Ford states that the eight spark plugs in your 2000 Lincoln Continental should last 100,000 miles, but they often need to be replaced more frequently than that. Defective spark plugs can prevent your Continental’s engine from starting or cause mechanical failure because the car isn't firing all eight cylinders. You can replace the spark plugs on your 2000 Lincoln Continental right at home. The first step in replacing the plugs is locating them. After that, it should take you less than one hour to complete the job.
Open the driver’s door on your Continental. Turn the ignition off and remove the key from the lock cylinder. Pull the hood release lever and exit the car.
Raise and support your Continental’s hood. Locate the battery on the lower left side of your engine compartment. Remove the negative cable from the battery by loosening the bolt on its terminal with a socket wrench. Lift the terminal off the battery post and wrap electrical tape around the terminal completely.
Stand on the passenger side of the engine. Locate the long metal panel shaped like half of a capital C. Remove the three small bolts along the bottom half of the metal panel, using your socket wrench. Place the bolts in your pocket for safekeeping. Lift the metal panel off to reveal four round components with wires coming out of the side of each of them. These are the ignition coils.
Unplug the wiring harness from the ignition coil closest to the firewall. Remove the bolt on the side of the coil with your socket wrench. Place your hand around the entire coil as close to its base as you can and pull it out. Inside the hole is one of your Continental’s eight spark plugs. Each of the other three ignition coils on that side of the engine also has a spark plug under it. The driver’s side of the engine has four ignition coils and four spark plugs as well. Those are accessed the same way.
