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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008
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Comments
It's time to shut up or move on!
In regard to someone complaining about the hard leather seats - I rented a Taurus for two weeks with cloth seats and found them hard. The leather seem slightly softer, but not by much.
I miss the cushy seat in my 1984 Mustang convertible!
Maybe some of the SHO fans can help us with ours. We own a 95 3.2L v6. It is a dream...such pickup...so fast, and what a head-turner in green with dark tint and tan leather. When it runs.
The dealer can't figure it out. It sounds suspiciously like the description of the other Ford's with the ignition control module on the distributor, which causes them to shut off when over 257 degrees F. But, our ignition control module is on the DOHC. Which, of course, gets blisteringly hot and could conceivably cause the same problem as the other stalling Fords.
This SHO has been in the shop 9 times since mid-March, most of the time in the shop, only with us for a day at most between times. We bought it used last year with a rebuilt tranny, which we felt was safe considering the Ford tranny reputation (all 5 of the 95's we know have new/rebuilt tranny's). Tranny is fine now...but this problem has lasted 5months and no one can figure it out, including Ford's engineers. The car just shuts off at highway speed or idle following a combo of highway drive/suburban driving. We have replaced 3 ignition control modules, the crank and cam sensors, the water pump, the fuel pump and all related components, including fuel injection system, wire harness (most recent...don't know where this was from...just picked up car and service mgr had gone home, so will check with him Monday)and the EGR valve system. The computer has been pulled and checked clear. The car is throwing codes like confetti...every time it is something different but always the same problem...just turns off. All lights come on, and it sounds like a jet engine cutting off (quieter of course, just the hum) as the car turns off. I lose brakes and steering every time. One of these times someone is going to slam into me and we will be hurt. Any suggestions??? It really sounds like the ignition control problems the 3.0's were having, but this is a 3.2. I think I saw some 3.8's were also having this problem, but the design on the 3.2 is different in that the module rests on the DOHC. The dealer is clueless at this point. So are we. We are holding on until next tax return to trade it, as we can't afford to until then, but I fear that it won't past the test drive to trade in. It cuts off every 15 yards or so. But, man, how nice those 15 yards are! It really is a fun car to drive...I just wish ours would actually drive. PLEASE HELP OR OFFER SUGGESTIONS!!!! I have scoured the internet for help. I have reported to NHTSA. I have called the service mgr, the general mgr, the owners of the dealer, the zone mgr, and Dearborn (executive offices). No one cares. We are past the bumper to bumper so it isn't their problem. I feel this SHO has an intrinsic problem in design. Maybe I am just used to Toyotas...it is inconceivable to me that a car under 100k miles would be unfixable unless wrecked. Oh, I checked at carfax while on that topic...the car is clear there. SUGGESTIONS??? We really love our SHO...family size, leather (easy to clean with kids), LOTS OF POWER, fast (husband loves that), huge trunk, looks great, did I mention fast? But it is useless to us like this and no one seems to know what is wrong.
Thanks!
Tracey
tlbond@bellsouth.net
You can also check out www.showshop.com for more info. A lot of SHO owners on that site have been driving their SHOs for more than 200,000 miles on the original engine and have a lot of experience.
the 86-95 have particular parts of the car that have maybe been in question.
Any of the Taurus with the 3.8 OHV v6 could maybe be deemed unreliable. This motor has a history of blown heads, but this is well documented.
A lot of Taurus' of all models / years up to 95 have had auto tranny problems from itme to time.
And yes, the SHO's of 89-95 have been questionable, although the later models and automatics 92-95 seem to hold up better than the 89-91'a. I had an 89 SHO and it was not a Toyota, but at the same time it was not junk.
The 95 will be a good buy 4 u if you get it cheap enough and save a little mony on the side for fixes (as anyone should do when they buy a used car, why do you think the seller is selling it in the first place!!!)
I would browse consumer reports also for reliability ratings.
I have a sales man friend who racked up 80,000 on a '96 Vulcan v6 and 90,000 on a '97 Vulcan v6 taurus that were both trouble free, although he may have had the tranny checked out on the 96 for something. The 97 was flawless. Then they took away the Taurus and he had to choose between the Dodge Stratus and several GM makes (Century, Grand Am, Malibu, Lumina, Monte). He couldn't stomach the GM stuff so he went with a Stratus but is looking forward to the new 2001 Taurus being available to him this fall.
I remember a similar situation when my '97 Taurus was new, and treating the rubber seals around the door with a silicone lubricant stopped the noise.
Keep you informed.
Matra
However, after washing the car I noticed several areas around the windows of both rear doors that were leaking. The dealership had to order 2 new door window channel gaskets. They are still on back order. I'll let you know if this eliminates the wind noise.
