Everything That's WRONG With My CHEAP LIMOUSINE Lincoln Towncar

Let's take a closer look at my 1997 Lincoln Towncar Limousine. Runs on random numbers of cylinders, the air suspension leaks down, it might have a coolant leak, rust everywhere... it still gets around just fine. Join in as we pick the car up with a forklift for a quick inspection.
------------------------------------------------------------
Here’s the gear and camera equipment I’m using!
Helmet: amzn.to/2zaSAAm
Gloves: amzn.to/2zbAIFH
Camera: amzn.to/2hS3PKy
Tripod: amzn.to/2hLX3Ta
---------------------------------------------------------------
Common Questions:
What motorcycle do I ride? A few. Ducati 1198, Honda Fury, Honda Grom, Honda Ruckus
What do I do for a living? Make KZbin videos and work in enterprise data storage.
Can you wheelie? No, I suck.
Are you fast? Sort of. I suck mostly though.
Where can I keep up with you off the bike?
Instagram: WatchJRGo
Facebook: WatchJRGo (or JRGo, FB hates my branding)
Do you go to school? College, for 2 classes.
Why do you ride so dangerously? What do mean? I was doing 25.
Do you go to the track? Of course, hopefully there will be videos in the future.
Do you play video games? No, but I might stream N64 Goldeneye at some point. Twitch: WatchJRGo
Are you afraid the police will watch your videos and arrest you? Something something evidence something something warrants and due process of law
#Motovlog #CheapLimousine #LincolnTowncar

[@larryfoster4455]

Be careful with the air suspension. Make sure the tires cannot make contact with the wheel wells when down. There were two instances in Northern Cal of commercial Lincoln limos air suspension failing in service. The driver couldn't hear the tires rubbing and they caught fire. Seven died in one limo, 5 in the other, (door locks failed and would not unlock). I would check the clearance and install a hard rubber block to keep tires from ever rubbing, but still be dropped 90 %. Excessive leakage in the system will cause the dash sensor to light. I had a T/C the coil pacs were intermittent on , had to replace several, then worked perfect. The left rear wheel well damage was probably a tire failure at highway speeds, steel belted radials tear them up. Back in the 60's I had 1958 Impala, Bonneville, 98 Starfire, Buick Limited and Cadillac, all were convertibles, and all had factory air suspension. They all pancaked flat each night but worked ok when driving, each took 10 minutes to pump up each morning, the rear rose at 7 minutes and front at ten. They were impossible to drive when down. For cosmetic repair on yours, I'd just use metal duct sealing tape on the rust and spray can (color still available at auto parts stores). On the missing clear, respray the clear and buff, it can be a fun driver. My son bought a last series Mark Vlll coupe in the same color as your limo. prior owners had fixed everything on it, then decided to sell it. They spent $9000 and sold to my son for $2000. It looked and drove as new. We used it on a trip to Canada and it was perfect, but he considered 22+ mpg not enough and sold it. Have fun, but check tire clearance down.

[@wolfgangiceclaw]

The 4.6 L V8 will go into a limp mode and run on 4 cylinders if the ECU thinks that the engine is overheating. So the reason the driver's side back shuts down is probably of a fault in coolant sensor wire harness.

[@WatchJRGo]

That would explain everything... maybe it's just a bad ground. I was going to swap the coil packs from side to side to try and isolate it. The issue is very intermittent and can turn on and off based on the throttle position/load. 🍻

[@yamahonkawazuki]

you notice it steaming while on lift?

[@collinklitz7434]

Probably something to do with the coolant sensor or wiring to it

[@CarWizard]

I agree with other commentors, these videos JR make have great content. Hitting subscribe now.

[@WatchJRGo]

Wizard! 🧙‍♂️

[@dodi3bodi]

Yes, theres a button in the trunk that controls the ride hight (the bags), if im not mistaken. Also you can convert the bag to normal suspension. Just replace the bags with a crown vic suspension.

[@EdwardEiting]

With this six door configuration...my bet is this limo was originally a Funeral Family Car.

