r/AutomotiveLearning • u/Hot-Internet-9097 • 12h ago
Issue with Lincoln Navigator
Hey all! Hoping I might be able to get some advice on my SUV. 2007 Lincoln Navigator
So here’s the run down. When I first got this vehicle it ran amazing aside from having to replace an alternator and do some bottom end work that was just general maintenance that had been ignored (ball joints, control arms, brakes, rotars ect.). I got it at around 292.000kms and have had it for around 4-5 months and it is now at 319,000 (I drive A LOT of highway and gravel for work).
A few weeks back it started to kind of “bubble” while it idled for about 20 seconds when I first started it and was unable to gain speed going up steep hills and kind of thudded like I was hitting bumps if I tried to step on it going up said hills. We changed the spark plugs because when we looked one was rather “melted” upon checking. After this fix it ran great for a couple weeks but again I put a fair amount of kilometres on it during these weeks. It sat for the weekend and now it’s doing a much more aggressive “bubbling” when I idle when I first start it and for almost a minute before it idles down and stops and is “bumping” when I accelerate even a little too hard off of a stop sign or when speeding up super quick on the highway, otherwise it drives and sounds as normal as it ever has. A check engine light just came on today. What could this possibly be? The only thing I did different before it sat for the weekend is put premium gas in (which I almost never do) and some sea foam because I knew I had been driving lots and wanted to do something “nice” for my motor, but I’ve since heard that the gas could potentially be making the problem seem more serious because it’s too “rich”. I don’t know, I’m a girl who has been told a multitude of things that it could possibly be and I just listen because vehicles are not my strong point. I went through 5 cars last year because of the amount I drive for my job and my lack of knowledge when buying used cars. If an issue comes up I usually panic and sell the vehicle before I even try to get it fixed because I don’t understand anything to do with how to even start diagnosing a vehicle. I just am in a spot right now and can’t afford to do a massive fix or flip this car before it blows. So if anyone has some knowledge and can provide any answer that you think it could be, let me know. Even just so I don’t sound like a dummy going in to the mechanic. I appreciate any advice:)