This car is driving me crazy! What's wrong with it?

Question

Other than being a ford, other than being a taurus, can someone please give me some insight as to what's wrong with this car? Its driving me crazy. I've only had it a month and already I've had to sink a load of money into it. It drove fine during the test-drive. Looked great, sounded great, drove great. I forked over the cash and it hasn't run right since. It started with a subtle miss. I changed the plugs and wires. Still missed. Then the check engine light came on, I had the codes pulled and a new camshaft position sensor put in. Light went off, light came back, pulled codes again. The guy claimed he just needed to reset the code. He did. Light came on again. It started missing like mad, thought it was water in tank, added gas treatment, it got worse. Light went off. Now my heat doesn't work, my dash clock won't keep proper time, and my radio screws up when turned on (says theres no fm stations) 1998 Ford Taurus LX V-6 3.0 130K Please help me!

Answer 1

I've read your other questions reguarding you poor Ford.

I noticed no one suggested replacing the fuel filter.



You say you added stuff to the fuel.....That lossened up more crap in your tank to plug up the filter even more.



As far as the other stuff. radio, clock, heater.

Remove, and clean both battery terminals inside, and the battery posts. Scale builds up between the two and creates a barrier for voltage to cross.



The heater thing?? Fuse maybe? Low coolant?



Take a deep breath........now let it out............feel better?? not realy huh?

Good luck.

Answer 2

I have a 97 Taurus with 150K miles and it's never had a wrench on it except for normal maintanence. Best car I've ever owned. I've never had it to do any of the things that you say about yours. It sounds as though the computer is malfunctioning, but that's just a guess.



How long have you had it. There are IMPLIED warranties, even if there isn't a written one. Talk to the dealer/person who you got it from, if possible.



Since the car has 130K miles on it, it couldn't be TOO MUCH of a lemon, or it would never have gotten that far. I suspect that the first "fix" that you did messed up something else, and it's mushroomed from there. Good luck.



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Mr Know it all reminded me of a little problem that i did have with mine. The battery wire built up some crusty stuff between it and the terminal. I was getting a little miss and it wouldn't start sometimes. Try TWISTING the battery wires.....if you can move them, remove and clean the terminal. That fixed mine completely.

Answer 3

Get a thorough inspection done at a dealer rather than paying for individual things fixed. A ford dealer will give you the perfect answers for your car, since they deal with these things all the time. If it has only been a month and you bought it on a used car lot, check if they offer a 90 day warranty or something and take it back to them.

Answer 4

As far as the misfire, it sounds like a problem I had with an old 96 Grand Am I had. It was the ignition coil. I ended up having to change it 3 times. I hated that money trap. Other than that, sounds like an electrical problem. That can be very pricey and most mechanics hate to do electrical work because it's so tricky. Good luck!

Answer 5

Take it to a Ford Dealer- the larger the better- diagnoses will cost you $80-100 but they can also let you know of any TSB`s and recalls. Maybe something there that needs fixing- and those they do for free, (but you still pay the diagnostic fee.)

Answer 6

You bought a lemon. That guy screwed something up when he pulled the code, now the "brain" is probably fried. I'd take it to a Ford dealer and ask them to look at it. You are probably in real trouble. Ford service is horrible!!

Answer 7

Shouldn't have bought a Ford. Get rid of it before you spend too much money fixing it. If I were you I would take it back to where you bought it. Did they give you a warranty when you bought it ?? Next time buy a Honda, Acura, or Toyota. Very dependable cars.

Answer 8

it could be a head gasket. if it's the dohc 3.0 it's definitely a head gasket. in that case, get rid of it for what you can. or get a salvage yard motor to put in it. those motor's are a hassle to work on and some mechanics won't touch em.

Answer 9

actually it sound like a charging system problem. if there is not enough voltage to keep the car running it starts shutting other systems down to keep up. have you battery and alternator tested.

Answer 10

ha thats what you get for buying an american car. i used to own a ford. it was the absolute worst car i've ever owned. you should have made them give you a warranty when you bought it.

Answer 11

Get rid of it before you have to put more money into it. Good Luck.



Have a great day!

Answer 12

Please visit authorised Ford service station and take a bargain deal with them for servicing the veichle.

Answer 13

Katrina car. You got s-c-r-ew-e-..aww you get the idea

Answer 14

sounds like fuel filter and some fuses, maybe...

Answer 15

get rid of it before you have to put more money into it

Answer 16

bottom line PIECE OF JUNK!!!!!!!