2002 Taurus Misfiring Issues - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Lucky7521 · 03-06-2008, 08:08

2002 Taurus 3.0 180,000 miles

After reading articles and forums I thought my problem was a bad TPS. My car is chugging under acceleration and holding high rpms before shifting at highway speeds. I took my car to Advance Auto Parts last night and had them scan it to make sure it was the TPS, but to my surprise it came up saying that my number one cylinder was misfiring. After close examination I found a small burn mark through the insulation of my number one spark plug wire. Thinking this was going to be an easy and cheap fix I bought a new set of wires and replaced just the one due to time constraints. Unfortunately the problem is still persisting. Tonight I’m going to replace all the wires and put in new plugs since it's been 80,000 anyways since they were last replaced.

Any ideas on what else this could be? Maybe a stuck injector…???

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

**tbird100636** · 03-06-2008, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky7521

2002 Taurus 3.0 180,000 miles

After reading articles and forums I thought my problem was a bad TPS. My car is chugging under acceleration and holding high rpms before shifting at highway speeds. I took my car to Advance Auto Parts last night and had them scan it to make sure it was the TPS, but to my surprise it came up saying that my number one cylinder was misfiring. After close examination I found a small burn mark through the insulation of my number one spark plug wire. Thinking this was going to be an easy and cheap fix I bought a new set of wires and replaced just the one due to time constraints. Unfortunately the problem is still persisting. Tonight I’m going to replace all the wires and put in new plugs since it's been 80,000 anyways since they were last replaced.

Any ideas on what else this could be? Maybe a stuck injector…???

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Take out and check the spark plug gaps and the porcelin for carbon tracking (Black lines burned into porcelin) If the gap is bigger than the spec. on the emissions label or if there's carbon tracking replace the plugs and the wires. If the plugs carbon tracked, that means the wire will sort of be the same. Which engine, 3.0L Vulcan or 3.0L Duratec???

Lucky7521 · 03-06-2008, 18:16

I have the 3.0 Duratec. Thanks for the info. I'll have to get around to it this weekend and check the plugs. If that's not it, is there anything you would suggest to check next.

Once again, thank you for your time and knowledge!

Lucky7521 · 03-06-2008, 18:19

I'm so bummed because this is the first time I've ever had a problem with my Taurus. I bought it with 100,000 miles on it when it was only a year and a half old from a sales man that put all highway miles on it. When I purchased it everything was flushed and new plugs and wires were put on.

I'm a big fan of a Taurus now after having one with this many miles on it and this is THE ONLY problem I've ever run into.

**tbird100636** · 03-06-2008, 21:08

To do the back cylinders (Cylinders 1, 2, & 3) You do not have to take the upper intake off. Just remove the R. cowl screen (held by clips under the screen) The plastic piece it sits on (A few bolts) then unbolt the ignition coil and set it aside. (4 torx bolts if I've remembered right.)

RickMN · 03-07-2008, 16:35

Hey Lucky,

Don't you know better than to talk like that? First problem ever? C'mon, are you trying to JINX all of us Taurus owners?

Your problem sounds more like plugs and wires than injectors. If you found one wire with carbon tracking, chances are you'll find more. Get the new plugs in I'm betting it runs much better.