99SableGS

Not a Taurus, but a Sable :-).

It's in my sig, look there for specs.
At 54k the front axel failed.
At 74k the power steering rack failed inc. pump. - both repalced. $1368 reman rack.

Idk what is up with the P/S pump, but its been whiney since I aquired the car at 64k miles. Even the one it got replaced with whines. The car has a great highway feel, but I don't feel alot of confidence behind the wheel, this car tolerates speed, while my Honda and Volvo say "Faster, faster!". For a stock exhaust, this car has a really nice sound to it, the growl is pleasant. Gas mileage is disgraceful, (3.0 base engine too) and my gas light comes on a 1/4 of a tank. Is that normal? Lost of people on this website seem to disagree that the Taurus/Sable is 'boaty', but I for one think it handles like a tank. The nosedive on hard braking is horrible, and you turn the wheel and wait like 3 seconds for something to happen. I've driven this car on the track through cones etc, and it does not like being pushed. Yes, I know it's a family sedan, but my Accord is a family sedan, and it tolerates just about any road activity well. Overall, I think there are better cars out there for the money than the Taurus/Sable. I'm not quite sure why I have one, but I do. Some of the stong points are the cars acceleration, A/C system, cargo space (although the whole optional folding rear seat is lame - should've been standard), and the ability to cruise a hair above idle on the highway, it's very nice, if not boring after awhile.

If I ever own another American car, it would probably be a Fusion. I like that car alot, however if it were being compared between the camry, accord and the norm. competitiors. I'd buy the Accord. And I hate to keep brigning up the Accord becuase this is a ford forum and all, but I feel like I have the duty to explain why people feel like their cars are so much better than the Taurus's, and Fusions. Here's your answer. Quality, and attention to detail.

I have the Accord and the Sable that were competitors back in the day both in my driveway. When I sit in the Accord all the materials have this 'just for you' feeling, it's great. In the Sable I feel like I'm drowning, not driving. Everything seems to be so high, and my car doesn't have a floor shifter so it feels really airy, and I hate that (although headroom is like non existent!). None of the controls have a good weight to them, the headlight switch feels like it could crack off, and the wiper switch gets turned on just about everytime I use my blinker. When my mom drove this car when we first got it from carmax at 64k miles, she literally said "It drives like a piece of crap, go return it to enterprise.". That's what's sad. I think so many people want the American companies to do well, but they're refusing to do anything but continue to try and make all their cars european feeling and such, they can't find their own 'niche'. GM is going down I tell you, their 148545844 copies of the opel astra are ridiculous. Why not just make a brand called GM and sell some good cars! I mean good cars THEY create, not the europeans. If you always pay the smart kid to do your homework, you'll never learn.

To the poster above, I think you're right. The Taurus is a poorly engineered vehicle, however it was better than most of the American cars at the time it was in production. But the bar has been raised, and it can no longer compete.

__________________
Current Cars:
1996 Honda Accord LX I4 - EX Alloy Wheels, Alpine iPod/MP3 CD Player, Security System, Gold Trim Kit. - 106k
1999 Mercury Sable GS - Alloys, Wood Trim Kit, floor mats. More to come! - 78k
2004 Volvo S40 - Sport/Convience/Luxury Pkg. - 105k

bull

I had a flush done every 3 years.

Thanks for the heads up on the smaller price tag....I'll keep that in mind if this starts leaking again.

jaycuzz

2003 taurus, 58,000 miles, put in reverse started to back out of the driveway and it bumped a little, then started to make a noise like power sreering low on fluid, but the car willnot move forward or back. park works but the noise is there and doesn't change no matter what gear its in. you can push the car in any gear like its in neutral.fluids are fine, clean and doesn't smell, seems like a part broke, what broke?, no warning, didn't abuse it, AX4N trans 4F50N? X under tr on tag on door can you offer any info? thanks jaycuzz

SHOZ123

Probably pump shaft. I can be repaired without taking the tranny out though not easy. To know for sure disconnect the cooler line and start the car. No fluid flow no pumping.

jaycuzz

hi, i went out & removed the trans cooler line & had my wife start the car, i held the hose & let the car run for a few seconds & it never did pump out, so it seems that pump shaft is the correct answer,so now how can i repair it without pulling the trans? sounds like you have done it before, any help greatly appreciated, and thanks a million jaycuzz

jaycuzz

anyone have a parts breakdown of the AX4N trans 2003 taurus thanks jaycuzz

jesshasasho

This car needs a FAQ thread, as there seem to be a LOT of very common and easily fixed problems.

Let's see, I have a 94 SHO, 160k

I really love this car, even though I HATE Fords in general. (Don't ask me why I have 3 of them...the SHO and two thunderbird turbo coupe's). I love the speed the SHO has. Fast as hell...

Anyway, I have the door ajar light thing going on...gonna try the WD40 in the locks as suggested many times.

LOTS of electrical/wiring/grounding problems. Climate control unit only comes on when the car is at rest. Hit the gas and it shorts out. I'd really love to know how to fix this, as I live in OH and will need the heat come October or so.

CEL comes on all the time. Very sporadic.

Rear windows won't move. Gonna try taking off the plug and twisting the connectors a little, I'd like a little more info on this though if someone could help. I'm not sure where to look for said "plug"...

Otherwise the car runs like a dream. If anyone can help with any of this stuff, please do! It's all electrical. I think Ford hired chimpanzees to do their wiring, as my tbirds are electrically f'ed up too.

SHOZ123

Another common problem with ATXs is the Transmission Range Sensor. It is what is connected to the shift cable and tells the PCM what gear it's in. This can cause a lot of issues with electrical things not working.

jesshasasho

That might just be it, it only does it when the car is in drive... I'll have to look into it. Thanks :)

BillH2

Where to start. Bought a 94 SHO ATX in 1997. Car had around 40K. By the time I sold it in 04, I had replaced:
Turn Signal switch.
Half Shafts
Trans rebuild - twice
Water Pump
Cruise Control Module
Cruise control brake switch
Coil pack
Plug Wires
Cam Position Sensor
Crank Position Sensor
Ignition Module
This is not counting the normal maintenance items, timing belt, plugs, etc. I totaled it up one time, I spent over 8K simply fixing what broke.
Those are the things I can think of without pulling the invoices. I loved the car, but I spent more money fixing it than all of my previous cars combined. The transmission problems accounted for a large part of this. I was given the royal run around by the service department at the local Ford dealership AND the Ford service rep. That alone is the reason why, for the first time in 35 years, I bought a car that was not built by Ford.

__________________
Old Age and Treachery Will Overcome Youth and Skill Any Time

Presently:
1965 GT-350
Formerly:
1965 AC Cobra
1967 410 HP 427 Fairlane
1994 Taurus SHO
1964 Ford SS/N NHRA National Record Holder 12.03 Absolutely HATED by the Chevrolet and Mopar crowd.
1964 SS/X Custom 500 Absolutely HATED by the Chevrolet crowd.