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1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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sissypie
Novice
Feb 6, 2009, 10:33 AM
Post #1 of 10
(10950 views)
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1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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I'm a 67 year old widow so can't afford a lot of repair bills. My drivers window on my 1998 Lincoln Town Car will not go down. It went out a couple of years back and then the back 2 windows also went out. Can't roll them down. Problem is car inspection is overdue and now they are checking to see if windows work so have to do something right away. can't afford a ticket.
It's a 1998 Lincoln Town Car with 81,000 miles on it but the drivers window went out a couple of years back and then the back 2 windows. Can you please help me? I have to do something right away since my car inspection is overdue and I just realized it. It expired at the end of January .. and I can't afford a big repair bill. I know nothing about cars. I know there is a fuse box under the front but not even sure how to get to it and the extra fuses in it would be 10 years old and not sure they'd still be good.
Thank you.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 6, 2009, 1:25 PM
Post #2 of 10
(10942 views)
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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See if we can pin this down as to what's wrong.
First - can you hear the motors trying when you attempt to move them? Try quick requests for UP so if they are still up I hope you won't end up with a DOWN window and stuck there to add to the troubles. Try just putting key to "run" position and listen for noise when any other bells finish. Test that the good one left works so you know key is in an enabling position.
IF YOU HEAR AN ATTEMP AND NOTHING then it may be just "regulators" have come all messed up. It's terribly easy to do to this vintage of Ford if windows are iced in AND requested to move! Stinks but popular for that.
Regulators are not all that expensive as repairs can go if just that.
What state or place are you that requires rear windows to work? I'm not surprised but forever shocked at that crap. Heck they made zillions of cars with non moving rear windows, routine now for 2 door cars - even FOUR DOOR CARS were made with just a vent!
T
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 6, 2009, 5:47 PM
Post #3 of 10
(10938 views)
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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Sissy; I don't want to sound stupid, but have you tried operating the other windows with their own individual switches? The master switch on the driver's door is a common failure. So, if the other windows work with the switches on each door....Worth a check. btw, fuses don't go bad from just sitting. I'm as surprised as Tom; They will fail the inspection if the windows don't work? Geeeeez. Just tell them they are designed that way to keep the air pollutants out.
Loren
SW Washington
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sissypie
Novice
Feb 6, 2009, 8:59 PM
Post #4 of 10
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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I hear nothing when I use the drivers door master switches to try to make the windows go down. Only the passenger side is working. It's the drivers door window and the back two windows that don't work and they didn't go out at the same time but before they went out they would work and then not work and work and then not work but they haven't worked in a long time. It's just the first time they have had the door window as part of the vehicle inspection here and I'm as shocked as all of you all.
I hear absolutely nothing when I try to use the door panel switches for those windows. No noises at all.
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 6, 2009, 9:51 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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Hun, please try the windows at the individual door switches. If they work, it's probably just the master switch on the driver's door.
Loren
SW Washington
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 7, 2009, 2:36 AM
Post #7 of 10
(10921 views)
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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Sissy. It's hard to believe three motors have gone bad on you however it's possible. Back doors frequently fail due to ice once mentioned and you probably didn't have much or any in the history. Have a sibling in Lafayette, LA 70508 (no kidding!)
A low mile car like this may have problems with back windows from LACK of use OR kids "playing" with the buttons - been there done that and it's why most all cars with power windows have a "lock" at driver's door to deactivate other doors unless the driver allows it.
Not being funny but has the car been exposed to extreme water by level like enough to get inside the car? Not just hard rains.
More: This type of mechanism is a "garage door" type of wire which rolls around a regulator in a way and they get unwound if you will rather easily if doors get slammed while windows part open, - just plain not a tough way to make them. If you don't hear anything trying to work it suggests the electrical controls - perhaps the main switch on driver's door is the culprit at I think the routing of all power goes thru that one.
Things can be electrically checked with a test light and this may not be so bad to plain up and fix. Yes - you can spend a fortune on this stuff but there's lots of ways to fix this stuff and used comes to mind if lots of parts are needed.
Do you have a regular shop or mechanic now? Everyone should if you don't. If not perhaps we can help you find a person or place.
The good news on this car is it's mechanicals are mostly common to many FORD products like the Crown Victoria, and Grand Marquis.
I'm still shocked now especially that Louisiana is checking window operation for inspection/safety!
T
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sissypie
Novice
Feb 7, 2009, 7:33 AM
Post #8 of 10
(10913 views)
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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The car has never had water inside of it. The back windows were rarely used since I usually don't have kids around. I do not have a mechanic any longer. My dad and husband were mechanics and they and all of their friends are dead now and I just can't be without a car since I have elderly aunt living next door without a car and if I don't have one we're both out of luck.
I have no idea how to check switches and will be at the mercy of whatever shop I can get it into. We've had bad experiences with the dealership in this area in years past. I just don't know a mechanic and shop I can trust and am so afraid they'll get car in and hold it for days trying to get parts and then hit me with a huge car repair bill. I'm in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Thanks for the info.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 7, 2009, 8:11 AM
Post #9 of 10
(10908 views)
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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sissey: Look for a "Private Message"
T
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sissypie
Novice
Feb 7, 2009, 1:10 PM
Post #10 of 10
(10899 views)
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Re: 1998 Lincoln Town Car Windows Problem
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Thank you Tom for the helpful information, especially where to check for reference for good shops in the area. That is very helpful.
Luckily I had someone tell me they got an inspection 2 weeks ago and the place didn't check their windows so I went there and got my inspection with no problem but I still need to have the windows fixed and Tom's suggestion of where to call to find some good references for repair shops in the area by others using the same kind of vehicles is very helpful. Thank you all very much.
Sissypie
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