The rear door molding on one of the doors had a slight gap has been discussed in other postings. When the dealer was looking at it he preceded to break the door molding and has ordered a replacement molding. In the meantime the gap he have now is very big so if you bring this up to the dealer make sure he has door moldings on hand.
On other comment, the August issue of Consumer Reports published costs to repair several vehicles including the 1992 Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry. The cost of repairing the Accord and Camry was considerable higher than the Taurus (i.e. engine short block+assembly and valve grind+gasket set: Taurus-$3,240, Accord-$5490, Camry-$5230.) This tells me two things: first that the Accord and Camry use more expensive parts, and two they better be reliable since the cost of fixing them is very high. Is there any other place to see similar data?
http://www.autoweb.com/researchnew/compareDetails.htm?modelone=2000FORTAURUS%2D%2DSE%2DF4SDN%2D%2D&modeltwo=2000CVYIMPALA%2D%2DBASF4SDN%2D%2D&pricerange=&searchtype=surel
The quick and dirty:
Weight - Impala weighs 21 lbs. more
Width - exactly the same
length - Impala 2" longer
height - Impala 1.4' taller, but the Taurus has more interior headroom!
Looks can be decieving; the last version of the Impala was much bigger than the Taurus; the differences in the 2000 models is negligible.
But, in both models I'm getting a whine/moan from the back wheels. Brakes are fine and were replace about 15,000 miles ago. Very noticeable during stop and go traffic. I've brought it to the dealer twice and they can't fix it.
Has anyone else had this problem and had it corrected?
I have a 92 Taurus, but I am impressed with the fact that I see tons of old Crown Vics around, and I know of several that have hit 200,000 miles with few problems.
There is a reason cabs and cops use these instead of vans, SUV's, Taurus, Impala's, etc. I'm not sure if I can handle the gas mileage, but hey, it is back under $1.30 around here, and I have the Miata in the garage.
Just another option for any Ford lovers out there.
Furthermore, they never mention the repair cost, insurance cost etc for certain recommended cars are high.
Bottom line - if you take that rag as gospel good luck to you. My opinion is they are biased. They give good reliability ratings on new (just itroduced) Toyotas and Hondas. Yet - no rating for a GM or a Ford. What gives. Is it written in their Bible that these brands are always reliable. Are these brands always a wisw dollar choice?
Consumer Reports is not unbiased!
you can take that to mean whatever you want it to........
Last year, the base model (200 hp) would do 0-60 in under nine seconds. Don't know what it will do with the 240 hp and the gear ratio.
I unfortunately own a 92 Taurus LX with the infamous 3.8L that hasn't blown a head gasket ( Yet ). However, It seems they blow around the mid 90k range. Mine has only 89k on the odometer.
Well enough crying already. I had the tranny rebuilt and now I'm on to my next problem area. It seems that when I apply the brakes while coming to a gradual stop the front end shakes violently? I've replaced the rotors, pads and had two new tires installed on the front. I took a quick look at the suspension and it looked okay to me, nothing loose or broken. I'd take it to a shop but after the tranny rebuild, I really can't afford them to spend my money replacing things in their process of elimination method ( Midas ).
In closing, has anyone else had these problems with the front end? Also as a side note, I can feel the brake pedal sticking from time to time, is it possible the ABS is malfunctioning?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'd sell it, but have more in it than what it is worth.
Thanks
In haste, I posted this mechanical problem in this forum. I later found the appropriate forum for my problems within this web-site.
Sorry, once again.
I believe that the 2001 Crown Vic 240 HP engine is not the Mustang GT engine (260 HP) but instead uses totally new SOHC heads. The new heads use direct actuated tappets (similar to what the LS 3.9L DOHC V8 uses) in place of the rocker arm actuated valves. The 4.6L engine is also supposed to go to an aluminum block, don't remember if this is happening in 2001 or 2002.
I have just bought a taurus GL 93' with around 70k miles on it. The thing is that when it was started this noon, there was white smoke or fog coming of the muffler (the pipe stretching from the rear part of the body) with water or some liquid dribbling. And there was a strong smell of oil around the car. I doubt that the oil was burnt in the engine.
What kind of problem is it? Is this problem very serious? By the way, I'm in Gainesville, Florida.
So many thanks,
Aparnet2
I'm sorry to hear about your car. I believe the GL has the 3.8L. There is actually a recall on the 94-95 Taurus' with the same engine for faulty head gaskets that fail prematurely. I too have have a Taurus' LX w/3.8L it only has 89K on the engine and I pray that I can get it to 100K without any trouble. From the symptoms you're describing It sounds like classic head gasket failure. White smoke, water or coolant out the muffler. What ever you do, don't drive or run the engine, you might have antifreeze in the crankcase? This could ruin your engine real fast. Check the oil dip stick and see if it is creamy or has bubbles in it? Check out the other discussion groups relating to the Ford Taurus and the head gasket problem.
