1977 Lincoln Continental problems

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The Lincoln Continental is a series of mid-sized and full-sized luxury cars produced between 1939 and 2020 by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. The model line was introduced following the construction of a personal vehicle for Edsel Ford, who commissioned a coachbuilt 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr convertible, developed as a vacation vehicle to attract potential Lincoln buyers. In what would give the model line its name, the exterior was given European "continental" styling elements, including a rear-mounted spare tire.

In production for over 55 years across nine different decades, Lincoln has produced ten generations of the Continental. Within the Lincoln model line, the Continental has served several roles ranging from its flagship to its base-trim sedan. From 1961 to 1976, Lincoln sold the Continental as its exclusive model line. The model line has also gone on hiatus three times. From 1949 to 1955, the nameplate was briefly retired. In 1981, the Continental was renamed the Lincoln Town Car to accommodate the 1982 seventh-generation Continental. After 2002, the Continental was retired, largely replaced by the Lincoln MKS in 2009; in 2017, the tenth-generation Continental replaced the MKS.

As part of its entry into full-scale production, the first-generation Continental was the progenitor of an entirely new automotive segment, the personal luxury car. Following World War II, the segment evolved into coupes and convertibles larger than sports cars and grand touring cars with an emphasis on features, styling, and comfort over performance and handling. From 1956 to 1957, the Continental nameplate was the namesake of the short-lived Continental Division, marketing the 1956–1957 Continental Mark II as the worldwide flagship of Ford Motor Company; as a second successor, Ford introduced the Continental Mark series in 1969, produced over six generations to 1998.

Along with the creation of the personal luxury car segment, the Lincoln Continental marked the zenith of several designs in American automotive history. The Continental is the final American vehicle line with a factory-produced V12 engine (1948), the final four-door convertible (1967), and the final model line to undergo downsizing (for the 1980 model year).

American production of the Continental and MKZ, its only two sedans, ended in 2020 thereby making Lincoln a crossover/SUV-only brand in the USA. After it was discontinued in Lincoln's home market, Ford indicated that it planned to move Continental production to China.

1977 Lincoln Continental

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Common 1977 Lincoln Continental problems

The 1977 Lincoln Continental is known to have several common problems, primarily related to the braking system, air conditioning, and vacuum lines.

  1. Brake System Issues:

a) Improper bleeding of the hydraulic brake lines or failure to bleed at all after repair can cause the brake light to remain on and the brake pedal to feel less positive than before. This issue can be resolved by properly bleeding the brake lines and ensuring that there is no air trapped in the system.

b) Loss of hydraulic pressure in the front or rear lines can also cause the brake light to come on and the brake pedal to feel spongy. This issue can be resolved by identifying the source of the leak and repairing or replacing the affected line.

c) Internal failure inside the brake master cylinder can also cause the brake light to remain on. This issue can be resolved by replacing the brake master cylinder.

  1. Air Conditioning Issues:

a) The use of refrigerant substitutes can cause poor air conditioning performance. This issue can be resolved by using the original R-12 refrigerant and diagnosing the system with AC gauges to check for any faulty conditions that can cause poor AC performance.

  1. Vacuum Line Issues:

a) Cracked or sliced vacuum lines can cause various issues, such as squeaks in the suspension and a lack of response from the high-beam headlights. These issues can be resolved by checking for vacuum leaks and replacing any damaged lines.

  1. Electrical Issues:

a) The 1977 Lincoln Continental may experience problems with the high-beam headlights, where pressing the floor-mounted high-beam button while the headlight switch is pulled out has no result. This issue can be resolved by finding a set of 1977 Ford/Lincoln/Mercury shop manuals and the 1977 Continental vacuum and wiring diagrams to diagnose and repair the problem.

In summary, the 1977 Lincoln Continental is known for several common problems, including issues with the braking system, air conditioning, vacuum lines, and electrical components. These issues can be resolved by properly diagnosing and repairing the affected systems, using the appropriate tools and resources.

1977 Lincoln Continental engine

What is the best year for a Lincoln Continental?

In terms of overall value for money, the most reliable Lincoln Continental year is the 2017 or 2018 model. According to hotcars.com, either one of these models will be perfect if you want overall dependability and reliability.

Is the Lincoln Continental a reliable car?

The Lincoln Continental isn't the most reliable luxury car, but it retains above average scores on several ratings. It is, however, one of the safest vehicles to drive, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

What engine is in a 1977 Lincoln Continental?

