A spongy pedal usually isn’t the pads. Worn pads normally give a longer pedal travel only near the end, but soft and spongy points to air in the lines or old fluid. If the fluid hasn’t been changed in a couple of years, get a flush done along with the pads.

Check the fuse and relay first, it costs nothing. If the lift is hydraulic, the usual suspects are the pump, the accumulator, or a weeping line at the front axle. A proper scan for fault codes before anyone touches a part would save you a lot of guessing.

Stone chips from construction traffic are such a real everyday threat here, feels like there’s always some site nearby throwing debris around. Front bumper and hood coverage alone probably prevents a huge chunk of the damage most people end up with over a few years of daily driving.

A proper inspection should absolutely include dropping underbody covers, that’s where most sellers hope you won’t look given how common leaks are on these trucks. If they’re only doing a quick OBD scan and visual, you’re not getting the full picture on the transmission or suspension.

Cool but not icy cold that specifically struggles in traffic on a Continental GT is almost always a condenser fan issue rather than a refrigerant leak. Highway speed forces enough airflow but stationary Industrial Road traffic exposes a fan that is not working at full capacity.