Good Luck,
Thank you for your response!It's a GL with 3.0L. However, even an engine of 3.0L can still have the head-gaskets failure you mentioned. Right? (Another thing is the parts of the engine and transmission, everything is unbelievably clean and shiny better than new. I have been uncomfortable with this. And now I guess the dealership had tried to fix this problem.) Can this failure results in slight vibration of the engine when driving? I can feel it with the steering wheel.
After it came to a stop after some driving and then started again right away, there seemed no smoke.
The salesman of the dealership explained that the smoke was condensation.
The salesman is probably right if the smoke is not very thick and it disappears when the car warms up. If you had a head gasket leak you would notice an increased level of coolant consumption and possibly though not always a thick white smoke that smells like maple syrup. I cannot tell you where the oil smell is coming from, but when you first start the car the catalytic converter is not operating fully and is releasing more emissions than usual. This smell is normal, unless you have an oil leak that drips on the exhaust and then burns off as the engine heats up. Finally, the 3.0L engine does not have a history of head gasket failure. Hope this information helps. Later, Wes.
If you have the 3.0L engine, than it's probably only condensation as Wesl's theory had recommended.
I guess I was thinking about the Mercury Sable GS w/3.8L engine. Just check the coolant level in your radiator to be sure it's not being burned up in the engine again as mentioned by Wesl.
I have not heard of any problems with that particular engine (3.0L). I had an Aeorstar 3.0L w/166k when I sold it and never had any trouble except for the tranny @ 100K.
The early Taurus'/ Sables' 91-95 have had a lot of problems, especially transmissions in all models. You can do a search with any search engine i.e. Hotbot, Altavista etc... To find the repair history for these cars. The head gasket problem seems to only effect the 3.8L engine.
I bought my Taurus a year ago and it will be the
last Ford front wheel drive car I will ever own. I've already had the tanny rebuilt and having other problems that I've posted on topic Maintenance and Repairs # 153. I'd sell the car but I have too much money tied up in the transmission. Besides, the word is out about the 3.8L head gasket problem. You see a lot for sale in the local paper and on car lots around here. So, who wants to buy a Trojan horse? I've always been a Ford Truck or van person. I've always had good luck with these trucks, which others will disagree. Anyhow, I know all cars can have trouble, even Honda's and Toyota's. I'm just not happy with the reliability of the Taurus. Good luck with your Taurus GL, they're wonderful cars to drive, but who wants to waste money on a car that from the get go has had design defects especially the trannys and head gaskets (3.8L).
Take care and hopefully you'll won't have any trouble with your Taurus like so many other disatisfied Taurus/Sable owners.
See ya and Good luck.
I almost bought Ford Taurus and then I verified the body paint in the front side very small scratch not noticeable and I showed to the dealer they said they will fix that problem. My question is how they will fix? ( wax or paint ). If wax how many days the wax help?
Thanks in advance.
They ordered two new door rails, as they're called, and tried to put them on the correct way (I assume that there are instructions on how it is SUPPOSED to fit onto the car) but in doing it, the clips of BOTH of them broke! They then ordered more door rails and put them on in such a way to not break the clips that keep it on the door. This procedure worked, even though it wasn't the "right" way to do it. No weatherstriping glue was added.
Hope this info can be passed on to everyone's service department. I refused to take ownership of the car until they fixed this problem. I was glad that Barjon and others mentioned it before I bought. Thanks guys!
I LOVE this car for trips. The smoothness and kickdown of the v8 motor are fabulous and the ride and steering are almost dead on for a long distance car. Lots of room and the seats are incredibly comfy.
I really loved my old 95 Thunderbird for trips and was skeptical about switching to FWD, but this Taurus is a wonderful long distance car. The Goodyear RS-a tires are grippy, good in the wet, and seems long lasting also.
Even without the SHO trim the Taurus is a very good road car.
http://detnews.com/2000/autos/0008/22/b01-107409.htm
This week, we replaced our other Ford (93 Sable LS Wagon with 3.8L!) with a 2000 Accord EX6 - my wife preferred it over my choice the Maxima; but it's her car.
After driving two Fords over a period of some ten
years, we have talked to and met a great many fine
people across North America: AAA/CAA telephone
operators, AAA/CAA emergency crews, Ford service
managers, Ford mechanics and Ford customer service
agents.
On twelve occasions in the last ten years, the
fine people at Ford have even sent us special
(recall) invitations to go and pay them a visit.
We will miss all those fine people ...