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1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues


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xdeadpixel
New User

Nov 14, 2007, 10:21 AM

Post #1 of 8 (1831 views)
1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

Hi there. This is my first post here! :)

My name is Mike and I don't know a super lot about cars, but I also don't have much income and need my car fixed asap, meaning that I'm going to have to fix this myself. That's why I'm posting here -- I can't do it without some help. Hopefully some of you will be able to help me out.

My dashboard display (Electronic - shows speedometer, gas left..etc) does not work right. It turns on randomly for a few seconds when I open the car door (no keys in!) to display an error "9999E", but does not work with the car running/moving. I know it's not a fuse because it works under those conditions, and I've checked all the fuses.

Also, some of my power mirror controls don't work. Some of the seat controls don't work. Some window controls don't work....I'm hoping this is all one main problem or somewhat easy fix.

Another problem is that my headlights, which are supposed to shut off automatically, do not shut off half the time. Sometimes they do, but other times I have to disconnect and reconnect the battery to get em off.

What should I do? I can provide pics if needed. Please explain in full detail, and in as basic terms as possible! I'm not that knowledgeable, but I HAVE to figure this out myself. I'll try anything, but I need this fixed!

Thank you very much!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 14, 2007, 10:55 AM

Post #2 of 8 (1821 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

You do mean the Continental and not the Town Car - right? I'm a Lincoln freak and a problem like that would cause a lot of hair loss. I have a TC with the electronic dash and just hope if it failed I could put a regular one in there and don't know yet as never a failure there.

The total answer place for antique and vintage Lincolns with parts new and used and a free help line is Baker's Auto of Putnam, CT. This may just be a bad common ground and if common they would know it best.

Free help line by phone is: 860-928-7614 -- Steve Ouellette should still be the owner. Website to just graze the place but no on-line questions unless you are ordering might be neat to check out at... WWW.BakersAuto.com or Sales@BakersAuto.com

This is a Lincoln only place known world-wide for all models from 1961 into the 2000s. Like they will tell you "If we don't have it or know it - you are in trouble!"

Good luck,

T



xdeadpixel
New User

Nov 14, 2007, 11:49 AM

Post #3 of 8 (1819 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

Yes it's the Lincoln Continental. 1988. I'll be giving them a call asap. But until then, anybody have the slightest clue what it might be? Thanks!



In Reply To
You do mean the Continental and not the Town Car - right? I'm a Lincoln freak and a problem like that would cause a lot of hair loss. I have a TC with the electronic dash and just hope if it failed I could put a regular one in there and don't know yet as never a failure there.

The total answer place for antique and vintage Lincolns with parts new and used and a free help line is Baker's Auto of Putnam, CT. This may just be a bad common ground and if common they would know it best.

Free help line by phone is: 860-928-7614 -- Steve Ouellette should still be the owner. Website to just graze the place but no on-line questions unless you are ordering might be neat to check out at... WWW.BakersAuto.com or Sales@BakersAuto.com

This is a Lincoln only place known world-wide for all models from 1961 into the 2000s. Like they will tell you "If we don't have it or know it - you are in trouble!"

Good luck,



(This post was edited by xdeadpixel on Nov 14, 2007, 12:11 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 14, 2007, 2:39 PM

Post #4 of 8 (1811 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

You could try using jumper cables to ground the body to the engine as so many things are effected that could be the common ground that's missing. If that worked you could just add one. They are sold new as just bare cable with eyelet ends,

T



xdeadpixel
New User

Nov 14, 2007, 3:14 PM

Post #5 of 8 (1808 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

Could you how to do this test? I'm not the best with cars.

Also, I called that number for the helpline, and they had no clue what to do, lol. All they said was "try fixing a simpler problem first, it might lead you to another problem." But that doesn't help at all, lol.

WHat should I do? =|




In Reply To
You could try using jumper cables to ground the body to the engine as so many things are effected that could be the common ground that's missing. If that worked you could just add one. They are sold new as just bare cable with eyelet ends,

T



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 14, 2007, 6:38 PM

Post #6 of 8 (1805 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

With all this going on I still suspect something as stupid as ground. This for any car. The battery cables typically send pos to the starter/solonoid and ground to the engine block. Just follow the neg cable it will go to the engine. Engine is mounted on rubber mounts as it trans and all the way has rubber isolating the ground from the body of the car which is mostly metal in this car so it is used to ground everything without a separate wire like you would in a fiberglass car or seen all over in boats for instance.

There are braided straps from engine, and other places like trans, exhaust system sometimes that add a strap. The dash itself may use additional grounds and doors need better than just the hinge for ground so that is taking into consideration too. I've seen cars that these are broken or missing for some reason and stay working but can be using things like shift linkage, speedometer cable as the ground which is not dependable. One with a standard shift and cable for clutch melted the cable inside the case trying to complete the loop with way undergauge of just the cable for instance.

If you take jumper wire from known grounds at engine and ground to body - even use jumper cables and the alligator jumper clip wires to metal grounds of dash and you may find some things start to work or with lots of luck everything goes back to normal.

There could be a problem with the block that sends power thru the firewall to the interior to power things which would be right near the fuse box or the fuse box itself.

Anywhere wiring has to bend like in the snorkel of wires that go thru door jams - places like that are trouble spots for individual things. You have so many I can't blame this on just one wire somewhere so I doubt the common ground it proper.

Get a test light out and check out what makes it where. Empower the lead to a test light's clip with 12v and it will light when it hits ground if you are not familiar with basic testing like that.

Sorry that place was not so helpful for you. They bailed me out big time with a resto of a 69 Continental which was the last of the 60s full size but unit body Lincolns and used vacuum for lots of items that are now electric,

T



xdeadpixel
New User

Nov 14, 2007, 6:58 PM

Post #7 of 8 (1804 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

Holy cow man. I'm going to have my friend read that and try that for me. I didn't understand one bit of that. But that's not your fault, I've just never been educated on vehicles at all. Hopefully my friend will be able to try that out! Will get back to you tomorrow hopefully, maybe tonight! Thanks!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 15, 2007, 3:30 AM

Post #8 of 8 (1799 views)
Re: 1988 Lincoln Continental - Advanced Wiring Issues Sign In

Ok: I'll try to oversimplify. DC = Direct Current which vehicles use. Most are 12 volts systems. Everything starts and ends or is returned to the battery. Anything that can't complete that loop won't work whether it's a light or motor or sound produced by electricity.

Not needed for this right now but then understand Amps and Voltage. Voltage is like pressure and Amps is like volume. I equate this to the garden hose or plumbing of water. You have the same pressure throughout your home but if you tried to water your lawn out of the little spigot for water at your refrigerator you'd be wasting your time as it has the same pressure but not the same volume. In wiring as with plumbing the wire is bigger if it has to carry more power or the hose works better in plumbing if it is a larger diameter.

Hope that gives you some idea. There would be books on line or just buy one on basics of 12V systems,

T

You are at a great site for help. Start a new thread if needed as folks will see this is long and won't read it this far to see where the situation is now..







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