4th Time In The Shop In 4 Months

1652 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by jj57, Apr 27, 2004

Joes2003SES

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2004

Hello all! I'm really getting frustrated with my Taurus. Its a 2003 SES with the vulcan engine. It was a program car when I purchased it with 19,000 miles. After owning it for 2 weeks I had a puddle of water in the floorboard. It hasn't happened again, but my friends has leaked twice and he had his door seal replaced. So I do anticipate that happenning again. I also had my oilpan gasket replaced because of an oil leak. Then it was recalled last month for some sort of air filter problem. And just this past friday the engine light has come on. Its in the shop now and I should get it back tomorrow. I have never heard of anyone having this many problems with a 1 year old car and I've only owned it since January of this year. It makes me wonder what else will happen once the warranty expires. This is my first ford and my confidence is starting to fade fast. I've always owned Chevy's and now I'm wondering if I should have stuck with them. I love the looks of the Taurus, many options, and great price. Now I'm wondering about the longevity. I'm so frustrated I've thought about trading for an Altima. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Joe

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G

· #2 · Apr 19, 2004

Altima is a great car, especially now that they have updated the interior, its one sexxxy car

My car was in the shop every 3 months last year - and continued this trend onto this year. The story ends as I am selling it. Right now all your problems seem to be very minor. Do you know what set the light off? If you are very concerned about longevity, have a mechanic go through the car. Get oil samples done and see if there is any significant wear. Get a smog test done to see if the car is running efficiently. I really do not know what to tell you, I am ditching my car because I dont see it lasting very long, even though I have done everything humanly possible to keep it running well.

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UnDeR EsTiMaTeD

· #3 · Apr 19, 2004

Although your problems seem rare for such a young car, you have to consider it was used. I always question "newer" cars being used/traded back in. My parents' luck with them has been terrible. After the luck with a 1 year old Porsche and 8 month old Nissan Altima (back in the '90s) my parents would only buy new. We had so many problems with them, that I remember my grandparents having to drive me to school. Heck, the previous owner probably just driven the guts out of the cars and didn't maintain it one bit.

But, considering all the work that has been done so far, I wouldn't worry about too many future problems. It's difficult to find a used car that you know will be not so problematic.

Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

firespirit

· #4 · Apr 19, 2004

With proper maintenance, the Taurus can last well beyond 100K miles. My car is a 97 that we bought used, which was previously a rental car. We had our friends (Who were mechanics) check over the car.. Heck, when we test drove the car, we drove it right up into his shop, checked it out took everything apart looked at it - it was perfect!! So we bought it. My car hasn't given me any problems at all - except the recall on the oil pan gasket thing, but that's nothin! It's fine

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FatTortoise

· #5 · Apr 19, 2004

Hrmm.. I have a 2002 SES. And just recently the PATS (passive anti Theft system) pooped out.. So I had to take it in and they replaced the main computer, and a bunch of other crap.. Luckely it was under warrenty

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tmonster

· #6 · Apr 19, 2004

1996 Taurus LX 137k, just minor problems cause by me...

Everycar has its small issues.

The recall...big deal, a mistake was made..and they fix it be happy

Water on the floor, it happens, maybe there is a bad seal.. i know many vehicals that have seeped water.

Oil Pan gasket, maybe it was bottomed out, or like our caravan
we drove down a torn up road and nailed a sewer that was stickingup.

As for the engine light, just have the codes checked, it may be something minor...sometime even your gas cap being loose could turn the check engine light on...

All in all the car should last you a long time, and as far as the Altima goes, they have there fair share of problems too, however they are a nice vehical. Being a program car you dont know how it was treated, I'd give it more than 4 months before making a harsh decission to get rid of it. I'd wait a year, see what comes out of it then.

Also, and I'm not trying to be an @$$, but I think XLSuruaT found himself a lemon, and a chain of crappy mechanics. I've never seen a Duratec have to be rebuilt, and have rarley ever seen a AX4N go so early. Again, no pun.

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G

· #7 · Apr 19, 2004

Originally posted by tmonster@Apr 19 2004, 05:18 AM
Also, and I'm not trying to be an @$$, but I think XLSuruaT found himself a lemon, and a chain of crappy mechanics. I've never seen a Duratec have to be rebuilt, and have rarley ever seen a AX4N go so early. Again, no pun.

As for being a lemon, most of the problems with my car were outlined in tsb's. It was designed as a lemon - have a tsb which says to replace the engine under 3 conditions - 2 of which I had.

A chain of crappy dealers and good mechanics. That's the downside to having a warranty ONLY backed by ford.

Joes2003SES, keep in mind you have a program car. It would be next to impossible to find out how it was treated before you bought it.

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Joes2003SES

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 19, 2004

Thanks for the responses guys. I found out why the engine light came on. The wires going to the front O2 sensor are broke in two. They told me its not covered under warranty because thet think something chewed threw them. These wires are real close to the fan and there is nothing shy of a mouse that could fit in there. They are giving me the runaround and expect me to pay $79 for them to find this out. What a ripoff. I could have went to Autozone and got it checked for free.

Damon

· #9 · Apr 19, 2004

Originally posted by Joes2003SES@Apr 19 2004, 02:51 PM
Thanks for the responses guys. I found out why the engine light came on. The wires going to the front O2 sensor are broke in two. They told me its not covered under warranty because thet think something chewed threw them. These wires are real close to the fan and there is nothing shy of a mouse that could fit in there. They are giving me the runaround and expect me to pay $79 for them to find this out. What a ripoff. I could have went to Autozone and got it checked for free.

I would think that your 3 yr/ 36k warranty would cover the 02 sensor. I would make a stink about it, its not something you should have to pay for.

-DC

tmonster

· #10 · Apr 19, 2004

QUOTE

As for being a lemon, most of the problems with my car were outlined in tsb's. It was designed as a lemon - have a tsb which says to replace the engine under 3 conditions - 2 of which I had.[/b]

Not saying your wrong, I just wondered if you had links on hand I'm interested and reading up on this as I have 2 friends with Duratecs, and another getting one soon.

As for the oxygen sensor...at least it wasnt anything big. On the gen 4 is the sensor located anywhere near the oil pan or bottom of the car? ....if it is sounds to me like the car drove over somthing *shrug*

G

· #11 · Apr 19, 2004

The o2 sensor should be under emissions warranty - which is good until 7-8 years unless things have changed. If you need an oem replacement, try www.oxygensensor.net. NTK is ford's supplier for o2's.

tmonster, pm me your email if u want the info.

FullDuplex

· #12 · Apr 20, 2004

One thing that needs to be understood for warranty replacement is that part has to mulfunction, broken O2 sensor wire can't be classified as warranty job. Wire can't broke itself...
Either mice or something caused this, anyways... replacing them is not hard at all, but I think G4 has 4 of them and each is around $50.

mwt

· #13 · Apr 24, 2004

Originally posted by Joes2003SES@Apr 19 2004, 12:41 AM
. After owning it for 2 weeks I had a puddle of water in the floorboard.

Isn't there a recall on this?

kms250

· #14 · Apr 27, 2004

There are two TSB's on this, one is for a leaking windshield gasket. The windshield and gasket are replaced. The other is from water leaking into the ventilation system, fan blower motor, etc... via the cabin filter area under the cowl. The cowl itself is replaced. I had the latter done on my car and the blower motor was replaced for the 2nd time since ownership.

jj57

· #15 · Apr 27, 2004

My Sable has been in the shop at least 3 times, so far:

New IAC
ECM Reflash
Recall
New EATC head and blend door
New Dash

I'm just glad that I have a 6 year 100k Ford Premium ESP

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