25th May 2004, 09:50
I have a 98 Ford Taurus Wagon, it has been a great car with minimal problems up to the 100,000 mile mark. My wife told me that it started running hot and the coolant was going away to parts unknown.
She was dumping a gallon a week of antifreeze into it. I checked for cracks, pressure test and everything checked OK. There were no drips, hose problems and right away I figured it was the head gasket. Sure enough the head Gasket blew and the engine is destroyed. I'm currently in the market for a rebuilt because I still owe $4000 on it.
I checked the Internet and there are many complaints about the head gaskets blowing on the 3.8 liter engines... Just wanted everyone to be careful about it.
28th Jul 2004, 13:21
The interior light staying on and when locking the lock comes back up: I used WD40 on each door closing mechanism and it solved it.
22nd Oct 2005, 17:50
In regards to the '98 Taurus "mysterious" problem, I am having that same problem, as well as it won't shift down from 3500 rpms once I hit 2nd gear around 20 miles p/h, I have to put it in neutral- really quick, then back to drive. the shifting problem only occurs when the engine's cold or the first drive of the day. Did you have any luck with finding out the problem? I have brought it to ford 2x and my reg mechanic 3x... no luck here... thanks, if have any info. please let me know...
5th May 2004, 14:08
I am updating this article-- I fixed the mysterious idle acceleration problem by removing the cable to the Throttle Position Sensor (at the top of the engine) and I intended to replace the TPS, BUT did not have the correct tool to remove it. When I put the cable back in place, the problem went AWAY!!! how 'bout that-- just a "bad connection". This has been about a year now and no bad idle acceleration issues...