Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
section about recalls. Which part of the site did
you enter?
I bought my Sable at the end of April 2000, and
when I called Ford Detroit. the rep told me that
my car had been recalled. I had previously given him
my VIN.
My station wagon is flawless and would be a relief
for me not to have "Ford technicians" put their
paws in my car.
P.S. - My 2000 SEL has also been flawless in all respects.
It seems like you can crank it up and make it very obvious or back it way off and make it go away.
The oil companies would have you believe you need a new type of oil every 3000 miles if they could get away with it. Look at these 2 new products out now, Valvoline Max Life 10W30 and Pennzoil-Quaker State(they're the same company now) high mileage 10W30. Are we to believe that after 75,000 miles that regular 10W30 is no longer applicable?. What a bunch of hogwash. Do regular oil and filter changes at OEM specs and you won't have a problem, belive me.
I got my filter at Auto Zone. As you know, they don't have anything listed in the cataloque. The sales person at Auto Zone will have to call K&N and order the part for you. When they did this, the filter arrived the next day. Of course you'll probably have to pre-pay for the filter. When you get the filter, please note that the new filter element is not nearly as "thick" as the OEM filter; that's the way it should be. Just follow the directions for installation. The instructions say to disconnet the intake box to install the filter seal, but I found that you don't really need to do that. The box can be positioned for easy installation without a complete disconnect. However, please remember I have the Vulcan engine; not sure how much room you have for the Duratec engine. It took me less than 5 minutes for the installation. Bill K sends.
Also, any other Taurus wagon owners with the FFV engine, do you get knocking and pinging? Just curious. Thanks for your help.
I had an appointment Monday morning (April 2nd) to have the corrective work done regarding safety recall # 01S08. I dropped my Sable off expecting the work to take several hours. Within 15 minutes of arriving at the office, I received a call from my service manager informing me that the work was complete! Needless to say, I was pleased. I only wish he'd informed me that it would only take 15 minutes to perform the correction!
Glad to have the problem corrected now. Fortunately, my Sable never exhibited any of the problems (outlined in the safety recall) before I had the corrective work carried out.
I'm still enjoying the car in spite of the two problems (incorrectly installed power steering hose and this safety recall) I've experienced in the seven months since I began the lease. Hopefully this will be it. We'll see.
Now for my question. I talked to Ford yesterday about recommended service upcoming for my Taurus. At 30K miles they recommend a $475 service appointment where they do everything from an alignment to a transmission fluid and filter change to a tune up. I thought the Taurus was on a 100,000 mile tune up interval and asked the service guy about that. He replied that the 100,000 tune up interval only applied to the spark plug wires. That yanking feeling must be someone pulling my leg. I checked the scheduled maintenance guide, and it mentions nothing about a tune up OR a transmission fluid and filter change at 30K miles. What are your thoughts? I've heard from other Taurus owners that having the transmission fluid and filter changed every year is a good idea, but why tune up the car if it doesn't need it. Additionally, I take my car to NTB for all alignments and tire service, so Ford can stop pushing that as well. It sounds like this dealer is trying to get as much $$$ out of me as possible. Just want to hear what other Taurus owners have experienced. Thanks!
I have never gone to a dealer's service department for any of the many brands of car I have owned over the years and not had them pushing services on you far and above what the manufacturer recommends. Sometimes the bill for a simple 15 or 20,000 mile servicing is so much you start thinking about a home equity loan!
While leaving the plugs in the block for 100,000 miles may be a bit crazy (my mechanic tells me tails of the fun they have trying to break these plugs loose)and you may have your own preferences on the changing of oil and filters and the like, following the schedule that the car maker has outlined in the owner's and or service manual I think is the way to go. If you read the long term tests most car mags do, you'll see that they follow the manifacturer's recommendations for service during the test periods.
I love my present Ford dealer and have bought 3 cars for our family in the past year but I also have a relationship with a great indipendant mechanic who I trust. Taking my 2000 Mustang convertible to the dealer for the 6,000 mile oil change cost me $75. Taking it to my mechanic for the 9,000 mile change cost me $30.
The last thing I'll say is that I really doubt that they do all the items on even the Ford checklist. I know my Mom just took her Toyota Camry in for its 5,000 mile service and got it back needing 15 lbs of air in 2 tires.... checking the air pressure is one of the things they say they do!
Look, I know they are trying to make a buck and they do have a lot of overhead but I think spending money for things you don't need or that aren't done is not my idea of how to spend my maintenance budget!
Just my opinion.
Good luck buddy!!
have the deepest mistrust about dealer svce depts
as I don't believe they do anything to deserve
to charge me high rates other than to meet their overhead. My mechanic, on the other hand, owns his shop and he used to work for Mercedes Benz in Germany. I've been going to him for the last 9 years. He doesn't work for free but doesn't overcharge me either. He just follows the manufacturer's service
schedule, calls me by my first name and really listens to me. Never had a problem with the three new vehicles I brought to him.
I have 59k and the gas mileage is good. Not planing on changing the plugs yet. Basically I've changed brake fluid, oil and antifreeze since I bought the car. It's keep insurance.
I'd carefully weight not changing the trans fluid verse trans failure due to lack of maintenance!
I wish I could make up my mind.
The only thing stopping me is if I can give up having a truck. I know others who have gone from a truck to a car and are happy, but I have this nagging voice in the back of my head...
on Tuesday my truck gets $400 more in repairs. I spent $700 just before X-Mas soooo, maybe that'll shut that voice up!
Anyway, good luck with your car woes.
The Taurus SEL is a great car and its a real pleasure to be driving a car that can go anywhere (even elevated parking structures) in style!
Good luck with your decision... look at it really hard and see if the truck need is really there... then make your decision.
My big decision has been base Impala vs Taurus. In the past, I just bought a car I liked and didn't put all this research into it. Car shopping is supposed to be fun but I find the more research I do the more confusing it gets! I'm buying in May so in another month I'll be out of my misery and will just live with whatever I buy.
But the 27 or so I could get with a Taurus sounds much better than the 14 I'm getting now... On the other hand, my loan will be paid off in December...
I'm just one of those indecisive types!
Don't know if you saw the post I sent last night, but it said that the problem I had with that dealer was just that particular town I was in. I had the same problem at the Chevy place. The Ford place where I live had 8 LX's on the lot and that's where I think I'll get the best deal. Although I have a two more places I want to go
the holdback is 3% of the MSRP listed on the sticker. So, if the MSRP is $19k, then the holdback is $570.
I understand some have already been restored, and more may be coming, but there are no promises at this point.
Please accept our sincerest apologies for this situation and trust that every effort is being made to rectify the problem. Thank you for your patience.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
There's an ad in the paper listing the Taurus's for $300 or so under invoice. I may be buying a car before May. I'm certainly getting the car fever!
Hope you have a nice Easter weekend!