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2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem


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Dawndmg
New User

May 8, 2014, 6:31 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2117 views)
post icon 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

I have a 2001 Ford Taurus Wagon with 83k on it. I'm sorry, I don't know the engine size.

An anomaly has been occurring since I purchased the car from a 2nd hand dealership 2 years ago.
I can be cruising along and suddenly the car reacts like there is air in the gas line (or I have run out of gas) and I cannot accelerate anymore - the RPMs drop. Sometimes the car will recover and I can continue on, but most times I will have to pull over to the side of the road, turn the car off and then turn it back on and all is fine again. The car can be fine for months without a problem, but as of late (last couple months), the problem seems to happen more often than not. I can never accelerate quickly or the car will act like there is air in the gas line. Sometimes, but not often, the car will stall as I am pulling off to the side of the road. On a 24k trip, sometimes I will have to pull off to the side of the road 10 times, sometimes none, sometimes twice. It is rather unpredictable.


When I first purchased the car, I ran out of gas because the gas gauge was reading incorrectly. Shortly after (a week maybe a couple of days) the car started acting up - as described above. I returned it to the dealer and they told me that I needed a new gas pump and something about resetting a chip - and they fixed the gas gauge - they replaced everything for free since I had just purchased the car 2 weeks previous.

Back in February, 2014 the gas gauge was acting up again and it read 1/4 full. I was parked on a hill and the car started for about a minute, then died like I ran out of gas. I put gas in and all was fine, except the acceleration problem started again - like it did when I ran out of gas the first time 2 years previous.

What I have done thus far is disconnected my battery to try and "reset" things. That seems to have worked for my gas gauge...I think...and I say, I think because I don't let it go below 1/4 empty anymore.

Is the issue that there is a chip that needs resetting because my car thinks it ran out of gas and that messes with something else?
Is there something with the vacuum advance?

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? I read something about Vacuum Advance and was wondering if that might have something to do with it.
I appreciate all input.
Thank you
Dawn



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 8, 2014, 10:45 PM

Post #2 of 10 (2104 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

Your car doesn't have a vacuum advance. It doesn't even have a distributor for that matter.

The computer does not think it ran out of gas.

You could have another fuel pump problem but you need to use a fuel pressure gauge to find out. There are other components in the fuel circuit that can also have an issue but since you can't identify your engine, I can't look up which system you have.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on May 8, 2014, 10:45 PM)


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

May 9, 2014, 2:26 AM

Post #3 of 10 (2091 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

Lets try this - It is a suggested first step-


Take advantage of the FREE scans available - auto part stores will do this FREE as a customer service,
Autozone, Advance Orielys auto parts stores - ask for a FREE scan write down any numbers the give you and post here...


Dawndmg
New User

May 9, 2014, 4:28 AM

Post #4 of 10 (2085 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

Thank you hammer time for your prompt reply. I will find out my engine size.


(This post was edited by Dawndmg on May 9, 2014, 4:30 AM)


Dawndmg
New User

May 9, 2014, 4:29 AM

Post #5 of 10 (2083 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

Thank you kev2 for your response. I will get the engine specs.


(This post was edited by Dawndmg on May 9, 2014, 4:30 AM)


Dawndmg
New User

May 9, 2014, 6:10 AM

Post #6 of 10 (2075 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

Engine size - 3.0L
Stock #: 1TA4386
It is an automatic.
Do you need to know whether it is a Vulcan engine or Duratec engine? I was reading the owner's guide and there are specs for the different engines.

Thanks again.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 9, 2014, 10:40 AM

Post #7 of 10 (2058 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

You have a Vulcan. The Duratec is a truck engine.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

May 9, 2014, 12:37 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2054 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

The Vulcan is the 3.0L OHV push rod engine. The Duratec is the dual overhead cam 3.0L.

The 8th digit tells you which engine. The 3.0L DOHC is S and the 3.0L OHV is U





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 9, 2014, 12:44 PM

Post #9 of 10 (2052 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

Alldata doesn't label the VIN "S" engine in the Taurus as a Duratec but they do for the VIN "!" 3.0 that is used in the escape.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

May 9, 2014, 12:55 PM

Post #10 of 10 (2049 views)
Re: 2001 Ford Taurus acceleration problem Sign In

? The VIN S in the Taurus is the same S engine that is in the Sable. They are both Duratec engines.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.






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