hot?
 
techweenie said:
I have read something about the 3rd brake light falling off or leaking or something like that as well. Its those kind of issues I want to know about. Oh yea, and how do you fix the issue where the passenger side air will always blow hot?
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The headliner around the light sometimes falls. Extra-strength hook and loop fastener (Velcro) and judicious placement of Super Glue fixed that. I hate going to the dealer if I can fix it with little expense. It is a warrnty fix and there is a TSB on it.

The DCCV needs to be replaced.
 
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