[@WatchJRGo]

It has headlight wig-wags too, pretty sure it was at least originally for a funeral home ⚰️

[@colinjohnston8519]

I doubt it. It's blue. The people who built it probably built them mainly for funeral homes but this one has gone elsewhere.

[@eat_a_dick_trudeau]

@@colinjohnston8519 Not all funeral cars are black. I have seen active hearses in black, dark blue, gray/silver, maroon, and, even white (probably for a baby or child's funeral).

[@colinjohnston8519]

@@eat_a_dick_trudeau most are black. Most funeral homes are small so they don't have a big fleet of limos to give people a choice of colours. And ditto. Not all limos are funeral cars.. In fact he said in an earlier video this belong to a church preacher who would drive around his flock..

[@organrick]

Colin Johnston there is a funeral home in my area that run green vehicles as well. So, it was a funeral car in all likelihood, and was owned by a funeral home that used dark blue vehicles. If I remember correctly, from one of the other videos, the pastor had only owned it for a limited amount of time. Limousines don’t typically have wig wag lights outside of the funeral industry.

[@keuninkske]

Thanks for the small tour on the Clark forklift, these types are not common anymore here in Europe, would love to see more as we are a Clark dealer

[@pgtmr2713]

Should be a code on the trunk lid somewhere for the factory door code. Probably the intake dumping coolant in the V. When you lifted it, it poured out of there.

[@bigggmustang73]

The heater hose under the intake manifold is probably leaking and thats the coolant on the ground. The air bags are leaking because it's not supposed to be slammed every time you park it. Turn the air ride switch off in the trunk if you want it to stay that way but the ride will be extremely bouncy and harsh

[@ItsaRomethingeveryday]

I know from experience that the standard shocks n struts that are in the Taurus will fit exactly in the rear end of the town car, as we have done that swap out previously, and ADP Holland interchange list them as a match

[@0_O_0001]

I would cut the exhaust curve at the end so it's straight and add a tractor flap.

[@WatchJRGo]

😂😂😂 instantly twice as annoying! I've spent a lot of time on tractors with the flap and it's such a racket.

[@northfox8794]

i agree

[@collinklitz7434]

But then you can't see the flames as well

[@leergutlars]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4SQY6mgmLSsfM0 Like this? ^^

[@PeterKingston1970]

cherry bombs too!

[@CarswithNash]

Your door code should be printed on a little sticker on one of the trunk hinge arms. Wow you were scaring me going under there like that! You could shut the air suspension switch off in the trunk so it doesn’t air up & then it would stay down. I know there is a way to make the suspension manually adjustable, I’m just not sure how but I’ve seen people talk about doing it on the facebook groups. I converted my Town Cars to coils so I don’t have to deal with that air ride BS.

[@WatchJRGo]

Some of the other comments here mentioned just changing the position of the lift height sensors, that sounds like the move! 🤙

[@juljasmaharchive]

WatchJRGo yeah

[@organrick]

Matt's Garage with a Ford product, the door code is on a card that you can put in your wallet, but since it’s changed owners at least once before you got it, you might not have the card, or in 20 years time, it probably got lost somewhere. All you would have to do is go to a local Ford or Lincoln dealership, with the last 8 of the VIN number, and they would be able to look up that information for you. I don’t know how far back it goes, though, so you might not be able to get it. It might be with the owner’s manual as well, and if I remember correctly, it’s a red and white card with black numbers on it.

[@CarswithNash]

Rick Reed The code is on the trunk hinge, they all had a sticker there originally, unless some has removed it.

[@WatchJRGo]

Mine was there, the update was in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmGup2WOhM9mn5o

[@daves8510]

You can manually turn off the air suspension with a switch in the left side of the trunk. That will allow the air to go down after a few starts. However, with the rear all the way down, its undriveable.

