AX4N is the better of the two. If you can, you can look under the car and it should say what tranny it is on the pan. Nice looking 01

 

QUOTE (adio @ Jan 19 2010, 07:23 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780394

AX4N is the better of the two. If you can, you can look under the car and it should say what tranny it is on the pan. Nice looking 01[/b]

Look at the door jamb VIN sticker.

TR code X=AX4N, L=AX4S

 

Thanks guys! Will check tomorrow.

 

QUOTE (Ookpic @ Jan 19 2010, 09:10 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780405

Thanks guys! Will check tomorrow.[/b]

Hopefully it's the better tranny haha considering I will be driving it most of the time.

 

Good to have you back with us!
The car looks really clean and look at that shine!! :thumb:
I presume Carbon is your son??

My son has an 01 red SEL like that one but has the tec engine.

 

QUOTE (duraSEL @ Jan 19 2010, 09:39 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780420

Good to have you back with us!
The car looks really clean and look at that shine!! :thumb:
I presume Carbon is your son?? [/b]

Thanks man! Any more Pioneer speakers or Mach RCU's kicking around? <grin>

Carboncopy may be my son although that's not his typical screen name. I never ever told him about this site but he is pretty darn smart so knowing he is getting some wheels perhaps he wants to get edumacated on the car? lol.

 

:x: :x: :x: :x: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: WOW! Nice ride ESE!

 

Looks good! :coolgleam:

I still think the "better tranny" argument is 95% hype. The only noticeable difference is that the N can skip gears when it shifts, and the S can't. The S is usually a little rougher feeling around the edges than the N. On a stock Vulcan, you're not really pushing enough power through anything to grenade things under normal circumstances. Neither is terribly refined by modern standards, but maintained well, they've both got about the same reliability record. My reasoning for there being more documented S failures is because they built more AX4Ss than AX4Ns...and lots of those S ones were in rentals because most rentals were Vulcans.

100% says that if I were buying another early G4 Vulcan, if the rest of the car was exactly what I wanted, I would absolutely not turn it down because it had an S.

edit: All that is moot because it's an SEL, which has a Duratec. All Duratecs have the AX4N.

 

What I like about these cars as a newbie is there comfortable fairly economical and inexpensive parts and info abundant.

 

It's awesome to see a car that clean in snowy conditions. Makes it just THAT much more shiny looking.

I have 170k on my frequently beaten AX4S. Just be sure to keep whatever transmission is in that car (as Jim said, likely an AX4N) serviced regularly, and it should do great. Fluke failures can occur, some restrictions may apply, not valid in Texas, Wyoming, Maine, or selected areas of...anywhere. :lol:

 

Absolutely beautiful paint job.

 

QUOTE (ford_ses @ Jan 19 2010, 11:11 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780456

Looks good! :coolgleam:

I still think the "better tranny" argument is 95% hype. The only noticeable difference is that the N can skip gears when it shifts, and the S can't. The S is usually a little rougher feeling around the edges than the N. On a stock Vulcan, you're not really pushing enough power through anything to grenade things under normal circumstances. Neither is terribly refined by modern standards, but maintained well, they've both got about the same reliability record. My reasoning for there being more documented S failures is because they built more AX4Ss than AX4Ns...and lots of those S ones were in rentals because most rentals were Vulcans.

100% says that if I were buying another early G4 Vulcan, if the rest of the car was exactly what I wanted, I would absolutely not turn it down because it had an S.

edit: All that is moot because it's an SEL, which has a Duratec. All Duratecs have the AX4N.[/b]

I don't think it is the Duratec. I'll be happily surprised if it is. It has no 24V badging on the side of the fender. It's been long enough that I don't remember how to tell the difference. I do know that there is a coil pack on the top of the engine that for sure wasn't on my 2000. Here's a pic. If someone can confirm that would be great!

 

It's the vulcan.

