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Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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dbelyeu
Novice
Nov 29, 2021, 3:22 PM
Post #1 of 9
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Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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1996 Ford Taurus 3.0l v6. I've replaced plugs and plug wires, checked for spark with a spark tester (spark is good). Checked for plug wires plugged into wrong ports. Check engine light flashing part of the time--on all of the time. OBDII shows cylinder 6 skipping. Ran fine until motor overheated and mechanic replaced water pump (charged me over $1000). No water in the oil. Runs better when cold. Skips bad after it warms up. My question is; can the engine control unit cause one cylinder to skip? My understanding is that for this model, the ecu can be replaced without dealer programming. First year OBDII.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 29, 2021, 3:47 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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The overheating is likely the root of this. Cracked head or blown head gasket would be my guess. No water in the oil means nothing at all.
The first thing I would do is remove all the spark plugs and then pressure test the cooling system and keep it under pressure or 15 or 20 minutes. Then crank the engine with the plugs out and watch for any of the cylinders to spit out any coolant.
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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 Nov 29, 2021, 3:48 PM)
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dbelyeu
Novice
Nov 29, 2021, 4:15 PM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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Thank you for your help. I don't have the equipment for a pressure test. Would a cylinder compression tester show it?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 29, 2021, 4:19 PM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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Not likely. It might show some compression loss if it's a head gasket but probably not noticeable.
You should be doing a compression test anyway to eliminate other things.
Also, which 3.0 is this................ DOHC?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 Nov 29, 2021, 4:30 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 29, 2021, 5:30 PM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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Began with overheat due to the water pump? Odds are it leaked to cause overheat.
IDK what all was done for that cost of replacing that but you know which cylinder. It does call for all tests Hammer Time suggested but I'd like to see the #6 spark plug (all cold not run recently) compared to two others and don't mix them up - keep track.
See if that #6 one looks different new or not by rights it should but why? Let's find out so put that one in another see if the problem follows right away.
As simple as dropping them can make them fail. Pulling wires off by wire not boots another cause. New or not again would have shown with swapping plugs can also see stray spark frequently with a mist (cold engine right at start up + soon. Mist plugs when dark as you can make is see stray spark or cause it to stumble when it shouldn't at all.
Just trying to rule out some easy and dumb stuff this smacks of a more serious problem from the overheating as coolant lowers #6 is far away from water pumps efforts to keep engine a uniform temp invites the gasket, cracks you don't want to hear or find true but must it can't stay this way,
T
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dbelyeu
Novice
Nov 30, 2021, 9:50 AM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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My engine runs for weeks without needing coolant added, although it does use some. I just filled it up and drove for two hours with no noticeable loss of coolant. It doesn't have white smoke coming out of the tail pipe. I don't understand the skipping. There doesn't seem to be enough water disappearing to cause the cylinder not to run.
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dbelyeu
Novice
Nov 30, 2021, 9:53 AM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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How would I be able to tell which 3.0l engine it is? From the VIN?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 30, 2021, 10:10 AM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: Ford Taurus skipping on one cylinder
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Quote you: ">My engine runs for weeks without needing coolant added<"
So that suggests you expect to add coolant just not often or much? None is normal account for temperature when checking.
Which engine VIN should say in code but IMO not yet this use of coolant will leave evidence somewhere. Super rare is a drip on hot pipe you don't notice at all that might quit when warmed up??
If not done yet do the comparative tests to #6 cyl. on this. If no tools ask at a chain parts outlet many offer free loaners 100% deposit for safe return = FREE unless you busted it, lost the thing or not returned,
T
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