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Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

2996 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2012 at 9:47 AM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

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

Messages Page 193 of 301

#1915 of 2996 bad odor in cool weather by slim12

Sep 06, 2005 (4:18 pm)

I have a 2001 Taurus Se that gets a really stinky odor every Autumn and winter. During the Summer and when the AC is on all day everything is OK but when I use the air vents on a cool day or turn on the heat the car smells like stinky socks.
 
I have changed the hepa filter under the hood cowling and checked for leaks and found nothing. It's now getting coller again and I noticed that same odor today.
 
Any suggestion? Ford Dealer is no help at all.
 
Thanks

#1916 of 2996 86 Taurus 3.0 timing question by themoon77

Sep 06, 2005 (6:55 pm)

I have an 86 Taurus with 310,000 miles on the original 3.0 V6, bought it with 49,000 miles in 1992. Last week it would not start--seemed like it was out of gas, not a dead battery. The next day, it started fine, but idled too high, then dropped to a chug-chug-chug and stalled. That is all it will do now. It starts fine, runs bad for about 30 seconds, and dies. Today, a friend asked me if I had had the timing checked lately. Get this--I have never changed a timing belt/chain on this car at ALL. I can't believe I have let this go, but this car has never given trouble at all besides a tranny replacement at 70k.
 
My question is this--Is it a timing belt or chain? Also--Is the replace interval 60k or 90k like most any other car? And the inevitable question, how much, ballpark, will it cost? Like most other Tauri nearing 20 years old I figure I have a car worth maybe $300, but it has been way too good to let go.
 
Could it possibly be a different problem? I will note that the temperature gauge indicates that the car is running cold at all times, plus it has no heat. Thermostat, perhaps?
 
Thanks!
Steve Edge

#1917 of 2996 Re: 86 Taurus 3.0 timing question [themoon77] by badgerfan

Sep 07, 2005 (6:07 am)

Replying to: themoon77 (Sep 06, 2005 6:55 pm)
Tauri have never had any V-6 engines that had a timing belt, except maybe some of the SHO versions, but you obviously do not have one of those. Timing belts are more prevalent in the import brands, and even they are finally moving to timing chains as well. TIming chains generally last the life of the car, which in your case me be about now!
 
With a car your age and mileage, it could be any number of problems, like bad fuel pump, plugged fuel filter, some electrical problem in the ignition system, etc, etc.
 
It probably is not a timing problem, as there is to my knowledge no timing adjustment available, it is all electronic, even in a car this old.
 
With a stuck open thermostat, you could have fouled spark plugs as well, as the engine is running much too cold for efficient combustion. Could be all kinds of things in the fuel system gummed up as well.
 
I think you may want to actually break down an spend at least enough on it to get a professional diagnosis, then decide if you want to spend the bucks for repairs.
 
It is a very high mileage car and could easily become a money pit. You could probably pick up another Taurus 10-15 years newer and with much less miles for not a lot of money, so it likely does not pay to put too much into it.

#1918 of 2996 Computer "learning" period by vicala

Sep 07, 2005 (6:38 am)

I replaced the ignition lock cylinder in my 93 Sable, and posted a message earlier stating that the door alarm now sounded with the key out. It has now stopped alarming, and I was wondering if the computer had to "learn" that there was a new lock cylinder installed?
 
Thanks,
Alan

#1919 of 2996 Re: 86 Taurus 3.0 timing question [badgerfan] by themoon77

Sep 07, 2005 (10:50 am)

Replying to: badgerfan (Sep 07, 2005 6:07 am)
I actually bought a(n) SHO new in 1993 because I liked my 86 so much, but it was the most horrible car I have ever owned. I replaced the auto trans twice and the starter three times in the 70000 (2 and a half years) miles I had it. Of course all was covered under warranty and I did not abuse the car, but it left me stranded several times.
 
Here is what I plan to do to the 86, one part at a time. Checked compression this morning--it is fine.
-thermostat
-new plugs and wires
-EGR valve
-fuel system/intake system cleaning
 
I am just going to take it step by step. I have two spare engines, so I am not hurting for parts. I can do most of the work myself, so I won't sink anything but time into it, and it IS for the most part, my back up car, so it's not an issue of convenience.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. I will let you all know how it goes.
 
Steve Edge

#1921 of 2996 Replacing seatbelt/shoulder harness front passenger side by jimtarheel

Sep 07, 2005 (2:40 pm)

I need to replace the seatbelt/shoulder harness on my son's 2000 Taurus and I've located one from a junkyard. What's involved in removing the old one and replacing it with the one I'm buying? What tools are required? I'm looking for instructions or if it's too big a job for me, I'll take it to a service station. Thanks in advance for your ideas. Either post here or email: aea5jyahoo.com

#1922 of 2996 Re: Sable hardshift [moniree] by moniree

Sep 07, 2005 (7:17 pm)

Replying to: moniree (Aug 30, 2005 8:18 pm)
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!!
 
 I have a 99 Merc. sable. The OD light flashes on all the time. (There is no button on the gear shift)
I took it to the mechanic. He said bad solenoid and pressure sensor...would that make it shift hard? A second mechanic told me to change the tranny fluid...make sure it has Mercon 5, I did that but still shifts hard/jerks. I am SO tired of the hardshift, and don't want to spend the $400 to fix the solanoid if it won't solve the problem. I changed the motor mounts and tranny mounts, and I put in lucas tranny lube, unhooked the battery (to reset any bad codes)...and YES... still jerking.
 
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT"S I SHOULD DO???? PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!!! Reply on edmunds or monireeyahoo.com
 
Thanks!

#1923 of 2996 Re: Sable hardshift [moniree] by badgerfan

Sep 08, 2005 (8:23 am)

Replying to: moniree (Sep 07, 2005 7:17 pm)
Well, unless you knew for sure they were bad, you probably changed the motor/transmission mounts without needing to, unless I am interpreting your post wrong. Bad mounts wouldn't seem to me to cause hard shifts.
 
A sticking transmission solenoid or bad sensor, like your first mechanic diagnosed would make sense to me.
 
If you are sick of the jerking but don't want to spend any money to repair it, you seem to be stuck with no solution. No one is likely to be able to wave their hands and make it go away!
 
I suppose you could go get a third opinion for little cost, maybe from a Ford dealer shop who should know a bit about the cars and then make a decision.

#1924 of 2996 headlights/gauge lights problem by strab

Sep 08, 2005 (7:48 pm)

My wife was recently involved in an accident with our '91 Ford Taurus. She was rear-ended, but, apart from fascia damage, there doesn't seem to be any significant damage. The weird part is that now, when we turn on the headlights, the dash gauge lights don't work. I've checked what I think is the appropriate fuse, and it looks fine. The display for the radio shows the station location when the headlights are not on, but goes completely dark when I turn the headlights on; usually the display just dims. I checked the Chilton guide and couldn't find anything that seemed helpful.
 
Any suggestions?
 
Strab

Messages Page 193 of 301

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