Sitting here in Tears....Not a grand holiday

[exploder321]

I intended to buy another Taurus, someday..I have had one it was a dandy little car..
My mom had one for 10 years and 265K miles with only transmisson issues... It was a 1987, she got it August 1 1993 with 70K... When mom had her mental melt down in 2001, she lived out of that thing for 6 months, driving where ever doing odd jobs to make ends meet..Thank god my step dad got her collected and back on her feet

I understood Goatfarmers post a little... Yeah his dad is far more of an issue... Feel sorry for the poor lady dealing with death at christmas..

But in the same shoe, it's very hard on me.. I don't have medical insurance i fork out roughly $2,000 in medical bills because of this (i will be getting health insurance next month, because my grandparents have gotten back on there UHC policy, due to my arthrits, and other stuff)... When ever the car breaks, i cringe... It's hard.. I do make enough to cover the bills, medical issues and enough to buy me a lil somthin every month or to travel some... When something extra comes up (broken microwaves, etc) i cringe... Grams paid to rebuild the trans on my explorer, and for this switch that needs adjustment.. I just don't have the money...

I limited my christmas gifts to $20 for family members, $10 for others.... I want to spend more, but i can't...

The only person who will get a little more is my brother and sister... I pay for Shaenas onstar monthly on my credit card and i am going in half way with my sister and buy chris a front load washer like mine (which i have been saving for a long while)...

So thats why i got upset..I was soo afraid it was something like the Alternator or Battery... $$$$ i don't have.....

Any way thanks again guys

 

[danemodsandy]

A tip on Taurii:

DO NOT buy a 1996 or 1997 model. Earlier or later is reasonably okay. In those two years, Ford had a problem with the 3.0 litre engine's cooling system. Basically, current from the electrical system was somehow running through the engine, creating corrosion issues. The issue was never fully resolved on cars that had the problem; once the corrosion started, it was impossible to stop, even if you did everything the Ford service bulletins said to do. Ford later changed some things that kept the problem from starting in the first place. If you are looking at a Taurus, check the coolant. If it is brown, FORGET THAT CAR. Even if it's green, look closely at the coolant bottle, where you top off the coolant. If there are brown (rust) stains in the bottle, someone has changed the coolant to hide the cooling system problem. The corrosion problem can kill a Taurus's water pump, freeze plugs, radiator, and heater core, to the tune of around $3000 in repairs. Even after you fix everything, you've still got an engine with internal corrosion, and the problem will begin all over again.

Just be careful. The best Taurii ever were the 1994-1995 models; they were basically unchanged from almost ten years before, so Ford had had plenty of time to get them right. In 1996, they changed a lot of stuff, and made the cars unnecessarily complicated, particularly the electronics. The result was cars less reliable than before, and the eventual death of the Taurus brand.

Sorry to go on at such length, but I ate over $40,000 in Ford products, and I wouldn't like to see that happen to anyone else. It's easily avoided if you stay away from 1996-1997 Taurii, and stay away from the 3.8 litre engine, which loves to blow head gaskets at around 85,000 miles or so.

 

[oxydolfan1]

I really like the new Fusion!

(Ford, not Hoover, lol!)

 

[exploder321]

The Taurus/Sable i really want:

1993-1995 GL/GS with 3.0 V6 with very few options... Will have rebuilt trannie on hand though, they go out at about 100k

I agree the 3.8 V6 is terrible

Which 3.0 do you mean?? The 24 Valve Duratech V6 or the 12 Valve Vulcan V6 (i know my taurus)
I would think you are referring to the 24 Valve and i wouldn't get one of them any way..

 

[danemodsandy]

No, the Vulcan was the one that had the cooling system issues in 1996-97. That was what made my '96 such a disappointment- my Sable had the 3.8 litre engine and blew a head gasket, so I went for the smaller, supposedly more reliable engine the second time around. The engine itself was unchanged, but the electrical system routed current through it, which started the coolant corrosion problem. My problem (shared by thousands of owners) was NOT the fault of the engine itself, rather hinky electrical engineering on a car burdened with too many electronics.

The 24-valve engine has a lot of fans, but a Vulcan made in 1995 or earlier, or 1998 or later, is a very durable engine.

You DO know your Taurii!

 

[exploder321]

Taurii

Yup..Every single member of my family has had at least one Taurus or Sable...
My mom who hardly drives wants one.. I am kinda suprised about the Vulcans doing that, but then again i do know ford used a whole diffrent electrical system and computer module on the 24 Valve...

My mom had an 87 GL, I had a 99 SE, Grams had a 89 GL and a 98 SE, Gramps had a 90 Wagon, My sister had a 97 SHO, My brother an 04 Sable LS, My aunt in Florida had a 1992, my other aunt had a 1993, My former brother in law had a 1994, my evil ex step mother had a 2001, my ex grandmother had a 2000, there where a couple others in there as well, but i don't recall who had what...

I am thinking that i might try to find one soon... My rangers pee'd me off enough and i love the all mighty explorer but it needs a reliable companion..

I can tell you alot about Taurus and Sable's and Explorers, Rangers, Mountainners and B-series trucks.. Chad

 

[danemodsandy]

The coolant corrosion problem was ONLY 1996-1997 and ONLY on the Vulcan. Any other years, or any other engine, and no problem.

At least not with that. ;-)

 

[exploder321]

The transmisson was the Taurus/Sables greatest down fall..The AX4S transaxle had a weak park pawl and pressure plate and range sensor and a few other tiddly bits that caused them to fail if not flushed every 20K or so... The first years (1986-1990) they used a total hydralic unit, that was upgraded in 1991 (never buy a 1991 either) with a much better design, but still not tough enough to cut the mustard.. Although as the years whent on, they have improved.. Chad

 

[sudsmaster]

I like the Focus

But early versions of the Focus were written up for being rather unreliable. How are they these days?

I'm a long-time Chrysler product owner, but am rather fed up with my Neon. It handles great, and is comfortable, (2 door coups with electric windows/locks/side mirrors), but on top of the ABS brakes getting hard intermittantly although rarely, the tranny not wanting to go into reverse when cold, and now the head gasket leaking oil, all by 86,000 miles, I'm about ready for a change. The ZX3 looks fun and practical.

 

[goatfarmer]

SudsDude

Agreed.This past week has been tough,haven't been thinking straight. My apologies to Exploder,and all involved.Glad things are looking up for everyone!

kennyGF

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Chad. I had extended warranty on my F-150 truck to 75,000 miles and at 75,600 miles, the transmission had to be replaced. I wrote to Ford Customer Service and they did not do a thing for me. I still love my F-150 and will get a new one when the time comes.

A Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to you.

Ross

 

[exploder3211]

Usualy ford will pay for that stuff (or at least they have for me)... The replaced the transmisson in my grams explorer 606 miles after its warranty expired

 

[alr2903]

Attn Goatfarmer

Hope your dad is zipping along with his recovery. We will all keep him in our thoughts and prayers. My Mom went thru the same scenario, and YES it is a horrible kind of stress. update us when you can.