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Last post on Dec 01, 2012 at 9:47 AM
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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.
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Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Sedan, Wagon
#2203 of 2996 95 Taurus Won't Turn Off
by nonmechanic
Jan 14, 2006 (1:59 pm)
My son's 1995 Ford Taurus will not shut off! Last night, I had to pull a fuse to get it to shut off. Even at that, the engine died, but the radio and other lights were on, so I pulled a battery wire off as well. As it is running, you can move the key back to the off position and pull the key out, and the car keeps running. When I put the fuse back and hook the battery up, I can start it again, but then it won't stop again. I replaced the ignition lock mechanism (where the key goes into), but still the same problem. It'll run without the key!
#2204 of 2996 99 mercury Sable Trouble Codes
by jaw3
Jan 14, 2006 (2:56 pm)
I have a code 171 and 174 (system too lean, bank 1 and 2). I replaced the fuel filter as a friend told me. I reset the code by taking the battery loose. I drove about 50 miles, highway and in town, starting and stopping the engine several times. When it sat overnight the sensor light came on again this morning, any ideas?
#2206 of 2996 Re: 99 mercury Sable Trouble Codes [jaw3]
by alcan
Jan 14, 2006 (6:48 pm)
Time to find out why it's running lean. First, check fuel pressure with a proper fuel pressure gauge. If it's ok, start looking for vacuum leaks. The PCV valve grommet is a usual suspect. If it's ok, check for any split, cracked or disconnected vacuum hoses. Also make sure there are no cracks in the air ducting from the mass airflow sensor to the throttle body, and the ducting is fully seated at both ends. If nothing is found, might have leaking intake manifold gaskets. Bet bet for diagnosing that is a shop with a smoke machine.
#2207 of 2996 Re: Shocks/Struts for 2002 Taurus? [jaxs1]
by badgerfan
Jan 16, 2006 (10:18 am)
It has struts at all four wheels.
My experience is they will usually be good for at least 100K miles and maybe much more.
Usually you can tell when they are getting bad on any car when the car starts to wallow and continue to bounce a while after going over dips and road undulations. The exception may be on most Buicks of older than current design, and larger Toyotas-Camries and Avalons, where the suspension is quite underdamped by intent to produce that soft mushmobile ride.
#2208 of 2996 2003 Taurus Air Bag Light flashing code 42
by manning01
Jan 16, 2006 (4:45 pm)
My 2003 Ford taurus is blinking a 4 followed by a 2 code several times than stays on. So assume it's code 42 I checked the horn and cruise and they work so I can assume the slider connection "clock spring is okay". Does anyone have an idea what is causing this fault. I don't have access to the code discription and no work has been done on the car since I got it 2 years ago "no problems untill now". Any help would be greately appreciated....
#2209 of 2996 Re: Shocks/Struts for 2002 Taurus? [badgerfan]
by jaxs1
Jan 16, 2006 (6:02 pm)
There was some cupping on a tire and the tire shop said that is a sign one of the shocks is bad.
Car had about 40,000 miles at first sign of tire cupping and tire only had about 10,000 miles. The tire is noisy at about 40mph and there is a very slight thumping vibration felt in the steering wheel at that speed. Feels almost like driving with a small pebble stuck on the tire.
The car does not drift right or left, so it seems wheel alignment is fine.
#2210 of 2996 Re: Shocks/Struts for 2002 Taurus? [jaxs1]
by doohickie
Jan 16, 2006 (10:13 pm)
One thing I've learned about Fords (and really, cars in general) is that it pays to balance and rotate the tires regularly. If you've been doing that, then perhaps there is a suspension problem.
If you haven't rotated or balanced, you may have just let a small imbalance propagate to the point where it ruined the tire and may need to replace some tires. But if you have rotated and balanced, then yeah, it could be a suspension part such as a strut.
My wife's 03 Taurus has 65,000 miles on the original tires and aside from a little more road noise (which may be from the tires or perhaps the wheel bearings), they are still in amazing condition. No wobbles, no bumps, and still decent tread (5/32"). I've never seen original equipment tires last so long.
#2211 of 2996 Re: Shocks/Struts for 2002 Taurus? [doohickie]
by jaxs1
Jan 17, 2006 (8:44 am)
The tires are balanced and rotated every 5,000 miles, so that wasn't the problem.
The factory tires were pretty evenly worn out by 30,000 miles and were too slick on wet roads, so I replaced them at that point.
#2212 of 2996 Re: Shocks/Struts for 2002 Taurus? [jaxs1]
by doohickie
Jan 17, 2006 (9:25 am)
Probably suspension wear then.