1993 Ford Taurus: check engine light

Filed Jul 29, 2008 · Electrical · 59,630 miles · FL

I bought my 1993 ford taurus 3 months ago..it has 59k on it...one week after buying it check engine light came on..when I approached the dealership there comment was.."well things go wrong daily with used cars..I drive the car for about 10 minutes then the light will come on. I have changed all the sensors..had a tune up..radiator flush..just to mention a few things...had new motor mounts put in too..all of which has cost me well over 700.00...I called ford when I noticed they had a recall on the electrical in which I was informed they wouldn't do a thing..I can only drive this car for short periods of time before the engine starts smelling hot..though with the new thermostat it never registers its over heating..took it to my mechanic and had a computer check done..but wouldn't u know light wouldn't come on since it was just sitting. Seems it only comes on when driving down the road..again told the dealership...they keep saying must be a censor..which seems to me they knew this when the car was sold to me..yet didn't disclose that part..when I purchased it. I was sold a lemon..and ford will not honor there recalls on it..so seems im doomed..im on disability and cant afford all these repairs but no one seems to care..

Filed Oct 18, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · IL

Numerous complaints concerning leaking head gaskets. *bf the vehicle has had numerous problem with the vehicle which include the intake manifold, cooling fan, ignition wiring, coil spring failure, check engine light illuminated, alternator, head gasket and muffler. While researching the vehicle on the federal safety agency site the consumer discovered several recalls on the vehicle related the failures his vehicle experienced.

Filed Apr 28, 2003 · Engine · WI

The check engine light was intermittent, and the head gasket failed. Tsb 398-4-9 was found in reference to 1998-1995 models are prone to failure. The consumer requested reimbursement. Mr scc

Filed Jan 9, 2003 · Engine, Transmission · 81,101 miles · OH

The transmission failed while driving and without warning. *nlm *dt the transmission failed while at an intersection. The first occurrence happened while going down a hill. The check engine light had come on, and the transmission jerked when shifted. The air mass flow sensor and idle air control was replaced, along with the mlp transmission sensor, and found the lever bolt broken where it passed through the sensor.

Filed Aug 13, 2002 · Engine · FL

Engine leaking coolant and white smoke coming from tail pipe while driving. Dealer contacted. *ak the check engine light came on, the temperature rised to hot and vehicle stalled after making noise. There was water leaking out of the exhaust system.

Filed May 28, 2002 · Electrical, Engine · WA

Vehicle stalls intermittently, mostly below 50 MPH. Dealer cannot find a cause. *ak consumer stated that after 12 miles drive, the engine blew and a white whipped cram like substance came out from under the hood. The vehicle stalls while driving at low speeds also at idle and it was hard to start due to integrated control module relay failure. The check engine light came on because o2 sensor was damaged from coolant contamination. The vehicle smells of coolant due to radiator leak.

Filed Dec 13, 2001 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Consumer stated the head gaskets are going bad again, vehicle was not running properly and coolant fluid was in the combustion chambers, had gaskets replaced two years ago, contacted dealer, and dealer stated warranty expired. *ak. Consumer stated after dealer replaced gaskets, check engine light came on, radiator failed, idle air control motor, pcv failed, fuel injector seal, ignition module, starter motor, and exhaust gas recalculation (egr) failed.

Filed Sep 1, 2001 · Electrical · MD

My 1993 taurus started stalling out in june 2000 causin me to lose the power steering and brakes while driving. It first started with the "check engine light" coming on and then cutting off on the highway at 55mph. It cuts off while driving at any speed/anytime on city streets, highways and at stop signs. It won't start for about 10 minutes after it stalls out. I have even changed fuel at different gas stations thinking it was water or trash in the line but the probem didn't go away. I have had fuel pressure tessts, throttle body work, fuel injection service done several times and the problem still exists. Been to other mechanic shops and diagnostic test run and was told it was the fuel pump or the transmission or no problem found. One of the mechancis told me it sounded like it was the ignition module and suggested I take it to a dealer. In august 2001, I took it to a dealer and had the fuel injection service done, valves replaced and was told that would correct the problem but it didn't. The car was sluggish when I took it to the dealer and it is still sluggish especially when trying to excelerate. August 2001 had a new fuel pump put on and 2 days after that the car stalled out again. Since the new fuel pump has been in place the car has stalled 5 times in traffic. I am very frustrated at having to pay for unnecessary repairs and the problem still exists. There have been some close calls for a terrible accident. Please have this vehicle recalled before a fatality occurs. I don't feel safe in my own car as long as this problem exists.

