My 1979 Lincoln Town Car

[79lincolnlover]

home again!!

Got the TC home tonight. Starter has been rebuilt and a new solenoid installed. Car seems to run fine but the engine light comes on sometimes...Driver's side turn-signal lens has also been destroyed since my last visit to the shop. I wonder if it was the same vandal?? I'm not impressed...

[86VickyLX]

Got the TC home tonight. Starter has been rebuilt and a new solenoid installed. Car seems to run fine but the engine light comes on sometimes...Driver's side turn-signal lens has also been destroyed since my last visit to the shop. I wonder if it was the same vandal?? I'm not impressed...

Um... you should go after the shop... Cars getting damaged is not ok...
Which engine light comes on? The Towncars have multiple lights don't they?

[79lincolnlover]

Fasten seatbelt light is on the left side of the dash. I think there's only one engine light. It's on the left side of the alt light.

[86VickyLX]

Fasten seatbelt light is on the left side of the dash. I think there's only one engine light. It's on the left side of the alt light.

Is the engine knocking? If no, then go under the hood, on the drivers side of the engine, in front of the oil filter is a single wire sender. It's the oil pressure sender, see if the wire is plugged into it. If it is, unplug it and see if the light turns off. If it does, the sender is bad or you have low oil psi. If the light is still on, it's possible, the wire has been grounded somewhere. Possibly on the exhaust. Or a valve cover etc.

[79lincolnlover]

I'll check that out next time I'm around the car during the day.

[tjc78]

Does the light come on when stopped at a light idling? That is what my 79 Continental did. Of course, it was confirmed that there was virtually no oil pressure in drive at idle. I put over 40K on it like that... it knocked like crazy but wouldn't die (and I beat the living shit out of it)

[79lincolnlover]

Does the light come on when stopped at a light idling? That is what my 79 Continental did. Of course, it was confirmed that there was virtually no oil pressure in drive at idle. I put over 40K on it like that... it knocked like crazy but wouldn't die (and I beat the living shit out of it)

Yes, the light comes on when stopped at a light idling. It will flicker while driving. The engine doesn't make any funny noises. It's smooth and quiet.

[86VickyLX]

Does it come on in reverse stopped?

[79lincolnlover]

Does it come on in reverse stopped?

No sir. I was driving the car tonight and the light didn't appear during the first 10 minutes of driving. In other news, my spare tire is missing... I'll have to call the shop to see if they have it. There's no evidence of tampering with the trunk lock, so I don't think anyone stole it.

[tjc78]

No sir. I was driving the car tonight and the light didn't appear during the first 10 minutes of driving..

I think you are having the early (typical) signs of the Ford 400 loosing oil pressure. I would get it checked with a gauge soon to be sure. You may just have a clogged screen on the oil pump. If you continue to drive it, it will get worse. Mine was so bad at the end the engine light flickered even in park at idle. Mine was caused from a clogged oil pump that starved the engine for oil and destroyed the bearings.

[Maj]

I recently had the flickering engine light on my lopo. Fresh oil cured it.

I think(!) what happens is: When the oil gets old and thin that in itself reduces oil pressure which in turn means the hydraulic lifters won't pump up properly causing the motor to idle rough and slow cos it can't breath properly again meaning the oil pressure stays low and causes the light to flicker.
Hope that makes sense!

I'd also suggest that if the light is only flickering at idle you're OK and new oil may cure it but if it goes on solid there is something properly wrong.

This is assuming the motor design is similar an MGM. Can anyone confirm?

[sly]

same year crown vics and grand marquis always had the same engine options for panthers.

[79lincolnlover]

spare tire found

I went back to the shop and they had my spare with a different tire mounted. They had to install my old spare on the driver's front because that tire had been slashed my some jackass...I think I'll take my business elsewhere because of the whole vandalism issue. I'm not going to risk having my property damaged again...

[sly]

I went back to the shop and they had my spare with a different tire mounted. They had to install my old spare on the driver's front because that tire had been slashed my some jackass...I think I'll take my business elsewhere because of the whole vandalism issue. I'm not going to risk having my property damaged again...

x infinity

I'd report the vandalism to the police as well.

[79lincolnlover]

up-date

The Linc wouldn't start last night because of a weak battery (it's 3 years old) so I replaced it today. Also replaced the old terminal cables because they looked to be OEM...Obviously, starting power has greatly improved!! In other news, the turn-signal lens arrived today. Thanks 85crownHPP