Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
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
Thanks-Robin
cvcbird: I was asking because I'll soon have to replace the power steering pump in my S.W. You may have seen my ranting and raving about it either here or in the other thread. Don't want to spend a dime on this car, though.
and (Floor). However, the air conditioning will only function if the outside temperature is about
10°C (50°F) or higher. I am not sure where you guys are located but your gas milage might be related to that. If not, then get your O2 sensors checked.
But recently, my milage dropped too. I was having 21.4 in city. I filled up my tank last night and only drove 30 miles and today realized, it was in the middle of first quarter tank.
I said ok and picked it up the next day, The "check engine soon" light was on after I made a stop some miles away, so I returned it to the dealer.
Next day they called and said it needed some sort of "sensor" and they happened to have one on hand (about 450 bucks!) I said OK.
Next day I picked up the car and before I drove it out of the lot the "check engine soon" light came on and the car stalled.
Needless to say I was rather disturbed at this point so I complained to high heaven in the dealership about how service had been good in recent years but has suddenly taken a dramatic down turn. (I said a lot more than this but its something I cannot repeat in this forum.)
In short, I now have a "free" loaner Sable while they are trying to locate the problem. It will be two weeks soon and all they can tell me is they cannot get the information from the computer because the "incident" does not last long enough to download!
Could they have damaged something with this initial Power Flush or sensor replacement that they will not live up too? Should I believe them when they say its a coincidence?
Have you ever get your power stering system flushed? May be you don't know but that system needs to be flushed as regular maintenance. I think you need to get your pump replaced.
I am curious, what type of maintenance you have performed on the car so far? If you haven't done anything like brake system flush, radiator flush, transmission flush, decarbonization, filters (gas + air + trany) you might want to sell your car. It will create a problem for you. Taurus is a car that needs more attention than other makes. But if you have done everything according to book, then there is no need to worry, it will serve you.
As a former Honda customer, If I needed to decide to select either one, I would pick Taurus again. For the money you pay and the options you get along with ride and built quality (you have to have better than OEM tires), I think Taurus is better. Of course, people have different taste and expectations.
You can change spark plugs yourself if it is Vulcan, if it duratec then it's kind of pain.
But, just get the flushes and drive.
For your car selection, it is up to you but I feel that you are after an image rather than gas milage. If this is the case I go with Acura but it's not then drive your Taurus. My opinion, don't waste your money, car is a car, drive your Taurus, if it is broken get it fixed.
1) for the past 2 weeks when the weather has gotten really cold (western NY) the only way to start the car is the put the gas pedal to the floor.
2)about a week ago, I put gas line antifreeze before filling up my gas tank. From there on I have heard a loud sound (almost sounds like 2 discs rubbing together) whenever I give the car gas, either in park or drive. I cannot hear the sound when I open the hood, only when I am inside the car.
I read through the other posts and some seemed related. However I am not very proficient when it comes to cars so I would appreciate the help. The car had a tune up about 5,000 miles ago. Any suggestions before I have to take it to a Ford mechanic?
Thanks
You reap what you sow. Did you consider that if you had done preventive maintenance and repairs as required, it's probable that the wheel wouldn't have fallen off? Please don't target any specific vehicle for repairs caused by your lack of upkeep.
elemint: If you are finished venting, then it would be more helpful to catalog, in a more reasoned and organized manner, just exactly what happened. For now, I give you a qualified reasonable doubt. Ok, then....?
I have a 2000 Taurus SEL with 21,000+ miles and I have periodically smelt the oil smell only after I have parked it in my garage and walked around the front to go into the house. I never asked the dealer about it but kept checking the dipstick between changes. There was no loss of oil from what I could determine. I crawled under it once when it was outside to see if oil was dripping anywhere and still could find nothing. I'm hoping for the best on this car. I only buy cars every 16 years (My only other cars were Mustangs - that's no error all you foreign car lovers!) so I'm "bookmarking" a lot of posts in both discussions and then copying them to put into my car file.
Was wondering - spark plugs are SUPPOSED to last for 100,000 miles but have any of you changed them on your 2000+ Tauruses or Sables before then? I'm following the maintenance guide to a T for this car because I don't want any premature repair bills. I got the message loud and clear about having the transmission fluid/filter changed at 30,000 miles even though in the past I only had it changed in my two other Mustangs about every 60,000 miles. Fluid is cheaper then a repair/replacement!
Thanks for any input.
I am now at 35K on my 2000 Taurus and plan on leaving them in there till 100k, assuming I do not have any performance or mileage issues.
