Amazing story on non-working quarter windows!

[John Mc]

As I had written earlier, the rear quarter windows on my '70 Lincoln Coupe were in operative. I Assumed that it was the usual issue of old hardened grease and lack of use that "locks" up the mechanism.

Yesterday was the day for me to start on that project. But a wonderful thing happened. Upon my initial checks for power I pulled apart the power junction and found out that I did in fact have power going to the switch. Not surprised and before I started taking off the inside door panel, I decided to bypass the switch and apply power directly to the motor...........and the window retracted and came up perfectly! What? How could that be? Then I took the two ends of the power plugs and put them tightly together, and this time I heard them "snap" closed. I tried the switch..................the window worked as if Nixon were still in the White House!!! Then I moved over to the other side. Same thing, I pulled apart the junction and pushed them together. It worked!!!

So, unbelievable as it may sound, the reason my windows did not work (and probably never worked from the day the car was built) was because the motors were receiving no power!!! My guess is that the line worker put them together as best he could, but more effort was required to "lock" the two halves together. Also, where was the quality control? And did the two previous owners just never use them???

Was I happy???? Now the Coupe can be shown as it was intended, with all the windows down.

[CurtC]

Repairs that go that easy always make one happy to have a Lincoln. I've had a few things go really well; like the inoperative passenger door power door lock that only required a squirt of silicone lube. I always refer to those rare occurrences as "some days are diamonds".

Curt

[2sasilverbullet]

Congrats! I've had a few repairs go like that! What a blessing when they do!

[TonyC]

Likewise--I've had a few miraculous revivals of failing systems, almost like the car was healing itself.

Gorgeous coupe, by the way--now, when are you going to replace the outside hood latch with an inside one for better security? (J/K, sort of.)

---Tony

[Joe Nemec]

Your Lincoln looks sooooo nice with all 4 windows open!

[John Mc]

Thanks guys, the missing quarter window does make a big difference. On the inside hood latch, yep I see your point but God intended to have '70 Continentals with outside hood latches, so I can't mess with that!

[Dan Szwarc]

That's what was wrong with my power seats in my 74.

[LithiumCobalt]

I'd question whether a previous owner unplugged the wiring harness connectors at some point because of a problem. I find it hard to believe the car would leave the factory that way. Although, if it truly was an oversight, that's one hell of a cheap fix!

[Castrosua]

thats great when you can you fix something so easy. and by the way, that pic is just beautiful.

[John Mc]

I'd question whether a previous owner unplugged the wiring harness connectors at some point because of a problem. I find it hard to believe the car would leave the factory that way. Although, if it truly was an oversight, that's one hell of a cheap fix!

I thought about that too but, the connectors looked like they were together and if someone really wanted to disconnect them, they wouldn't go through the trouble of partially putting them together, they would pull them apart - far apart. What blows me away is, did anyone check these items before the car was delivered?????? Also, how come the two previous owners just left them that way??? Weird.

[LCont72]

I always enjoy an unexpectedly simple fix. I can just imagine the work of removing the rear seat cushion and backrest, and the left and right rear armrests and quarter trim, then digging into those quarter panels for the motor, tracks, and regulators. Wait, yes I can. I've done it on a 1965 Imperial.

It would not be all that far-fetched that both of the previous owners either never used the rear seat, or never had occasion to retract the rear quarter windows. In fact, my first car was a 1968 Cadillac Coupe deVille purchased new by my grandmother, which she gave me when it was five years old. She had never used the rear quarter windows!

When we had our 1972 Lincoln Town Car which my parents purchased new, some neighbors of ours had a beautiful '70 Lincoln in burgundy or maroon with a black roof and a black leather interior. Being interested in cars, and always eager to "compare and contrast" appointments and features, I noticed that their cornering lights did not illuminate and told them so. They simply shrugged and did not even seem the least bit concerned. They owned the car until approximately 1988, and never addressed the issue.

By the way, your '70 Coupe is stunning! The "Luxury Wheel Covers" give an added sparkle. And I'm sure that the uncanny resemblance of the front end of the '70 Lincolns to the front end of the Cord 810/812 has not escaped your notice, especially in the photo angle presented.

-Charles

[John Mc]

Thank you Charles and all the others that left positive comments. I never tire of looking at this car, very lucky to own it. Regarding the Cord 810 resemblance, yes. The designer of the car, Buzz Grisinger was a young student of the great Gordon Beurig on the 810. Buzz loved the '70 Lincoln and felt it was his best work.

[blkmk69]

Yes, your '71 looks fantastic. wish the no workie right side rear window fix on the Mk III would be as easy. Was at Dover DE a couple of weeks back, and John Cashman offered some good advice on Continental power windows namely to not let them fully close when in storage. I've noticed that I sometimes have to give the door panel a bang due to non-working windows after starting up and working the electrical accessories after sitting for a couple of months.

In the case of the my non-working quarter window, the courtesy lights dim when hitting the switch, so power is reaching the motor.

[jon schapiro]

John -

The rear switches (window and power window) have black phillips head screws holding the 2 "halves" together. are you missing the screws?

Jon

[John Mc]

Jon, I'll check but I never pulled the switches out - just the switch to motor junction plug. Why may I ask do you want to know?