[@Volkswagenplanet]

Back in the day when the car was new I worked and was involved with Lincoln/ Mercury. The factory would put the door key pad code on the trunk hinge. Hope that may help. Great series. If I lived closer I would take this car off your hands

[@WatchJRGo]

I'm going to check in the trunk tonight! You guys are on it 💪 I'm used to digging out the keypad codes for the F-150s

[@Volkswagenplanet]

Hope its there for you. The lincoln continental would loose its air suspension. Alot would come into the dealership for the lowrider effect. Now they make a air controller to stay at the height, or change rear suspension to coil over. The air pumps on these town cars would burn out if not fixed

[@corbingreiner9879]

I had 97 Town car. I replaced the air bag control ECU three times. Every morning before and after work I'd find my Lincoln either slammed in the rear or front or left or right side. Crown Vic coils fit with little conversion. It never strop breaking on me either. I paid a grand for it at auction, spent a grand on it and sold it for scrap. Good luck.

[@raiderrichard7291]

Forklifts the car up. The whole thing breaks in half like the titanic🤣

[@LuxrainFian]

If you want to control the air suspension, there are usually little sensors that attach to the control arms (im going off GM engineering ) that you may be able to tap into the wires and disconnect the arms to control the way it levels out

[@craigschenk729]

Look on trunk hinge for a white strip with black numbers. That would be your keyless entry factory code. There is also the control module under the rear shelf by the rear speakers. Good luck!

[@therealdonnawagner]

You have such an awesome channel! I came from my friend's facebook page yesterday and have watched several of your videos since then. So informative! I love it! Keep up the great work and thank you for posting these. 😊👍👍

[@WatchJRGo]

Thank you, it means a lot and I'm glad you're here! 😎

[@alanhester9984]

Yes it has a ride level control unit attached to the back axle to know when to air up the suspension most likely you have leaky air bags and if the compressor runs so much it will just turn the compressor off and the light will come on.

[@daMicahMane]

There’s a fuel door button right on the middle of the dash if the door one doesn’t work. Not sure why but there’s 2 trunk and fuel buttons on the 2nd gen towns

[@zacharyslife]

There is a button In trunk to turn off air ride, there’s a pull cord in trunk to pop open gas cap, and on the trunk lid arms is the original door lock code

[@WatchJRGo]

Absolutely, discovered all this as the series went on. Turned off the air ride and drove it around, found the door code and it worked perfectly, never got around to fixing the fuel door release 🍻

[@Big_Buford]

There’s a height sensor on the driver rear wheel. You can disconnect it and lower the lever. Then the air will let out. Once it gets real low, hit the switch in the trunk to shut it off when the rear is down.

[@issacf4416]

Lots to learn from this guy.. thanks amigo!

[@danieljohnson7171]

My 2000 Lincoln town car has air suspension and it lowers down in the back really low like yours does when it’s jacked up in the air to relieve pressure and not blow the bags out. I would guess the bags empty out when it’s parked to take stress off. You should hear it make a rumbling/ vibrating sound every hour or so that it’s parked. That is the pressure being released

[@Derek-xr3uq]

There is a single height sensor in the rear, you can adjust it to alter the ride height to your liking but will be riding on the bump stops if too low

[@WatchJRGo]

Dropping it an inch front and rear would look killer rolling down the road 🛣

[@johngaltline9933]

Air suspension: Had a 95 TC with bad level sensor, so this 100% works. you can use a toggle switch in the glove box and run wires down to the connector for the ride height that is just below the glove box. a center off toggle works really well here. you can find the pin-out of the plug and just clip the wires so you can manually turn on the pump and solenoids. If I recall pump and solenoids on to raise car, just solenoids on to lower. It drops really slow, so be ready for that. You could use a second switch you could keep the automatic ride height working as well. Side note, never raise the car without turning off the air ride. (Edit: Side note, unless the limo is drastically different than a normal TC, the air suspension is in the back only. can't do anything about the front.) Door code: If it's there, there's a card tucked in the owner's manual, also in the trunk, on a sticker, may be on hinge, spare cover, or some such. as last resort, it is on a sticker on the door control module inside the driver's door. takes about a minute to remove the 4 screws holding the door panel on. You can program 2 codes aside from the master and each will automatically set the seat and mirrors to that preset. 5 key code to unlock driver door. then 3-4 key to unlock other doors. 5-6 key for trunk, and pressing the 7-8 and 9-0 at the same time locks the doors. Just had to take my 95 TC to the junk yard as it just wasn't worth the cost to fix her.(Blown head gasket pouring antifreeze out the exhaust was the final nail, but been in several wrecks and had serious electrical issues.) 385k miles, 190k of that mine over the last 10 years. Best car I ever had. Say, want to sell a limo on the cheap?

