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The Taurus is running awsome, now standing at 225,650 miles. The 3.0 V6 and AXOD are both working perfectly and achieving an amazing 29 MPG on the recent trip (fully loaded down, trunk and back seat pretty full with clothes, auto parts, tools, etc). I was doing about 75 MPH the whole way. It seemed to be getting the same (if not better!) gas mileage than the car it replaced in my line up, 1994 Kia Sephia LS (on the same trip). It made the whole trip (about 500 miles) with NO LICENSE PLATE! LMAO! I have since registered it in Mississippi and got it inspected (passed of course).
I flushed the coolant, replaced the battery terminal ends (the old ones were pretty nasty and the negative one kept popping off), rotated the tires, replaced two lug nuts (missing>>?!), the license plate lights and the CHMSL bulbs. I also individually taped up the wires from (what was left of) the diagnostic port. It had (evedently) falled down on the exhaust manifold and melted all to shizzle. The CHECK ENGINE light no longer comes on and the car runs/drives/idles smoother unlike when I first bought it.
So far it hasnt used a drop of oil (since I changed it, Motorcraft oil and filter of course) nor transaxel fluid. The AXOD is working very well, and the 3.0 V6 runs amazingly well for 225K miles.
I called my freind (a certified Ford tech at a Lincoln Mercury dealership) and he said the diagnostic port falling down on the exhaust is fairly common on these cars. He seemed suprised at the mileage, but said the 3.0 Vulcan is an excelent engine and never ceses to amaze him. I told him the AXOD was recently replaced (to which he added "HA!") but seems great now. He's going to do the power steering rack and pump when I get her back to WA. I've managed to slow the leak by removing some of the fluid (prevoius owners had it way overfilled, created too much pressure, and caused to to leak more).
I flushed the coolant, replaced the battery terminal ends (the old ones were pretty nasty and the negative one kept popping off), rotated the tires, replaced two lug nuts (missing>>?!), the license plate lights and the CHMSL bulbs. I also individually taped up the wires from (what was left of) the diagnostic port. It had (evedently) falled down on the exhaust manifold and melted all to shizzle. The CHECK ENGINE light no longer comes on and the car runs/drives/idles smoother unlike when I first bought it.
So far it hasnt used a drop of oil (since I changed it, Motorcraft oil and filter of course) nor transaxel fluid. The AXOD is working very well, and the 3.0 V6 runs amazingly well for 225K miles.
I called my freind (a certified Ford tech at a Lincoln Mercury dealership) and he said the diagnostic port falling down on the exhaust is fairly common on these cars. He seemed suprised at the mileage, but said the 3.0 Vulcan is an excelent engine and never ceses to amaze him. I told him the AXOD was recently replaced (to which he added "HA!") but seems great now. He's going to do the power steering rack and pump when I get her back to WA. I've managed to slow the leak by removing some of the fluid (prevoius owners had it way overfilled, created too much pressure, and caused to to leak more).