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Comments
the car should run fine on 87 octane, you shouldn't have to go up to 92 octane to stop the ping. that octane wasn't ment for that car. as for the tranny problems I think ford has lousy trannies..
Also, it isn't just the trannies that are lousy. I think it is the engineers, or the management forcing the engineers to do subpar work.
The saga continues. My '97 has developed a squeeling (or squeaking) problem in the steering. It doesn't happen all the time. It only happens when I'm turning the steering wheel to the right and the wheels are facing toward the right. It doesn't happen when I'm turning the steering wheel to the right to return my wheels facing forward. Has anyone had a similar experience, or have any idea what it might be? The dealership tried lubricating it (supposedly) the last time I was there, but it had no effect. I wonder if they really did anything? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Zach
I am now totally frustrated as to what's next. I love this car, it is perfect otherwise. If any one had a similar problem, can you give me some guidance? Also I live in Portland, does anybody know a good repair shop/dealer where I can go?
Sorry for the long post. I would sincerely appreciate any help.
I believe you are smelling oil and that it is because at the oil change too much oil was put in.
I had same problem in my '98 and '99 SE's.
Here is the scoop. Taurus calls for 4.5qts oil with a new filter and if you start it for a minute after the oil change and then let it sit, you will show oil about 1/2 way up in the cross-hatch area of the dipstick. Most people, even dealers, will fill up to the max line, but now you have way too much oil and it smells. The dipsticks are off for a Taurus. Why? I don't know. Solution- loosen your drain plug slowly and drain out about 12-16 ounces of oil. Bet the smell goes away. Also, the next time you put in 4.5qts, take a hacksaw blade and scratch a mark on your dipstick at the oil line so when you need to add oil, you know how far to go to get back to 4.5qts. You can go over the line some, but not much. Re: whistling sound; sounds like a vacuum leak, but someone would have to hear it to find out where it is coming from. Good luck!
Asked the dealer how many quarts the Vulcan takes and they set 5. I've never had the oil smell. Do you think the extra 1/2 quart damages the engine. I understand that too much oil causes foaming and that isn't good for your engine.
Thanks for the info. I took out some oil this morning (tried to measure it at 14 ounce), I will watch what happens. I have also found oil traces on the engine surface where the fuel injectors are connected. I probably will have to clean it up also. Will keep you all posted.
I have had 15 starting with the first Taurus in '86 so have a little experience with "goofy" things these cars do.
race up to 3 & 4, but I was only going 45 to 50 mph. We made it home. I went back to my office, and it began to act up again, but this time it would only achieve a 20 mph while the RPM
gauge raced from 2 up to 4. I stopped on the Freeway. Someone came to my assistance, and
stated it was probably my transmission. I have it in the shop now. When We purchased it from the dealership, it was a progam car with 9,000 miles on it. I hve been very pleased with it up to
now. Also, I noted from a previous town hall ltr that someone is having a oil leak in the oil pan.
My mechanic stated that my oil pan gasket is leaking and that was due to a Ford defect due to
the types of screws they installed in the 97's. Now in the 2000 models, they have rubber coated
screws that prevent cracks caused by the ones in my 97 that creat the oil pan leakage.
I simply can not afford anymore auto repairs as I have sooo much due to recent medical bills.
What to do??
I am looking at buying a new car for my wife and one of them is a Taurus with the larger 24 valve engine.
Should I stay away from Ford and the problems some are having? I have read the posts concerning the Mercury Sable and its problem with tranmissions and this engine.
Looking for pro and cons as we have to replace our 1991 Buick Skylark ( Blew a cylinder last year and other things have gone lately). Appreciate any responses.
I believe all cars can easily go 150k (our '91 had 175k when we bought the Lincoln) with regular service. Machines need to be treated like machines. Too many people just drive cars until something breaks, then complain that the car is defective. Regular service is the key. Anyway, I've loved every one of our Sables. Our '88 and '91 even had the "dreaded" 3.8L engine. We had no head gasket or cooling issues. The '88 had 125k and, like I said, the '91 175k. Hope this helps.
Welcome to the club! Our membership is rapidly expanding! What was the mileage on your car when your transmission died? I have a '97 GL, and the transmission was replaced at approx 79,000 miles. I have a friend who's neighbor owns a '97 Taurus, and his transmission just died at 62,000 miles.
I think we all need to start considering a class action lawsuit against Ford. As time passes, I'm finding more and more people who own newer Tauruses that are having horrible transmission problems. It is pretty sad when you call a Ford dealership asking them how much a new transmission for a '97 Taurus costs, and they tell you they just priced one the day before. As far as I know, a transmission should last the life of the car, not the life of the car's windshield wipers )
Anyone else in here with a '96 or newer Taurus/Sable with new transmission?
And my car was carefully maintained.
