2000 Lincoln Continental Stalling while Driving

M931A2

MEMBER
2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
V8
FWD
AUTOMATIC
126,000 MILES

Starting a few months back the car has been stalling while driving. Mostly in the morning when I'm giving it gas. After the stall the engine restarts if I'm going over 30. Then the display shows a check traction control error and the tach needle stops working. It will keep running like this until the engine is turned off and then back on, then it will go back to normal. There are never any P codes to pull or check engine lights.

Since then I've had P1121 DTC error and after replacing the TPS with one from Auto Zone I got a P0122 TPS A Circuit low. I also sprayed the MAS with some MAS cleaner from Auto Zone.

It did OK for a few days and only complaining about the ride control and steering assist.

Then I had all the errors, got the car home and the car wont start.

So it sits in the drive way cranking but not starting. No errors or codes.

9 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Start with the basics, and work your way up, Last tune up was? Wires plugs ALL filters? If all that is ok, check for a stuck EGR, then test fuel pump pressure, If it won't restart, determine what's missing, the engine needs three things to run, Spark at all plugs, gas to all cylinders, and compression in all cylinders, tho an engine may run lacking one in one cylinder, it won't run very well!
https://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_fuel_injection_pressure.htm
Go here and checkout our video.
https://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_engine_ignition_system.htm
and this one!
https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/car_cranks_but_wont_start.htm
https://www.2carpros.com/dia/how_to_check_compression.htm
https://www.2carpros.com/dia/index.htm

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Friday, February 19th, 2010 AT 1:14 PM

M931A2

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6 POSTS

So I have a new update of this. I was not able to work on the car so it sat in the drive way for a week and now starts just fine. So the start up issue is over for now.

I drove it around the block and it stalled again after 1/2 mile with the gear error (in gear with the engine off) "Gear display data error" and the old error that I have been getting all along since the stalling started "Check Traction Control"

Starts up after turning it off and thats it.

The problem now is I can trust that the car will go anywhere and get me back and I can't reproduce the error to troubleshoot it.

Any ideas?

Mark

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Thursday, March 4th, 2010 AT 8:41 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

P1121= TPS inconsistant with MAF, this means the MAF is reading too much, or too little air at a given throttle opening, Air filter clean? MAF Plug OK? Throttle body clean?

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Friday, March 5th, 2010 AT 2:34 PM

M931A2

MEMBER
6 POSTS

I have replaced the TPS, the crank and cam sensor. No joy.

There is a TSB on stalling and Traction control. I'm hoping that if I take it in for a reprogram the PCM, it might clean it up.

Any ideas on this? What am I likely to get charged for this?

Article No.
01-20-9

10/15/01
DRIVEABILITY - HESITATION, STUMBLE OR STALL
DURING LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS OR
AFTER TRACTION ASSIST OPERATION

LINCOLN:
1999-2001 CONTINENTAL

ISSUE
Some vehicles may exhibit a hesitation, stumble or stall during low speed parking maneuvers or after releasing the throttle following operation of the traction assist system. This may be caused by the calibration of the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).

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Sunday, March 14th, 2010 AT 8:27 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

There is no doubt it would help, but we dont know if that's the only problem, Lincoln will charge one hour diagnostic, and usually 90.00 to reprogram the PCM.

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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 1:23 PM

M931A2

MEMBER
6 POSTS

I took the car to the dealer this morning and I'm told that it is a wire harness behind the engine that is to blame. They can move it and the engine will stall.

They want $500-800 to fix it so I'm having it towed back for now till I can see if I can fix it or save some more money to have them do it.

Good job I have AAA to do all the towing for me :)

Mark

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Monday, March 22nd, 2010 AT 1:42 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

OK Let us know what happens!

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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 AT 12:32 PM

M931A2

MEMBER
6 POSTS

FIXED!

Turns out someone ran the ignition harness between the trans dip stick and the EGR. Over time the EGR had melted the harness and it burnt a hole and three wires where grounding out (that explains the cold mornings)

A little tape around the wires and rerouting it on the other side of the dip stick with some zip ties and it runs like a champ.

As quick as it was diagnosed I felt like this was a problem the dealership had seen before. Well worth the $57 that they charged me for this information.

It was not a fun fix, there is a lot of car that has to be taken off to get to the harness. All told it took me about 4-5 hours.

I also found that all the ignition wires for the front 4 cylinders had the wire striped as it went in to the covered area that the coils are at. Very strange that I never got a problem with this.

My original plan was to remove the wiring harness and then try and get one from a junk yard if I could not find the bad wire. I was worried at first at being "that" guy who brings his failed attempt at being "a" mechanic to a real mechanic to fix it after he had messed it up. I'm very good with my hands so I figured I had a good chance on getting it done. They wanted $2200 for a new harness plus install costs, so I had a lot of inspiration and motivation to figure it out.

Thanks. I'm not sure any one could have guessed this one.

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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 AT 6:38 PM

MERLIN2021