Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008

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3389 messages, Last post on Jan 21, 2011 at 11:46 AM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

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

#2325 of 3389 California certification by ehenness

Jun 27, 2003 (4:41 am)

There shouldn't be any differences in the car except for some of the calibrations within the powertrain computer. NY and Massachusetts (and now Vermont, I think, as well) require new cars sold or registered there to be California-emissions certified. MA required this starting with new 1995 model cars.

I'd guess the car you're looking at came from one of those states, not California, if you're on the East Coast.

The specs for the last several years (1996-up) are no different for CA vs Federally-certified cars, both for EPA estimates and HP/torque ratings. This is true at least for the Taurus--I can't say for other models.

I have a '98 Taurus that was a Ford-owned car in Michigan (i.e., Federal certification) and it's now registered in MA. The dealer has not had any problems servicing it, nor have I, even though most Tauruses here are CA emissions cars.

If you go to a dealer, they will bring up the car info by VIN in the Ford system, and that will have the emissions/powertrain calibration codes. If for some reason you need to have it re-flashed or otherwise changed, the re-flash process will ask for the current calibration code (or read it out of the computer) and will know what that means.

Shops that use the latest diag equipment and computers should also be able to read this info and know what to do with it.

In short, you should not have a problem. As far as I can tell, the parts are all the same and it's the calibration (i.e., computer programming) that changes. If there is a difference in parts, the fact that MA, NY, and VT use California certification should mean that dealers and parts stores either stock the parts or can get them easily and quickly.

If you like the car, go for it. The emissions certification shouldn't concern you.

#2326 of 3389 Damned ringing bells by ijennings1

Jun 30, 2003 (12:44 pm)

I have a 2000 Duratec SES. I am very safety concsious and wear belts when driving. However, sometimes, like reversing to park and reversing out my garage, the bell rings telling me I haven't got my belt on and if I leave the key in while stationery, it too rings. They are driving me mad. I looked for a fuse to see if i could disconnect them to no avail. Can someone please tell me how i can get rid of these blessed things.

Thanks in anticipation

Ian

#2327 of 3389 bells, bells, bells! by ehenness

Jul 01, 2003 (4:37 am)

That's the "Belt Minder" feature. You should find the method to turn it on or off in your owner's manual.

Basically, it involves turning the key on and inserting and removing the belt a certain number of times within so many seconds. I don't have details, but it's in the manual.

If you don't have one, you can get a free PDF version from Ford's service website at www.qualitycareservice.com (click on 'glove box manuals' under the 'maintenance' heading on the lower left of the page). If you want to buy one, go to www.helminc.com, which is Helm's website. They are the document vendor for Ford.

Note that the usual belt signal will probably still sound when you first start the car (you get the seat belt light and 5-10 seconds of a chime). That happens with every car, going back into the 1970s. The belt minder is the one that chimes at intervals all the time.

#2328 of 3389 For ehenness by ijennings1

Jul 01, 2003 (5:12 pm)

Thanks my friend for taking the trouble and time to tell me this. I'll give it a try.

Kind regards

Ian

#2329 of 3389 Why is no one in this discussion? by libertycat

Jul 16, 2003 (12:09 pm)

I LOVE the Taurus!!! If I got one, it would be an SEL Premium with beige interior and gold exterior sedan. I would get the wagon if it weren't so darn ugly on the rear side and rear end.

#2330 of 3389 2003 Mercury Sable LS - A/C by bgbolumen

Jul 16, 2003 (6:12 pm)

Just bought a 2003 LS and can't quite figure out the A/C and/or outside air vents. Driving it home from the dealer whenever you put it anywhere(feet, defrost, etc.) except on the vent to the chest only (don't know what else to call it) it always turns the A/C on. That is, without turning the A/C, as soon as I set the air direction to the feet or as defrost or anywhere except ONLY up to the chest, the A/C kicks on. Is this something wrong or is this the way the Taurus and Mercury A/C works? I should give a call to the Service guy tomorrow but wanted to see if this was only my car or everyone's.
Thanks.

#2331 of 3389 bgbolumen by libertycat

Jul 16, 2003 (6:13 pm)

I'm pretty sure something is wrong. Does your LS have leather, wood trim, 6-disc in-dash cd changer, etc.?

#2332 of 3389 re: 2003 Mercury Sable LS - A/C by bgbolumen by ezaircon4jc

Jul 16, 2003 (8:49 pm)

That's the way it's supposed to work. In any mode except vent, the a/c will engage. It's in the owners manual. All my Ford products (1986, 1988, 1991, 1996 Sable and 2000 & 2001 Lincoln LS) have done/do it.

#2333 of 3389 I'm sure he's right by libertycat

Jul 16, 2003 (8:50 pm)

I don't own a Taurus/Sable, have only had numerous rentals (and loved them!).

#2334 of 3389 libertycat by badgerfan

Jul 17, 2003 (7:48 am)

Try one with the Duratec engine. You will like them even more. Likely your rentals were base engine Vulcans, which are adequate, but the Duratec just gives you a lot of extra jump with virtually identical mileage numbers.

Probably not a lot of posters here as this generation Taurus has been out since 2000 thus the buzz of a new model has long since subsided. Also, the level of posting is highly dependent on most boards by having a small group of persistent posters. For example, the Olds Intrigue board gets a lot of posts, even though the car is no longer in production.

As far as what selector positions AC on goes, I do believe mine comes on automatically when the selector is in Defrost,the Defrost/Lower Vent mix, and in the AC and Max AC positions. These positions make sense in that you want to dehumidify any air that hits the windshield, then use the temperature control to reheat it so that you are using dry warm air on the windshield, to remove moisture on the inside as rapidly as possible. These comments are for the base system, not the automatic climate control system which I cannot comment on.

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