New car 2005 Ford Taurus

[FirstNissan]

Hello Bitog community, I just picked up a 2005 Ford Taurus SEL. 140,000 miles, 3L V6 vulcan engine, overall and relatively decent condition. Interior needs a really good shampoo scrub. I plan on doing a full runthrough of fluids/filters, it needs new tires. It does have two oxygen sensor codes and a cylinder misfire code however it drives pretty decent. Pictures are attached. Has anyone change the oxygen sensor is on one of these? I am wondering how tough they are to access. From what I can find online, there are four oxygen sensors in total.

 

[TmanP]

Nice, I always liked this generation of Taurus.

 

[04SE]

It will have the following problems:

1. water leak behind glove box where cabin air filter is located in the cowl
2. oil pump & camshaft synchronizer (distributor shaft) failure
3. coolant lines will rust between engine and firewall (clogged heater cores are common as well)
4. timing cover will leak coolant and require replacement because it is pitted
5. oil pan gasket will leak onto 'Y' pipe and smell like roses

Ask me how I know this.

 

[Merkava_4]

Nice steering wheel! 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 O'clock are open!

 

[macarose]

There is also a fifth. When the catalytic converter gives out it will be an absolute bear to replace.

I have probably bought well over 50 of these Taurae from 2001 thru 2007. You have the best powertrain when it comes to long-term reliability, and if you like visiting pull-a-parts, these models can be upgraded like nobody's business. You'll probably need at least two power steering pumps if you plan on getting it past the 200k mark.

Visit the Taurus Car Club of America when you have a chance. There's no other place on the internet that will provide you with so much solid information about your particular model.

All the best!

Steven Lang

 

[cb_13]

What 02 sensor codes? Rich, lean or slow switching?

 

[gabriel9766]

Very nice. I've had 3 Tauruses 96,99,and 05. All OHV pushrod engines. Right now im looking for a 96-07 taurus as a second car to keep the milage off my malibu. All the ones i go look at on Craigslist the heat doesn't work on the car. There is a 99 at a small lot ima go look at tomorrow and maybe buy

 

[Wolf359]

Too bad you didn't get the Duratec, 2005 was the last year for it. Otherwise not bad. As others said, lots of parts out there. Normally you just change the 2 upstream O2 sensors. Check the Taurus forum mentioned earlier. They were cheap on rockauto, around $25. Also looks like you have the manual controls. I think you can just add the climate control radio and get the cassette and use an adapter so you can add an mp3 player like an ipod. They sell them on eBay for around $50.

 

[Superflop]

I have a bunch of these I take care of. In general they are simple machines. I can't quite comment on o2 sensor replacement as I do it on a lift. They are sturdy and solid. I believe this is the model with the weird pcv line attached to the end of the Intake, it's on the passenger side. Its small on one end and large where it attaches to the intake, replace it if it has any cracks. Clean throttle body and maf, check the plugs. Replace all the o2 sensors but if you are feeling lazy just do the upstream.

The heater core issue that was mentioned can be a pain, there is a bypass located on the firewall which makes things annoying. I've saved many by using zyrex cooling system flush and then back flushing the heater core.

BTW when I back flush I pinch off the bypass hose with some hose clamp pliers.

 

[dwcopple]

My co-worker just got nearly the exact model as this from his brother in law. It sat outside at an apartment complex it's whole life here in MI. It only has 16K miles on it and stuff is failing left and right. Tuesday, he was driving and the entire exhaust fell down from the front donut back and was dragging. $130 later, that is fixed. He already replaced an idler pulley, serpentine belt, and tensioner pulley and the front brakes/rotors due to rust. I told him to get rid of it before it nickels and dimes him to death.

 

[spk2000]

Are you sure that is not the Duratec engine? all of them I have ever seen with a floor shifter were the Duratec.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I've seen a few Vulcans with spoilers and floor shift. The Duratec engine was axed for 05 and 06, they were severely decontented.

They aren't bad cars. Throw in a set of SHO swaybars from a junkyard, mach RCU and you'll have a pretty decent sound system. They will handle okay with SHO swaybars, did that upgrade on mine and loved it.

The power steering lines are almost impossible to replace. And the metal heater hoses are asinine. not bad cars if you can keep them from turning into a pile of rust. Mine always returned right around 30MPG on the highway.

 

[Wolf359]

Actually 2005 was the last year for the Duratec, 2006 and 2007 was just the Vulcan. They were usually in the SEL model, but they just didn't sell as many so they're hard to find.

No matter if you drive it or not, parts will rust away over time.