2001 Ford Taurus engine and engine cooling problems

“I READ AN ARTICLE TODAY CONCERNING THE US IS INVESTIGATING FORD TAURUSES FOR STUCK THROTTLES, MODEL YEARS 2005-2006. PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE 2001 MODEL YEAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER IN 2004 (APPROX) AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR ENGINE SPEEDING-UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE ARTICLE IS LOCATED AT: HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2012/03/12/AUTOS/FORD_TAURUS_INVESTIGATION/INDEX.HTM?SOURCE=CNN_BIN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING IT TODAY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY, BACK IN 2004/2005, SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THEY EVER DID. THANK-YOU. *TR”

“APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, I WAS HAVING MECHANIC PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE EGR VALVE AND EGR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AGAIN. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THERE WAS AN INSTANTANEOUS SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL IN THE CLOSED POSITION. I WAS REQUIRED TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL I COULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE EGR SENSOR HAD MELTED DUE TO THE EGR VALVE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE EGR VALVE TO THE EGR SENSOR HAD ALSO MELTED. DURING THE FEW DAYS THAT I HAD TO DRIVE IT, I SUFFERED FROM EXTREME HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND LIGHTHEADEDNESS FROM THE EXHAUST COMING INTO THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE, THERE WAS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT CAUSING THE SENSOR TO MELT. *TR”

“MY 2001 FORD TAURUS ENGINE STOPS WORKING AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STARTS ON ITS OWN AFTER A FEW HOURS. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT THE TEMPERATURE DIAL DROPPED QUICKLY. WITHIN MINUTES, THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. SHE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AND IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT ALL OF THE FLUIDS WERE FINE; HOWEVER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE HEADS WERE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THEY WARPED AND CRACKED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENTIRE MOTOR TO BE REPLACED. DURING THE ENTIRE ORDEAL, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 08/31/09 *BF UPDATED 09/03/09.*JB”

“DROVE HOME FROM WORK. WAS INSIDE MY HOME ABOUT 10 MINUTES. HEARD A LOUD NOISE WENT OUT SIDE AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE MEN PUT IT OUT AND SAID IT PROBABLY STARTED UP IN THE DASH AREA. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF LOSE POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO A STOP AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DURING THE FIRST FEW FAILURES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WALK HOME. SHE SENT HER HUSBAND TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED UP NORMALLY. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO DAYS BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE BOX INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE LOAN COMPANY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOAN COMPANY AND THEY INFORMED HER TO CALL THEIR TECHNICIAN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BOX, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. HE ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BOX UNLESS THE CONTACT PAID $80 FOR THE INSPECTION SERVICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,500.”