The Lincoln LS was introduced in 1999 as Lincoln's first rear-wheel-drive car. It enjoyed a production run until 2006. The 2002 LS did not have any safety recalls, making it an excellent choice for consumers. Even so, the LS is not without its problems. Most of these issues may be mistaken for other issues, however, so it is best to troubleshoot the problems and have the knowledge of the most common issues with the 2002 model year of the Lincoln LS.
Check for oil leaks around the valve cover gaskets. It's easy to confuse oil leaks on the LS for a bad crankcase seal. However, since oil leaks are common with this model, check the valve cover gasket first. These gaskets were not made to withstand the compression ratio of the LS engine over time. The result is a critical failure of the gasket during normal operation. Oil will leak from the gasket and pool on the ground. Have this item serviced by an experienced mechanic. Once one valve cover seal fails, change the other one as a precautionary measure.
Turn the steering wheel from lock to lock and listen for any squealing. Ford's power steering pump is notoriously ill-designed. The cause of the problem is a known manufacturing defect in the pump's pulley which will cause the pump to "whine" as you turn the steering wheel back and forth. A mechanic should replace the pulley with an aftermarket pulley that corrects this design flaw.
Check to see if your airbag warning light is on. If it is, the connector for the airbag may have come loose. Your airbag will not deploy in the event of a crash if the airbag light is on. This item should be serviced by a Ford dealership only, as airbag systems need special attention and a mechanic with experience working on Fords.
