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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 27 of 300

#260 of 2996 RE: 1989 Taurus GL (hoofer) by nematode

Dec 07, 2000 (1:11 am)

1989 Must have been a good vintage. I have an 89 with 140k. Nothing special has been done to maintain it at all.
All fluids (brake, transmission, coolant, most everything) have been changed on schedule (the Ford schedule) and routine maintainance (belts, hoses, tune) as called for. Have replaced stereo wich was possessed, water pump, battery, alternator 2 times, alignment and balance 2 times(once free), the A/C (updated to the new coolant) and a few other things.
The only exception are the oil changes. The first were at 3k intervals by the original owner for the first 100k (almost) and then I got it for FREE. Yup, free!!!! I change the oil every 7500 miles and have had most of my cars crack 180k at which point I usually get rid of them because of other problems (never engine problems) or I just want something never/different. Two times I changed the oil at 4000 miles because I was living it he city for a while but thats it.
The cars that I have traded in earlier than 180k or so were mostly due to other problems. Never a single engine problem with 7500mile oil changes with regular mineral oil. So I do not believe that the 3k interval extends the life of the engine to any significant degree but thats just my opnion. Either way, the Road Warrior Taurus at 11 years old...
1) Drives beautifully and still accelerates very well
2) Has a few sqeeks but rides pretty quietly up to 65mph. It has always has a little shimmy beyond 70mph so I dont go there.
3) It just passed emissions with flying colors!! So its good for at least 2 more years.
4) It can get almost 30mpg on the highway at 60mph on 87octane!!!! From Philly to St. Louis I got 28.5mpg this last time at 60mph. AMAZING!!!!!
5) Does pretty well in the snow on all season rubber


I think the 1989 and 1990 were great cars. BUT the 91 to 94 seem to have horrible problems and some of the recent ones dont seem to holding up too well either. I do have a salesman friend who has 190k on his 1996 but that ALL highway.


Anyway, the Taurus is no longer my daily driver and does not pile up miles like it used to but I still maintain it as a second car. I drive it 2 times a week (about 50miles or less).
Currently the transmission MAY be slipping a tiny bit, its showing some rust because its an outdoor car, and it loses (not burns but seepage) about 1 quart every 6000 miles. My goal is to get 5-7 more years from it but I would happy with 3.

#261 of 2996 AXOD-E glitch by upsetter

Dec 27, 2000 (5:27 pm)

So far I had found that it wasn't computer memory glitch (mentioned in post #259). It looks as if some capacitor was charging very slowly several days and then bang - tranny had some problem with turning on clutch - so bumming and hard shifting up to 3rd speed. When I detached battery - capacitor slowly discharged and tranny behaved like new for few days.
 
After realizing it I tried last time to switch on everything that can consume electric current in the car while battery was off to discharge this mysteriuos capacitor. And it worked! So no problems since then. Don't have any idea what it might be, don't even know how this clutch works.

#263 of 2996 Cooling Problem / No Heat 96 Taurus by rmbush

Dec 27, 2000 (8:03 pm)

My '96 Taurus recently starting running hot during traffic stops (Live in Houston quite common) and the temp. gauge starts getting hotter and hotter the longer you sit in the traffic. You can put the car in neutral or park and accelerate up to 2,000 or 2,500 rpm's and the temp gauge got right down. I have changed the thermostat and checked the fluid level all seems to be fine. Also the heater now only works when the engine is running 2,000 rpm and above.
 
Thought that the only other thing it could be would be the water pump. Any ideas before I change the water pump.
 
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Ron

#264 of 2996 Transmission problems by arahfool

Dec 28, 2000 (3:41 pm)

I have a '94 AL with 78k miles (3.0 engine). Except for the normal tires, brakes and batteries, I have not had to replace anything. I have it serviced regularly, to include new fluid and filter in the transmission at 60k miles.
Now, with no warning, the transmission will no longer shift into 2nd or 3rd gear. When I accelerate from 1st gear, it goes into neutral and stays there until I slow down and it downshifts back into 1st gear.
My question is does this indicate a need to rebuild/replace the transmission or could it be something simpler? I know it is difficult if not impossible to 'troubleshoot' a problem over the phone/web but thought I would ask in case someone has had a similar experience.
 
Thanks

#265 of 2996 96 Taurus Steering & Suspension by herbeez

Dec 29, 2000 (7:27 am)

Recently purchased a 96 GL. After having fairly good luck with a 92. Working good so far! When I turn the steering wheel while stopped or at low speeds, I get a lot of moaning and growling! My experience from owning other fords is that the shock tower bearings need lubrication or replacement. Sometimes when the care is warm, I also get some popping noises from the left side, but not consistently. Am I going down the right path here? Are there any reasonable fixes? There must be other owners who have similar growls! I would appreciate any help I can get on this.

#266 of 2996 arahfool, it sounds like bad news by 210delray

Dec 29, 2000 (8:03 pm)

It seems likely that the problem is the transmission. I had a '90 Sable with the 3.0-liter, and at 93K miles and six years, the transmission refused to shift into overdrive (4th gear). I went to 2 different shops and both said the same thing - the transmission would have to be replaced. It cost me about $1600 for a rebuilt transmission.
 
By all means though, have it checked out; maybe it won't be as bad as mine was.

#267 of 2996 herbeez & growling by ezaircon4jc

Dec 29, 2000 (10:11 pm)

My '91 Sable with 173k had the same noise when cold. It started slowly at around 100k. I just put it off and figured I would replace the upper strut mounts when I did the struts. Alas, we traded in the car for a Lincoln LS. Even with the milage, we got $1500 on the trade!

#268 of 2996 2000 Taurus LX (yes LX!) by runman

Jan 03, 2001 (11:03 am)

Just purchased a new 2000 LX and am interested in any experiences (good - bad) . Thanks - looking forward to some feedback!

#269 of 2996 Help! by sable93

Jan 11, 2001 (9:05 pm)

I posted this in the Sedans - Mercury Sable topic, but I'm going to post it here too because I need all the help I can get for my '97 Taurus GL. Thanks!
 
"Hey, has anyone here had a problem with their dome lights and door ajar light staying on after the,car is started and the door is DEFINITELY shut? My car has started this interesting problem just last Sunday. Along with this, when the light is on, I can't lock the doors without the lock popping right
back to unlocked. It eventually corrects itself, with the light going off, and a quick chime. Hopefully this won't be too expensive to fix. I bought the car for about $9000 (no loan) in May, and since have poured the $3000 into it. I'm not sure the car is worth much more...... I used to like it a lot.. now it is more of a love-hate relationship."

Messages Page 27 of 300

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