Replacing the fuel pump in your 1998 Lincoln Continental may seem complex. But it is simpler than you might think. The 1998 Continental comes equipped with an electric in-tank fuel pump and the only access to it is through the fuel tank. Still, since you do not need special tools, you can perform this repair job on a Saturday morning or weekend at home. You will not only gain experience working in your Continental but save in high repair costs at the same time.
Use up as much gasoline from the tank as you can before starting with this project. Park your Continental on level ground.
Open the hood and locate the fuel rail, which supplies fuel to each fuel injector. At the end of the rail, you will see a Schrader valve, similar to the air valve on your tires. Cover the valve with a shop rag and depress the valve with a small standard screwdriver. Use the rag to catch the spray of fuel that will come out from the valve. This will relieve the fuel system pressure.
Turn off the air suspension system, if your Continental is equipped with it, and disconnect the ground (black) battery cable with a wrench.
Raise the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack, safely secure with two jack stands and loosen the fuel filler cap.
Disconnect the fuel filler pipe from the fuel tank with a ratchet and socket. Support the fuel tank with a floor jack. Place a wooden block between the floor jack saddle and tank to prevent damage to the tank. Remove the straps holding the tank in place using a ratchet, long ratchet extension and socket. Partially lower the tank and disconnect the hoses and electrical connector from the fuel sending unit assembly on the tank. This is the only round flange attached to the tank with hoses and electrical wires connected to it. Drop down the tank.
Clean out all dirt on top and around the fuel sending unit assembly with a shop rag.
Unbolt the fuel sending unit assembly from the tank with a ratchet and socket.
Lift carefully and remove the fuel sending unit assembly from the fuel tank and the O-ring seal located between the flange and fuel tank.
Remove the electric fuel pump from the bracket assembly using a pair of needle-nose pliers.
Install the new fuel pump in the bracket assembly using the pair of needle-nose pliers and attach a new strainer to the bottom of the fuel pump.
Replace the fuel sending unit assembly into the fuel tank using a new O-ring seal. Apply a very light coat of automotive grease to the O-ring, just enough to hold it in place during the installation of the unit assembly. Tighten the sending unit assembly mounting bolts with the ratchet and socket.
Connect the hoses and plug the electrical connector to the sending unit assembly. Lift the tank into place with the floor jack and secure it to the vehicles with the ratchet, long ratchet extension and socket and then connect the fuel filter pipe to the tank with the ratchet and socket.
Lower your vehicle, refill the tank with fuel and tighten the fuel filler cap.
Connect the ground (black) battery cable with the wrench and turn on the air suspension system, if your Continental is equipped with it.
Turn the ignition switch to the "On" position without starting the engine and check for fuel leaks around the tank and turn off the ignition switch.