[@WatchJRGo]

Check out yesterday’s video, got the code figured out 🤙 this is good info!

[@thomasprotzman7374]

tom protzman flex seal wound help you to cover the frame., floor, engine catel., rockers, wheels, or any new under-coating as well.

[@ratbert86]

Wait until the ride height sensor fails and the rear bags go to MAX inflation - it will ride like a skateboard. Happened to my 2005.

[@deadmangoov3]

That year the factory would place a white sticker on the truck hood arm. One of them and that number code is the factory door unlock/lock code.

[@robertbragg9364]

My limo had controls for the air ride in the trunk and glove compartment.

[@craigschenk729]

Also a air suspension shut off switch is located in the trunk on passenger side, which.will shut down the air ride. Must be in the off position if you raise the car on a lift to prevent damage (folding over) to air bags.

[@alfredritcher]

There is a hight sensor above the rear axle that has a plastic arm you can put momentary switches on it to get manual adjustment

[@WatchJRGo]

That genius too, I thought the height sensors would be a bit more complicated. 🍻

[@raysegura4139]

You can put in a independent valve suspension for the rear end and the front end if you want it they're just really expensive

[@kristaowens2078]

There is a ride height sensor on the driver side front of the rear axle undue the two 11mm nuts and move the sensor towards the driver side to lower it.

[@mcearl8073]

That bike is awesome, I need more of that, I never seen one in person.

[@BIGDAVE5352]

We lift vehicles all the time with our forklift. The forklift rules! In fact we have a saying that if the forklift can pick it up, then it’s not too heavy.

[@2005llyduramax]

You should have them fire up the mega fork lift, that would be sweet to see and hear!

[@waynesmith4968]

Search the internet for a conversion kit to eliminate the air suspension. I replaced the air suspension on a 1991 Town Car with springs using such a kit.

[@IansTech]

Love these videos on the Lincoln.. still an awesome car

[@60EFFIE]

Need to get on that bike over the winter!

[@WatchJRGo]

The RE5 gets my heart pumping. So rare and unique, it just needs a couple little things to be back on the street! 🏍

[@412psekustomzllc7]

The air shocks have a shut off switch in the trunk. You should always shut it off before you jack it up.

[@treinke81]

they have a air suspension off and on switch on the trunk. mine in my old mercury was on the left i think. and the light comes on if there is a problem. like air pump doesnt work. but yes the rear suspension airbag system is not working.

[@KLM817]

There is no air suspension components on the front of Town Cars. Unless the limo company had air bags put in front, which I doubt. The blinking check engine light means the engine has detected a misfire. The Air Suspension light is on because the system has detected a problem. More than likely a bad height sensor or the system is just worn out. Always turn off the air suspension switch in the trunk when you jack up the car. If you don't the bags will fill with air and when you lower in down to the ground, the bags may pop. Overdrive light being on is letting you know there is a problem with the Overdrive circuit in the transmission or the overdrive switch is bad.

[@hushroll]

Hello, I have been enjoying your series on the limo and have been considering getting a small one like yours myself. How do you go about insuring one for private use? I have seen many conflicting statements on how to do so. Thanks.

[@WatchJRGo]

Just normal car insurance with a “modified frame”, should be fine unless you use it commercially 🍻

[@hushroll]

WatchJRGo thanks!

[@stephenlogan1548]

Look in the trunk on the drivers side there should be a switch for the air ride override

[@jankydoc27]

There should be a button in the trunk that turns on and turns off the air suspension

[@REGULATORS_408]

Jack up the rear end of thecar when the jack is all the way up go into the trunk i think in the left side theres a switch flip that switch to off then drop the jack as fast as you can the car will stay slammed

[@mixer621]

Lock code will be in trunk on hinge on driver side usually under trim

[@williamhelms9942]

Check for the cracked intake manifold leaking coolant into the oil.