Filed Jun 13, 2001 · Electrical · MO

Check engine light comes and goes off several times, the vehicle idles erratically and stalls while driving due to intemittent failure of the ignition control assembly. The dealer could not fix the vehicle because parts were not available. The consumer wants investigation regarding parts shortage. (attorney for client).

Filed Jun 21, 2000 · Engine · MO

The head gasket failed on this engine car had symptoms of head gasket failure , losing coolant , running hot when idling and check engine light periodically came on , no problems ever detected until had gasket failed.

Filed Jan 4, 2000 · Brakes, Electrical · MI

Where do I start, this car has been a money pit from day one! The brakes had to be completely replaced 3 days after we bought the car--signature ford claimed it was are fault after some argument they finally reimbursed us for the brakes. We discovered a small leak, we found it to be coming from the heater hose. We decided to trust signature ford, they claimed that we needed a new heater hose, water pump and radiator. We took are car back to the first mechanic who looked at it and he swore that those things were not leaking when they left his shop, no proof though so we haven't filed a complaint against signature ford. We have since replaced the heater hose and water pump. We are taking the radiator in to be checked out very soon. We had the starter replaced at signature ford, since it was fixed the keyless entry stopped working. We've had the brakes complely fixed, three times. We have had the oxygen sensors replaced. The airconditioner will not work, we were told that we need a new compressor and clutch. There is a short that causes a fuse to blow, resuliting in loss of gauges. One of the back windows will not work. The molding around said window does not fit properly. The power steering makes a strange noise and sometimes does not seem to be working; we took it in to signature while under warranty and were told that it was fine. When we first purchased the car the tires that were on it were too big resulting in excessive wear. The current tires show signs of excessive wear on the inside front passanger tire. The transmission has been totally rebuilt, the tech. Who fixed it said that this is typical of sho's. The fog lights sometimes fail. The lamp out light comes on even when no lamp is out. The check engine light comes on sometimes during acceleration. The door ajar light comes on and goes off at various times. If we had known then what we know now we never would have purchased this vehicle. We cannot afford all of these costly repairs! *

Filed Aug 16, 1999 · Electrical · GA

Since october 1995 my taurus has irregular function of the fuel and/or ignition systems which cause the vehicle to stall intermittently, usually during hot weather. The "check engine" light comes on and the engine just stops. Of course, I lose the power steering and brakes while the vehicle is in motion. This stalling, which is similar to a "vapor lock" problem usually occurs at slow speeds in traffic. Accelerating from a traffic light or stop sign, idling through a parking lot, and slowing down to turn right or left have all brought on this unsafe situation many times. 100+ episodes is a very low estimate of the times my car has been disabled in traffic until I can change gears to neutral and restart the engine. I have had the vehicle out of service and examined at riverside ford and parker automotive in macon, georgia with the same complaint in these months: october 1995, june, july and august 1996, july 1997, june, july, august and october 1998, july and august 1999. Do you see the hot weather pattern? We have replaced the mass airflow sensor assembly, the mlp sensor, the air meter and the fuel pump. The vehicle has been tuned up twice and had the fuel injectors cleaned. I use only 89 octane or premium from a variety of gasoline vendors. The vehicle also had failures of the front motor mount and the air conditioning system. I checked every item of the alldata disc and asked my mechanics to evaluate each possibility. On the last visit to riverside ford in july 1999, when I complained that intermittent stalling continued just a few months after I paid them for a new fuel pump, the service manager suggested my problems were due to a deteriorating head gasket. I obtained a second opinion from parker and an reasonably certain that is not the problem. I believe the intermittent stalling is a manufacturing defect which impairs safety of the vehicle, has cost me more than $1,000 in unsuccessful repair attempts, and which ford should correct now.