1978 Lincoln Continental problems
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.
Social links
Common 1978 Lincoln Continental problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Lincoln Continental 1978, several common problems have been identified:
- Running Rough and Gutless Performance:
- Owners have reported issues with the car running rough, feeling gutless, and lacking power.
- Possible causes include problems with spark plugs, air filters, carburetor, vacuum leaks, ignition coil, or fuel quality.
- Troubleshooting steps may involve checking and replacing spark plugs, inspecting the air filter, examining the carburetor for cleanliness, and identifying vacuum leaks.
- Trunk Leak:
- Some owners have experienced trunk leaks in their 1978 Lincoln Mark V.
- Pinpointing the exact source of the leak can be challenging and may require a systematic approach.
- Common areas for leaks could be around the rear window, and diagnosing the issue may involve applying water to suspected areas to trace the leak.
- Fuel System and Engine Performance:
- Complaints have been made regarding fuel system issues affecting engine performance.
- Problems such as difficulty starting, stalling, rough idling, and poor performance when driving have been reported.
- Troubleshooting steps may include checking the gas filter, spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, vacuum lines, fuel pump, and carburetor for any faults or blockages.
These issues highlight common challenges faced by owners of the Lincoln Continental 1978 model. Addressing these problems promptly and accurately through thorough diagnostics and appropriate repairs can help maintain the car's performance and reliability.
Is a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark VA good car?
The 1978 Mark V Lincoln was a great car, quite reliable but got very poor fuel economy.
What year Lincoln Continental is the most desirable?
The most valuable of this era are the first-year, 1961 cars; from there, values of most configurations drop. While sedans and coupes (across all model years) are usually worth within 5–7 percent of each other, the rare and desirable convertibles are worth approximately 250 percent more than their hardtop brethren.
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 engines came in 1978 Lincoln Continental?
Both the Lincoln Continental sedan and coupe were powered by the 365 bhp, 460 cid V-8 with automatic transmission and all power accessories, including air conditioning in 96 percent of the cars. The wheelbase grew one inch to 127 inches, but the car remained 224 inches overall.
Is a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark VA good car?
The 1978 Mark V Lincoln was a great car, quite reliable but got very poor fuel economy.
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 engines came in 1978 Lincoln Continental?
Both the Lincoln Continental sedan and coupe were powered by the 365 bhp, 460 cid V-8 with automatic transmission and all power accessories, including air conditioning in 96 percent of the cars. The wheelbase grew one inch to 127 inches, but the car remained 224 inches overall.
What is the gas mileage on a 1978 Lincoln Continental?
1978 Lincoln Continental MPG
Based on data from 2 vehicles, 31 fuel-ups and 5,019 miles of driving, the 1978 Lincoln Continental gets a combined Avg MPG of 12.21 with a 0.64 MPG margin of error.
1978 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 1978 Lincoln Continental vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1978 Lincoln Continental complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1978 Lincoln Continental.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-05-01
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: CORNELL 800 TIRES P235-75-R15 BLEW OUT SEVERAL TIMES.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1978 Lincoln Continental problems:
1978 Lincoln Continental Reviews - Carsurvey.org
Dec 19, 2016 ... Faults: Carburetor. Several starters. Brake Hydro-boost. Radiator. Power steering high pressure line. General items like brakes, ...
Why are there so many electrical problems with the 2002 Lincoln ...
Aug 31, 2018 ... Well, it sounds like you've had a bad experience with a 2002 Lincoln Continental. Oddly, I've ridden in probably hundreds of that vintage ...
Hard cranking when hot - TheLincolnForum.Net
Bagged 1964 Lincoln Continental ... I assume you don't have/haven't put Duraspark on your '64. 1978 Continental Coupe ... 1966 Continental Sedan, affectionately ...
Is the 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V as reliable as the 80s Town ...
Feb 20, 2020 ... ... common problem, about $600-to-$800 to fix. You'll notice if the coolant gets or shows low. Then over-maintain the car, especially ...
Vacuum lines for headlights - TheLincolnForum.Net
Can it be fuses as well? 1978 Lincoln Mark V (SOLD) ... 1973 Lincoln Continental Town Car 4 Dr, 1987 ... How common is it for that release valve to fail? While ...
Other years of Lincoln Continental
Are you having problems with your 1978 Lincoln Continental?
Leave your review of 1978 Lincoln Continental