[@Zecrid.]

Oh shit an RE5

[@WatchJRGo]

Like that? I’m excited to get it out 🍻

[@tobyrocks3]

Some panther platforms had an air compressor control switch on the drivers side of the trunk

[@kayrokk]

I've been told the best remedy for the suspension sag is a coil spring conversion

[@toddsonic]

Open the trunk and turn off the air ride switch when lifting the car to avoid the car airing down while the car is in the air

[@K0nt4kt]

My old continental had air suspension ride height actuators with a white plastic rod attached to them. To lower the car, you fool the actuators in to thinking the car is actually higher up than it actually is, by attaching the rod at a lower point, or making a custom rod.

[@K0nt4kt]

Also the door code should be on one of the trunk hinges.

[@alial-bayati6606]

Your channel is really interesting I think you will make big successful 💪

[@MrCarrera28]

Great video, amusing and interesting as always, keep up the great content.

[@joemonzano]

...extend the ride height sensors and it will deflate the bags..

[@nysportsfan9680]

You've got to get Hoovie to shout out your channel because the content is great, keep it up!

[@WatchJRGo]

He just did in the bachelor party video, thank you though! 🍻

[@MABfan11]

on this episode of Hoovie's Garage... PS: have you shown Hoovie this car yet?

[@WatchJRGo]

I took it over to his house, he laughed then used the front grill as a xylophone. (completely serious) 🎶

[@peternasi5583]

Wat loop je nou te zeuren je kon dat toch zien dat je hem kocht ?

[@santatigerclaus]

RE5 speedo has a motor in it that rotates the top plastic down for riding

[@WatchJRGo]

I love quirky things like that, basically pointless but makes you grin when it retracts 🤙

[@andrewbailey2063]

There should be a sticker on the trunk lid that has a code for it, some do and some don’t

[@MrXcc4u]

keyless code should be located on the trunk hinge, white sticker with 5 digits

[@herbertgarrison6548]

so there should be a switch in the trunk to turn the air pump on and off for servicing. my parents own a number of limo and rental companies and all of the old town cars we used to have had this. it could have been done only from our coach builder but i dont think so. you cold also just pull the fuse for the auto level but you're asking for trouble doing any of that.

[@WatchJRGo]

I read about this on the forums and it sounds like every Towncar has this switch. 👊

[@matthewdjingarov1473]

You aren't wrong about the Lincoln being cheap those things always manage to brake some how, my dad bought the same limo (but stock) which he bought since the original owner sold to him for under $1,000 and one of the cylinders don't work, ac doesn't work, and the body is messed up pretty badly, the whole thing pretty much is a bust. I don't and something about watching this video makes want to help fix it up when I can get a job.

[@u2dva]

Of course I have an 8 ton forklift at home so I could try to lift a crappy limo, but after I heard your warning I probably will not to. Becaue I don't have a crappy limo :-)

[@greggronemeier1256]

The air suspension leaking is a common problem on lincolns.

[@GarySakorafas]

The code for our Lincoln was on the truck arm / hinge.

[@jaekob2743]

The engine bay was steaming when you first lifted it up. Probably the coolant.

[@iWrestleXuSubmit]

Same with my 97 Vic rust and it leaks through the double seals

[@jeffreysegal2065]

anyone who sees a Lincoln drooping like that just assumes your airbag popped and you can't afford to fix it. Plus it will spring a leak if you drive with it deflated cuz it'll get pinched. turn the button back on.

[@NoobTrash]

The entry code should be on a sticker on one of the trunk arms.

[@WatchJRGo]

It was, check out today's video for the update 👊

[@baltasarmorones9175]

The code for the door is in the trunk on the side protection panal.

[@WatchJRGo]

It was! I did an update in: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmGup2WOhM9mn5o

[@rayphillips332]

The code is on the passenger side of the trunk hinge it's a white tape with the code on it.

[@theboyx323]

as nice and loud as the exhaust is it is probably low on power because it has no back pressure. My Silverado has an electronic cut out just past the cats and with it closed going through the muffler, it has more get up and go than with the exhaust being open.