We also have a 96 Caravan with platinum plugs and it is now at 75K miles with the original plugs. It is still starting fine and running well and I plan on not changing them until 100K if we keep the van that long.
It is also getting to be quite a pain to change the rear bank of plugs what with the ever steeper sloped windshields hanging over the engine bay and all the hardware in the way, so I think my do it myself plug changing days have come to an end.
Makes you wonder if the guys who said "go 100,000 miles" are the same folks who decided that to change the tail lights on my wife's 2001 SEL you have to take half the trunk apart and remove the entire tail light housing (same thing on my 2000 Mustang)and that to change the license plate lights on my son's 2001 Focus you need to take the lining of the trunk lid off and then remove the entire license light assembly?
I'd love to see the designers and engineers at the factory try and really work on these cars!
Oh and elemint, if that front end vibration you are talking about is the out of round rotor condition that causes the front wheels to shimmy under hard braking...if you had that problem and did not get new rotors then I don't think you have much concern for your life! A very well known Ford (and other domestic) problem with many alleged causes.
Access to bulb replacement is an issue, but I don't know that any manufacturer has thought a lot about designing for serviceability.
On the other hand, we have yet to have any bulb go out on our 1996 Caravan, and on my 1990 Taurus, the only bulbs I ever had to replace were two headlights, this in ten years. Current Taurus hasn't lost any bulbs either at 3.5 years and counting.
Somewhat off topic, I seem to notice that most prevalent of all the vehicles of recent model years I see with a burned out headlight seem to be VW's. Anyone else notice this?
I would like to continue using this vehicle, but have been advised that it would be risky, considering the mileage.
Have there been any common catastrophic failures at this mileage that have left people stranded-fuel pump, engine, transmission etc. What major parts commonly fail at or above 100,000 mi? Top 5 or 10?
My 97 protege was totaled from an accident several days ago. The other (probably drunk) driver ran away from the site. Fortunately I was not injured, well, now I am in the market for a used Taurus.
I will need you guys' opinion on this buy:
99 Taurus SE
100K miles
cruise, ABS, alloy wheels
power window, power door lock, power sear ,power mirrors
Radio cassette
It's a company car driven by an employee, started driving in May 1999
when the mileage hit 55K
the company sold this car to that employee in Oct 2001
then he has been driven this car as his private car till now
One of the backseat power window doesn't work
some blet squeeze noise which is normal for taurus/sable according to a
mechanic,
One BIG problem is the transmission got rebuilt at mileage 52K
as a whole, this car has been maintained well
all records kepts for oil change every 3K-5K miles
tranny flush and coolant flush done in 2003 at 80K miles
SELLER asked for $4000
I had thought maybe I could knock it down to $3000
now he is firm at $3500
what is your guys opinion? Does it worth that price?
Is 100K miles TOO high for a taurus?
Does the transmission rebuilt matter much?
(The rebuilt was done at FORD dealer, FORD dealer changed the non-working
parts in the transmission which costed labor+part around $2000)
really need your guys' opinion here on buying this Taurus
bow :-)
Transmission and other built quality related materials are greatly improved by 2000 and above.
I'd however stay away from a car that has 100K miles, any car. If I was looking for a second car for short trips then I'd consider it. Try to find a newer Taurus/Sable with fewer miles on the odometer. Watch out for odometer scams.
A number of years ago we bought a house for what a lot of people thought was way too much. They hadn't been shopping and didn't know the market at all. 5 years later we sold the house for $100,000 more than we paid.
Since then, I listen to no one but my own inner voice and once I make a deal walk away mentally. Suggest you do the same as you have already purchased the vehicle and really can do nothing about the price.
I believe you made a very good deal. Enjoy the car and best of luck!
Taurus/Sable are the only vehicles with more dismal automatic transmission reliability than Dodge/Chrysler minivans.
Overall I've enjoyed the car. But until the last generation start racking up a lot of miles you won't know if this problem has been fixed.These are not the only cars on the road with tranny problems. But it is definately a weakness.
Also, the car gets poor mileage - around 22 for mostly highway, occasionally as high as 25. The motor also seems to like to rev up. When starting up cold, it revs up to ~2200 rpm. It takes a couple minutes to get to normal idle - 800 rpms. As an experiment, I have tried shifting the car into neutral while going down the highway at normal speed - the motor revs up to about 2500 rpm. Is this normal? Does it need a tuneup? New plugs? Thanks