In the interest of fuel economy, the 1977 Continental Mark V was equipped with a 400 cubic-inch V8. This engine was shared with the Ford Thunderbird/Mercury Cougar and Ford LTD/Mercury Marquis. Outside of California, the 460 V8 remained available as an option.

How many miles per gallon does a 1977 Lincoln Continental get?

Based on data from 2 vehicles, 57 fuel-ups and 7,096 miles of driving, the 1977 Lincoln Continental gets a combined Avg MPG of 10.25 with a 0.56 MPG margin of error.

Is the Lincoln Continental a reliable car?

The Lincoln Continental isn't the most reliable luxury car, but it retains above average scores on several ratings. It is, however, one of the safest vehicles to drive, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

What engine is in a 1977 Lincoln Continental?

In the interest of fuel economy, the 1977 Continental Mark V was equipped with a 400 cubic-inch V8. This engine was shared with the Ford Thunderbird/Mercury Cougar and Ford LTD/Mercury Marquis. Outside of California, the 460 V8 remained available as an option.

How long should a Lincoln Continental last?

How long do Lincoln Continentals last? Typically, you can expect around 200,000 miles out of a Lincoln Continental. This number might vary depending on the maintenance put into the car and how the person behind the wheel drives it. Many factors are at play when considering the longevity of any vehicle on the market.

What is the rarest Lincoln Continental?

The 1959–1960 Town Car and Limousine are among the rarest Lincoln vehicles ever sold; only 214 examples of the $9,200 (equivalent to $96,200 in 2023) Town Car were produced and only 83 examples of the $10,200 Limousine were produced (equivalent to $106,600 in 2023).

1977 Lincoln Continental car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lincoln Continental problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Tires problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1977 Lincoln Continental vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1977 Lincoln Continental complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1977 Lincoln Continental.

2001-08-29

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-08-27
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: UNIROYAL, TIGERPAW, P225/75R15, DOT ANHHJDUU2001 REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT WITH LESS THAN 10 MILES ON A 1977, LINCOLN, CONTINENTAL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH

1977 Lincoln Continental recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1977 Lincoln Continental.

1977-09-13
  • Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
  • Summary: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE FITTED WITH TILT STEERING COLUMNS CONTAINING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INSERTS INTENDED FOR TRUCKS RATHER THAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THIS MAY CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR POINTER TO BE MISALIGNED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN THE SELECTOR IS BETWEEN THE NEUTRAL (N) AND DRIVE (D) DETENTS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE.
  • Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL INSERT, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1977 Lincoln Continental problems:

1976 Mark IV common problems? - TheLincolnForum.Net
1976 Mark IV common problems? - TheLincolnForum.Net
https://www.thelincolnforum.net/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?t=47553

You wanting a 76 Givenchy ?? 1956 Continental Mark II 1969 Continental Mark III 1979 Mark V collectors series triple white 1982 Mark VI 4-door signature series ...

1977 Continental with multiple issues.... - Lincoln Land
1977 Continental with multiple issues.... - Lincoln Land
https://lincolnlandinc.com/1977_continental_with_multiple/

1977 Continental with multiple issues…. · 1) Improper bleeding of the hydraulic brake lines, or failure to bleed at all after repair. · 2) Loss of hydraulic ...

1973 Lincoln Continental / Ford LTD reliability and longevity. | Bob Is ...
1973 Lincoln Continental / Ford LTD reliability and longevity. | Bob Is ...
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/1973-lincoln-continental-ford-ltd-reliability-and-longevity.361499/

Nov 1, 2022 ... What would be the common problems I would face if I wanted to use it as a daily driver, driving about 70 miles a day (highway miles). Would the ...

1977 Lincoln Continental Coupe- Wierd one- - General Discussion ...
1977 Lincoln Continental Coupe- Wierd one- - General Discussion ...
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/289685-1977-lincoln-continental-coupe-wierd-one/

Mar 6, 2017 ... Ok; so my grandfather back in 1977 bought 2 Lincoln Continental Coupes; A black one, and a gold one. Both were modified to his ...

Considering a Mark III - let's chat - Lincolns OnLine Message Forum
Considering a Mark III - let's chat - Lincolns OnLine Message Forum
https://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76352

Mar 22, 2012 ... ... Continental Mark III WANTED: 1969 Continental sedan, 1977 Continental Town Car and 1976 Fleetwood Brougham. LithiumCobalt. View Public Profile.

Other years of Lincoln Continental

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Continental 1978
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Continental 1979
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Continental 1981
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Continental 1982
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Continental 1983
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Continental 1984
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1977 Lincoln Continental photo