I hear you.. For some reason, Ford doesn't know how to build transmissions (or engines, or ac, or etc.)
They did change the transmission in '96 though, so the older Tauruses have different transmission problems than the new ones, although both sets of problems are unacceptable. I think there is (or was) a lawsuit going with the older transmissions, but I'm trying to get one started with the newer ones, because they are just as unreliable (and expensive) as the old ones.
Jim
I had the 3.0 V6 in my '90 Sable, and the transmission still failed (at 93K miles).
Yes, those horsepower and torque figures are correct. Still the car has adequate power.
Other problems: repeated a/c failures (expensive!), engine mounts, brake pulsation (warped rotors), water pump, alternator, front struts, starter, power door lock actuators (both rear doors), and turn signal/wiper switch (twice).
I had no serious engine problems and never touched the exhaust system.
Car was bought new and sold last summer at 135K miles.
Recently, I put new tune-up parts and check all sensors on a shop computer. Still no improvements.
What else?
In the mean time I got the injectors cleaned and the computer reporgrammed. The whistling is much lower but not gone completely.
Surprisingly, the car seems too responsive now. It accelerates way much faster than it used to be. Do I take it as a good sign because of the cleaning or something else is going bad?
Thanks.
Any suggestions? (And I also have that low ram pining.)
I am now on my second Taurus. My first was a 1990 wagon that I bought used as my very first auto. I finaly had to trade it in in 1999 when the A/C pooped out. The car was great. Cosmetically great in and out, and ran even better. I tradded her in for a 98 taurus thinking that I would get the same rugged vehicle that would just keep going. MAN WAS I WRONG!!! The car has been back to the dealer some 6 times for the same bloody problem. Before coming to a complete stop the car will downshift VERY harshly. At one point it was doing this so badly that it actually caused a thermal mug to pop out of the flip fold console!! Thankfully it was empty. I finally got so disgusted with the dealership where I had bought the car I decided it was time for a second opinion at another for dealership. This Ford dealership was far more friendly, but the problem for the most part is still there. They went ahead and reprogrammed the computer, and replaced the throttle position sensor. The other dealership wrang up almost $5,000 in poorly done "patch job" repairs. The replaced the 2 fwd clutch cylinders (3 times), the clutch bands (Twice), torque stator, and neumerous other things, and the car still bucks and has an overall sloppy gearchange. I am a stickler when it comes to autos, and Itake great care of my cars. I am also not one to beat on my cars, though I am known to go a little faster than the local police would like 8^). Over all I am profoundly disappointed with Ford Motor Co. as a whole. I am an auto design student myself and have tried to rationalize all of the problems, but enough is enough. I am trading the taurus in next month for a Pontiac.
Disgusted,
Aaron
Oil & coolant had mixed. Head gaskets gone...needs $6K worth of repairs(more than worth of car). It had less than 80K miles. I keep hearing about "secret" and "goodwill" warranties and technical service bulletins (TSBs) regarding this same problem...but Ford Customer Service Phone Line was of no help. Does anyone have a similar situation or advice for what I should do next????
Anyone have any ideas or run into this problem. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
So, if your's is misfiring and there are no other obvious signs, this could be the culprit.
I was then told by the service guy in a snide manner that I have to take care of my tires better. They said because they weren't rotated, they would need to be replaced. I replied that they had been rotated on a regular basis. They said not by them. I mentioned it was down by my local place just down the block. Plus, I had mentioned the vibration my previous four visits and every time was told the vibration was "normal". Would really tick me off to replace 4 tires (Firestone ffinity) w/just over 25k on them.
Any suggestions?
I'm also glad I DIDN'T buy a lightly used '95 or '96 Taurus in 1997 as I was seriously considering. (I thought that Ford had cleaned up its act.) I ended up buying a new 1997 Camry instead.
Maybe you lucked out, but just read the last 20 or so posts for a sampling of typical woes.
Then again, you only had it for 3 years, and the transmission did go out, didn't it?
What I see is a lot of complaining or opinions. Doubt that? Go read the Sythetic Oil topic. They are up to 1592 post. Most of them are totally useless and based upon zippo! Don't believe me, read em. One guy claims his engine starts faster with synthetic.
As far as the moron remark, big deal! You like your Camry, great. What you haven't figured out is the premium you paid for that car. They break down like everything else. It is all about dollars and cents! If it wasn't you wouldn't be driving a Camry. Gee, he told you he abused the crap out of the car. Guess if it was a Toyota that wouldn't have happened? Why are you even reading a Ford post? You've already made your mind up that their garbarge.
I'm out of here for now. There just is too little value and not enought substance with 95% of the post.
I am wondering if this is related to the new battery. One week before, the vehicle refused to start. which is believed due to the old battery. Then I changed battery. Maybe the battery is not very well connected...
Could b. who has better knowledge on vehicles help me to figure out what's going on there?