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Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

3006 messages,  Last post on Jun 15, 2013 at 3:20 PM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 136 of 301

#1350 of 3006 A/C Unit Problem with an 02 Taurus SES by pjb929

Sep 09, 2004 (5:08 am)

I purchased my 2002 Ford Taurus used with less than 19,000 miles in March of 2003. Within a week I noticed a problem with the defrost system. As the car would sit idling and the defrost was on the rpms would jump sporadically from the lowest reading up to the red zone. As this happened the car would sound like it was about to stall. The check engine light also would come on. I immediately returned to the dealership where I was informed this happened with Taurus' in cold weather. By the time June came the weather was warm in PA and I was running my AC. The same problem was occurring. I returned to the dealership a few more times each time being informed the problem was fixed. Now it is September of 2004 and I have no cold air blowing when my AC is on and the defrost system does not seem to work. The car continues to stall when idling and either the AC or Defrost are turned on. Of course my warranty has expired except for serious engine failures (I purchased an additional 5yr/75K warranty that only includes engine & transmission problems). I had the AC system checked by a mechanic but they could not find a leak, now they want to perform a dye test for $165 which I can't afford because I'm a college student. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm in dire need of correcting this problem! Thanks so much for your time!!

#1351 of 3006 Re: A/C Unit Problem with an 02 Taurus SES [pjb929] by snowman

Sep 09, 2004 (6:14 am)

Replying to: pjb929 (Sep 09, 2004 5:08 am)
"As the car would sit idling and the defrost was on the rpms would jump sporadically from the lowest reading up to the red zone"
 
I couldn't get a good grip of the problem, but jumping to red zone looks excessive. If you have been dealing with Ford Delaership then you have a case that the same issue has been coming up over and over despite what dealership has told you. Talk to Ford Customer Service.
 
For stalling issue, I believe you have clogged Idle Air Control Unit, Engine light may be related to DFPS sensor or EGR Valve. These are not expensive items and if you are technically inclined you can pull them out and inspect them except DFPS sensor. You can't opened that piece.
 
First, go to AutoZone and get your CEL read, see what the code is and you can move from that point. Or post here, we'll try to guide you...

#1352 of 3006 Need new dealer by fdthird

Sep 10, 2004 (10:54 am)

I'd say that you were getting a run around from the Ford Dealer too! Saying that this happens to Taurus in the cold is just bull and what they were really saying was we don't have any desire to fix your car!
 
Car Dealers - - sometimes the worst part of owning a car!

#1353 of 3006 CEL code P0411 by tig2002

Sep 13, 2004 (12:08 pm)

I had CEL lit on my Dad's '00 Taurus about two weeks ago. Since the most common problem with CEL on most cars is not tight enough fuel tank lead, I tightened it up, disconnect the "+" wire from the battery for 5-10 minutes and re-connected it. The light went off for 2 weeks and came back on last Saturday. I decided to stop by AutoZone for code check and got results of reading as code P0411. Unfortunately the sales person at AutoZone could not point to what is exactly causing the problem, but the code's description, as I remember correctly, is that something in secondary air injection line is not functioning properly. This can be an explanation of why the gas mileage (according to my Dad) went from 24-15 MPG to 20 MPG. I called local Ford dealer and asked if he can specify what exactly the problem could be caused by. Of course he asked to bring the car in for $80 diagnostic, which I don't blame him for, since this is not a type of problem that is caused by only one particular component.
 
Could anyone share his experience and provide further trouble shooting steps in order to find the exact mulfanctioning component that causes the computer to generate code P0411? Has anyone had CEL to come on with such code? If so, what was the fix?
 
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

#1354 of 3006 '95 Taurus doesn't sound promising?? by cmruff

Sep 13, 2004 (8:05 pm)

I'm looking for a car for my 17 year old daughter. So far the best of the bunch is a 1995 Taurus SE w/ 128,000 miles. The transmission was rebuilt at 100,000. It has a cracked radiator and a small oil leak.
I am VERY leery of Fords - any words of wisdom? I think I should keep looking...

#1355 of 3006 Re: '95 Taurus doesn't sound promising?? [cmruff] by jebinc1

Sep 14, 2004 (4:48 pm)

Replying to: cmruff (Sep 13, 2004 8:05 pm)
Keep looking. You can pick up a 2000 - 2003 current generation Taurus for a song (and there are a lot of them out there). I picked up a 2002 SES with 30k miles for $6,600 for my 16yo son. Runs great and still under warranty!

#1356 of 3006 Re: '95 Taurus doesn't sound promising?? [cmruff] by wijoco

Sep 15, 2004 (6:11 am)

Replying to: cmruff (Sep 13, 2004 8:05 pm)
I would avoid it. 98+up are the more reliable years.

#1357 of 3006 by kirstie_h HOST

Sep 15, 2004 (6:20 am)

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#1358 of 3006 Laundry List from the dealer by greg32

Sep 15, 2004 (10:10 am)

I took my 2000 Mercury Sable SW 24v into the dealer for the 60000 mile check up and got back a $2800 estimate for a bunch of repairs. One of the big ones was $671 to replace the valve cover gaskets. Then an extra $350 to clean the throttle body since he would have to move it out of the way to get to the back gasket. Does this sound like a reasonable estimate? Has anybody else had this done? Thanks.

#1359 of 3006 Re: Laundry List from the dealer [greg32] by badgerfan

Sep 15, 2004 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: greg32 (Sep 15, 2004 10:10 am)
Do you have oil leaking out of the valve covers? If not, you don't need the work, and a small amount of seapage won't hurt anything anyway.
 
I also would doubt you really need $2800 in "repairs". Sounds to me like this dealer is trying to pack you with unneeded service.
 
If you have no known driveability issues, ie the engine starts OK, runs OK, mileage is OK and transmission shifts OK, AC works, no coolant or transmission oil leaks, etc., I would just have them do the recommended maintenance in the book and nothing else.
 
If in doubt, go get a second opinion and consider not going to that dealer again. Try an independent shop as well. Taurus has been around a long time and lots of shops can work on them and typically for much less money than dealer shops.

Messages Page 136 of 301

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