Taurus/Sable Electrical Problems

197 messages,  Last post on Feb 10, 2013 at 12:29 PM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

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

#176 of 197 Electrical Problem/Anti-Theft System Problems by jwwbuilder

Dec 11, 2011 (8:33 am)

I have a 2003 Ford Taurus with 125K miles. Everything works fine then all of all sudden the car is dead and will not start. No lights, nothing except for theft light blinking. Remote won't work either. I have researched this problem and really haven't found the answer. I have unconnected the battery and reconnected. This does not help. The only thing that works sometimes if I jump the car it will start. This doesn't happen all the time, just at random times so I am scared to turn the car off unless I am at work or at home. Any suggestions or advice would greatly be appreciated.

#177 of 197 Re: Electrical Problem/Anti-Theft System Problems [jwwbuilder] by roberg

Dec 11, 2011 (10:39 am)

Replying to: jwwbuilder (Dec 11, 2011 8:33 am)
I have the same car with 150K miles with may of the same symptoms from time to time. I have a power drivers seat and noticed the the wiring harness with three different connectors were hanging loose under the seat. I removed the seat and re-attached them to the bottom of the seat. The connectors each have a plastic threaded plug that fits certain holes. So far so good, no more
problems.

#178 of 197 Re: Need Help W/Odd Electrical Problem 93 Taurus [spenser2] by marlen

Dec 11, 2011 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: spenser2 (Mar 05, 2008 8:49 pm)
The problem to this persons issue is obviously outdated but this might help someone else with the same battery drain problem. I have a 1993 Ford Taurus SHO and started having problems with my New battery going dead over night. I accidentally found the problem when I reached under the passenger side seat. The power box for the electric seat was hot to touch (overheating) there was a small clicking sound I heard once I was close to the box. It kept running throughout the night and by morning the battery was dead. I unplugged the wires on the box and the problem was solved, no more battery drain. I took it in for repair but when I picked it up I noticed the wires were still unplugged so the mechanic plugged it in. Apparently they did not fix the problem but pretended that they did so be careful who you go to.

#179 of 197 Re: 2001 ford taurus electrical drain [maverick36] by kandacedoll

Dec 26, 2011 (5:34 pm)

Replying to: maverick36 (Jul 05, 2007 8:20 am)
this is dustin i have a 2001 ford taurus with the same problem fuse #16 i was wondering what you did to fix it

#180 of 197 2005 Mercury Sable Electrical Problem by flaminsable

Jan 26, 2012 (12:12 am)

I have a 2005 Mercury Sable GS. In the past week I had the alternator and battery replaced after the car sat so I could get a new transmission. Two weeks ago my "check charging system indicator"came on. The car died. I was told it was the alternator. Last week I had a brand new alternator and a brand new battery put in along with new belts. The car ran completely fine. Then this afternoon, I went out to go somewhere and when I went to start the car it acted like it wanted to start then shut off. I had no power and had a beeping sound. Then after five minutes I went to start it and no power, no lights, no clicking, no nothing. Does anyone have a clue on what this may be? Could it be the starter, fuses, sylenoid (sp), ignition switch, electrical relay, or something else? I am completely baffled by what it could be.

#181 of 197 Re: 2005 Mercury Sable Electrical Problem [flaminsable] by prazb2jc

Jan 26, 2012 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: flaminsable (Jan 26, 2012 12:12 am)
I had posted prior about the same problems with my 2000 Ford Taurus. We also replaced just about everything in hopes of finding and fixing the culprit; nothing helped. Ford is well aware of these failure issues, but will NOT issue a recall. Most of these "undetermined" difficulties are tied to your On-board Diagnostic (OBD) System. Unfortunately, you must take your vehicle to a licensed Ford dealer to utilize their diagnostic scanner which finds the corrupt "code" pinpointing the area/part of malfunction. This is where the rip-off comes in. What costs a bundle is the diagnostic monitoring itself. I was charged over $200 for JUST the monitoring as the first attempt failed in its diagnosis, however, after waiting a few days, the second scan DID find the problem. It was the multifunction relay which kept shorting out that needed to be replaced. The cost of the relay itself (located in the steering column) was minimal. Ford has you hook, line, and money sinker as you'll either go broke replacing parts, or have to file bankruptcy after multiple visits to the dealer. I'm sorry the answer is grim, but this may help others with "weird" problems before they have to play a guessing game of "What's Wrong With My Ford Now"? - played daily by volumes of Ford vehicle owners across the country!

#182 of 197 Re: 2005 Mercury Sable Electrical Problem [prazb2jc] by flaminsable

Jan 26, 2012 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: prazb2jc (Jan 26, 2012 1:23 pm)
Is the OBD something that can be replaced? Should I still have the starter, ignition switch, and sylenoid replaced to be on the safe side? I can say after this experience I will never ever own a Ford product again. I will stick with GM products.

#183 of 197 Electrical, perhaps? by bbowers1955

Mar 01, 2012 (12:03 pm)

My 1998 Sable sedan was running fine the other day. When I came out of Walmart, I was able start it and back out of the parking space only 3 or 4 feet before it died. Then it cranked but wouldn't start. Each time I tried to start it, it sort of sputtered as though gas was getting to it for a half-second then wasn't for a half-second, back and forth. It was almost like it wanted to backfire.
 
Anyway, I called my wife (she knows more about cars than me) and she had to drive 30 miles to come get me. Of course, when she arrived it started just fine and dandy.
 
While I was waiting for her to arrive, I asked the dude in the Walmart auto service area if it could be the fuel pump going bad. He said that my description sounded like it was something electrical. Then I remembered that for the last 5 days or so, the dome light was staying on for a long time--both when I went for a drive and when I parked it at home...it stayed on.
 
My Question: Is there some way that a mechanic can test the electrical system to see if the problem was electrical based? If not, then what can I do?
 
Thanks.

#184 of 197 Re: Electrical, perhaps? [bbowers1955] by mike_the_k

Mar 05, 2012 (12:46 pm)

Replying to: bbowers1955 (Mar 01, 2012 12:03 pm)
I've started to have the same problems on my 1996 Taurus GL - Dome lights staying on, (at first) and now components shuting off when I accelerate - Radio dies, idiot lights flash on, engine dies for a half a second. this is not good. THis all started happening in the last few months.
ALSO - The windshield wiper control stalk sometimes fails to work (again intermitantly) Some central relay or switch componant has got to be intermitantly failling.
 
DO ALL THESE THINGS RUN THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN? - IS THE MULTI-FUNTION SWITCH CENTRAL TO THE PROBLEM?
 
 The MF-switch is about $100 (or less) but putting it in requires pulling the steering wheel - (there's a youtube video showing how).
 
So the dealer could want a few hundred $'s for the job.
 
MK

#185 of 197 '03 Taurus that wont start by kylleelkins

Apr 15, 2012 (4:08 pm)

Ok I have a 2003 Taurus that i have replaced the batter, starter, relays, and the Starter Relay and it still wont start not even a click that would make it be the starter.
 
When this all started I was driving on the going about 45 and then the car just died, i thought it might be the battery, or starter so i tried jumping it off, nothing so i had it towed to my house, next day replaced the starter, and battery and still nothing not even a click or anything.
 
When i turn the key to try to start the car, all the lights come on, but nothing else. Any Ideas?
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