 

QUOTE (GerryB @ Jan 20 2010, 08:50 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780506

It's the vulcan.[/b]

Thanks. I thought it was.

 

I too agree. This is a beautiful '01. I see you have Rear Mud flaps. That should help prevent the Rusty Dog leg.

Yes, Vulcan for sure. It more than likely has AX4S trans. Either way, check the ATF. It is is not deep Red, change it straight- away. The cooler can wait till spring. Which for you could be June. :wink:

Is the current owner providing service Documentation?

 

Nice Taurus!! :thumb:

Looks like it was very well taken care of.

 

QUOTE (thesavo @ Jan 20 2010, 09:52 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780518

I too agree. This is a beautiful '01. I see you have Rear Mud flaps. That should help prevent the Rusty Dog leg.

Yes, Vulcan for sure. It more than likely has AX4S trans. Either way, check the ATF. It is is not deep Red, change it straight- away. The cooler can wait till spring. Which for you could be June. :wink:

Is the current owner providing service Documentation?[/b]

Most likely the AX4S as you say. I totally forgot to look today when I took it out for a drive. Not really a huge deal for me as my 2000 was this and I never had any issues with it in 200000kms. Feels nice and tight for sure. One small thing I noticed was that my 2000 Taurus would coast forever. I mean annoyingly forever. Take your foot of the gas and there was no deceleration feel at all. Sometimes it was a bonus but sometimes it was annoying like in heavy traffic. This 2001 feels slightly different. There is a deceleration feel when taking my foot off the gas pedal.

Anyone know if the 2001 Vulcan came with a knock sensor?? The 2000 didn't and for the entire time I owned it, I could hear a slight engine spark knock sometimes in certain conditions. (up hill under load just before a downshift)

Good point about the tranny cooler waiting til spring!

There is no documentation service wise with the car. This is quite common around here anyway if you buy from a dealer. The last car I bought, the dealer flat out told me that if there is service documentation it gets thrown away. Don't ask me why?? Doesn't make sense to me.

The dealer bought this car from auction. This dealer has a shop and full time mechanic on his lot and has been around for 25 years. He has said many times that if there is ANY problems not to hesitate to give him a call even if it's after hours. He gave me 4 free lube, oil, and filter vouchers as well as driving me today to the registration office to get he plates and paperwork done. He is also delivering the car to my door tomorrow morning (45min drive). Got the best feeling from talking to him than any other dealer in the past 2 weeks of looking. Sounded like a low BS kinda guy. It's always a gamble though time will tell.

 

01 did not have a knock sensor.

 

Yep, that's a Vulcan, which means it's not an SEL. It's got SEL wheels, though...so someone changed those at some point.

 

QUOTE (ford_ses @ Jan 20 2010, 03:12 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780602

Yep, that's a Vulcan, which means it's not an SEL. It's got SEL wheels, though...so someone changed those at some point.[/b]

Possibly there are different variations of SEL between Canada and US? Not that I care either way but it is fully loaded, power seats (cloth), power pedals, PW, PDL, PM, OEM driver door handle keyless entry keypad, OEM wood grain console, OEM wood grain dash, climatronic Heater/AC controls, 6 change CD player in console, SEL wheels, SEL badging.

 

The Canadian Tauri came with the vulcan, including the SEL.
The tec was optional.

 

QUOTE (ford_ses @ Jan 20 2010, 03:12 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=780602

Yep, that's a Vulcan, which means it's not an SEL. It's got SEL wheels, though...so someone changed those at some point.[/b]

Canadian SELs came standard with the Vulcan, 2000+. Just like the SEL wagons in the states.

 

That's my favorite color on the Taurus, but the dealer didn't have any SEL's in that color when I bought mine. The Vulcan engines give you some more room to work on, and it's less complex of a engine since it's a pushrod. When you do change your ATF, go with full synthetic, I found out with mine it shifts a bit better than with dino ATF. Sombody cared well for that car during it's life.