[@dariusschultz3525]

The code for the town car limo should be printed on a little sticker in the glovebox or in the owners manual.

[@gabespry9444]

In the trunk on the driver side there is a breaker turn it off

[@WatchJRGo]

I haven’t found that yet, I did find the code! 🍻

[@kennybanks6096]

Turn off air ride should be in the trunk by the fuel. Shutoff switch shut it off and it will drop u use this button for when u jack it up

[@brandonbyard4852]

The code for the door should be in the manual or on one of the trunk hinge arms normally the passenger side one

[@WatchJRGo]

😎 I'm going to check that out!

[@302diamondstate7]

I had to retrive a entry code for an 02 expedition and it was under the driverside footwell right behind the brake switch

[@jefffrancisco952]

The code for the unlock code is on the trunk hinge, little white label.

[@sirtokesalot47]

that code for the door lock should be on a sticker that is located on the trunk hinge

[@WatchJRGo]

It was, check out today's video for the update 👊

[@jo6520]

The code should be on the trunk strut for the keypad

[@WatchJRGo]

It was, check out today's video for the update 🍻

[@hunterbates1561]

The door code should be somewhere on the left trunk lid arm

[@WatchJRGo]

It was, I tested it out in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmGup2WOhM9mn5o

[@hunterbates1561]

@WatchJRGo I had a 94 Lincoln town car. Enjoy it they are fun. I suggest do an rear airbag delete and add springs. It will lower the rear and give you the hooptie hop when going over speed bumps.

[@NorCalTRACON]

4:17 osha is this okay?

[@WatchJRGo]

*YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING* 🙈

[@watchjaredwork1487]

100% OSHA approved 👌🏻

[@raysegura4139]

You only have air bag suspension in the rear you have shocks and springs in the front

[@naterade21]

The lock code for the key pad is 78 90 at the same time

[@WatchJRGo]

Yeah but the unlock code is the custom one, I'll make sure it locks tonight though, good lookin out! 🤙

[@taelorwatson9822]

I know car dealers set them as 55555. There should be a place on the car I think it's in the trunk that has the original code.

[@joemccarthy4532]

if you want the car to be low disconnect the air compressor. But I would never do that

[@WatchJRGo]

I figured it out! Found an old low rider forum post: There are height sensors on the upper trailing arms in the rear. you can just adjust the arms to make the car lay out more. You can do this to the front also. Pretty simple.

[@sirmugman]

poor thing, it needs some love, and well its a 90's limo, so part it somewere in a good factory that's only used a bit and let it sit for 40 years and your have a car worth loads as ppl will go "dam when the last you saw one of those huh?!"

[@billu812]

Your door code and air suspension off switch are in the trunk.

[@tobyrocks3]

They also put a sticker with the code on the trunk hinge

[@TheNightRomer]

whats the music from 01:17 - 01:28 ?

[@ypickering]

Your heater core is leaking. That is where the Antifreeze is coming from

[@trr5291]

It is a pretty cool car though. 9 passengers. It would be a nice family car. But the exhaust sucks.

[@ronaldrush3234]

Jack it up a foot and roll some 44 mickey Ts, super swampers with them exhaust tips

[@lewisbeshers1946]

Dude, stop forkin' around. Good to see you checked off all 4 requirements, Filth, Odor, Rust and Dirt. ;-)

[@WatchJRGo]

Haha! It definitely checks all those boxes multiple times 💯

[@lois5255]

Love this car

[@Jgeneraledger23]

I just want to take a Sawzall to those crazy pipes!!

[@randyfitz8310]

Here in California the exhausts are required to be below 24 inches off the ground or above 11 feet from the ground.

[@kennybanks6096]

The door code should be on the trunk hinge

[@gabespry9444]

What year was it

[@WatchJRGo]

It's a 1997, check out this video for more info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4bXiJZ_fr5ljZI

[@whipaholictv]

Are you going to fix that cool thing ?

[@WatchJRGo]

I'll swap the coil packs and make a video about that, a few people want to buy as is and I'm not going to stop them 😛

[@whipaholictv]

Aw man I feel you that thing is cool man 💯