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Taurus/Sable Starting or Stalling Problems

118 messages,  Last post on Jan 20, 2013 at 1:26 PM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

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

Messages Page 8 of 13

#67 of 118 Re: Stalling at stop lights and almost at highway speeds [brandonj1979] by samanthac39567

Sep 05, 2008 (7:35 am)

Replying to: brandonj1979 (Apr 20, 2008 9:25 pm)
Strange. I have a 2003 Ford Taurus SES that I purchased in July. Yesterday on the way home from work the engine sounded funny like it was loosing power and then my alternator light came on. I did make it home (a ten minute trip) and it didn't die completely. The only thing that might be causing it is my gas cap is sort of broken and it won't make a complete seal on the gas and I am going to buy a new gas lid and see if that fixes the problem. I checked the oil and it is fine and the engine is not overheating at all. I cranked it up this morning and cranked no problem just engine sounds weak like it is loosing power. I am going to take it to autozone later and let them put it on the diagnostic machine and tell me what it might be.
 
Let me know if you find out anything else about this problem and I will let you know whether the gas lid fixes my problem.

#68 of 118 Taurus won't start - no lites - until 3-4 tries by dgwall1

Sep 21, 2008 (7:33 am)

TAURUS 2002.
 
When I get near the car and press the UNLOCK on the remote and it DOESN'T work that time, and I manually open the door, get in and then try to start the car - nothing happens until I try it about 3 to 4 times (no fuel pump sound, no lites, no cranking, not anything!). IF the remote unlocks the car, it works normally. One symptom is that NO LITES show on the instrument panel until that 3rd or 4th try. If the lites come on, then the car will start.
 
Another symptom, sometimes it tries to stutter and die while driving (rarely) and I haven't noticed whether the lites are on or not - NOT with 3 dozen cars behind me going 60 mph!!! I just try to get it started again as quickly as possible. That symptom may be related - don't know.
 
Checked the battery terminals. When I try to diagnose the problem, of course it won't fail right then. When its where I can't take a chance to just diagnose the problem, it seems to fail.
 
The leading symptom is the failure to UNLOCK with the remote. When that happens, then I am sure it is not going to start until I try it 3 or 4 times. Also, I never hear the fuel pumpt and absolutely NO LITES will come on until the next time that I start to try it (3 or 4) then the lites come on and it will crank and start.

#69 of 118 Re: Car won't stay running [susiegs50] by 1worrieddriver

Sep 28, 2008 (9:56 am)

Replying to: susiegs50 (Jan 16, 2007 6:02 pm)
94 taurus I am having the same problem with mine. It stalls out. It won't start for a period of time. I have had the control module replaced. It still does it. I can't figure it out. now it is smoking and smells as if something is burning. The temp. gauge is normal

#70 of 118 2001 Spark Plugs by kpark214

Oct 26, 2008 (6:56 pm)

I am wondering the best way to replace a 2001 ford taurus spark plugs? I have done it spark plugs in the past but only on a 4 cylinder. I don't know how to go about changing the back three on this car however. Could someone please give some good details on how to do this as my car is studdering due to needing new plugs.

#71 of 118 Re: 1996 ford taurus [thom102] by taurusidiot

Dec 31, 2008 (10:19 am)

Replying to: thom102 (Mar 01, 2008 5:35 pm)
Hi thom102,
I have the same car and the same problem. The mech told me the engine was shot but I don't believe him. I suspected the timing chain also until I realized it had a 'chain' and not a timing BELT.
If you find an answer please let me know!
Mine has plenty of gasoline pressure and all the spark plugs fire (I pulled each one and checked 'em). When I try to start it, it almost seems to want to start then it goes back to just a fast cranking.??? Putting oil in the cyls did not increase the compressions. I had NEVER had any problem starting this car before (have a great 'Optima' battery) and charging system works great.
I'm confused with the low compressions though. I feel it is either bad head gaskets, bad /warped head(s) or stranger then that, that the valves aren't closing properly???
Since all this came about very suddenly makes it evan more confusing. The engine only has 35,000 miles on it. It was put in new in 2002.
The OBDII data link on mine has never worked so I can't get any signals from it.
So if anyone out there has an idea, please let us in on it.
Thanks

#72 of 118 95 tarus with what seem to be fuel problems by bakedpuppy

Jul 30, 2009 (2:58 pm)

#73 of 118 95 taurus fuel problems by bakedpuppy

Jul 30, 2009 (3:02 pm)

car starts fine but when you give it gas it stutters and if you push the pedal farther it stalls out iget no trouble codes off self test, i can feather the pedal and keep it running but when rpms go up engine acts like its got a govenor on it only allowing it to a low rpm if anyone has an idea any help would be appreciated

#74 of 118 2003 FORD TAURUS SPORT WAGON STALLING by akr7064

Aug 05, 2009 (1:20 pm)

My 2003 Taurus 3.0 Duratec has 30,000 miles on it and I am having the STALLING deal when it gets WARM UP!And I have to let it sit about 30MINS. Before it will RUN! I can drive 1 hr. or as much as I want,turn it OFF and then I have to WAIT about 30 to 35 mins. And it will be Fine!If any body knows what is going on!Do TELL!!

#75 of 118 Seven_Day_Itch by sevendayitch

Aug 05, 2009 (6:01 pm)

1993 Merc Sable 3.8V6. Weard as it may sound, it starts and runs great for 6 days. On the 7th day, it will turn-over but will not fire/start. First time this happened I plugged in a simple ODB tester. Nothing important came up. Tried starting and it fired right up. Ran great for 6 days, on 7th day would not fire. repeated the testing and it fired right up. It did this for 5 weeks consistently. Finally got tired of the hassle and took it to the ford dealer. They replaced the fan/temp sensor because the fan would run when you first turn on the ignition. They found some minor corrosion on some wires and charged me $350. Drove it home but than went on vacation for 9 days. Would not start after I got home.
ANYBODY know what is going on?? This seven day cycle has me stumped. Also, the 7th day when it won't start has been on a Sunday. True! Go figure. Is there something in the computer that happens after 7 days. I figure every time I run the dianogists it would reset the computer. After the 5th week of this, for some reason I could not run the diagnostics to get it to start.
It is a great car otherwise. Maybe it just has the "seven_day_itch" and wants to retire. Or maybe it is Jewish. HELP!!

#76 of 118 Re: 2003 FORD TAURUS SPORT WAGON STALLING [akr7064] by akr7064

Aug 15, 2009 (8:51 am)

Replying to: akr7064 (Aug 05, 2009 1:20 pm)
I was getting BAD GAS at my service station so I swichted to a differ, station! Now every thing is FINE!! I hope this HELPS some one!!

Messages Page 8 of 13

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