Help! 1998 Ford Taurus Question. Very hard to find a "Gremlin"

If you paid AMMCOrow $2200 to fix a dying problem, They must have seen you coming that day. What did they say was wrong with your trannie?

Someone needs to have a real-time OBDII laptop computer interface like autotap and hook it up and drive the car and look at and freeze frame the display when the car screws up. Then do a post mortum on the data. You need all the data when its screwing on on the road. Not sitting in the shop with a tied down scan tool. Was the car scanned?. What were the codes if any?

I assume the simple things have been done like fuel filter, New plugs (you have coil packs? one may be intermittent), Map sensor clean or replacement, TPS replacement, injector cleaning.

You might even check things like the grounds at the battery, firewall and motor for firm clean connections.

It will probably come down to lack of spark or lack of gas. And any subsystems involved with them,

Bob

I'm sure that fact made some hesitant to offer help (did me). Thanks to

Doesn't this sound like old fashioned vapor locking? I know modern cars aren't supposed to do that tho...

CJB

There were not any codes once AAMCO cleared the "transmission" codes. They did say that my stereo was telling my computer in my car that it was being stolen. When they tried to disconnect my radio the spedometer was disconnected instead so they had to reconnect. But they said that had nothing to do with the dying. Also I wanted to mention this dying thing seems to only happen in warmer weather. The entire winter fall and even part of spring it didn't die at all. It did waver after I drove it 75 miles. But it didn't actually die. Which is why I thought it had gone away. I did have the fuel line cleaned 2 times. I was worried I might have gotten some bad gas last may 2004 when quite a few stations in sarasota came down with some bad gas. But everyone I spoke with said that wouldn't do this either. I was going to take it to someone else but they wanted $200 to put it on another computer, and like you said they could see me coming from a mile a way. AAMCO said it was trannie but it wasn't, others mentioned fuel injecter computer. Not sure if that sounds right. course i really don't know much. Just that when i push the gas pedal fast enough it doesn't die. But we all know in traffic that isn't always possible and just sitting at a light in drive it often dies or when slowing down to stop at a light it dies almost like its not getting enough gas. almost like choking. and only when weather is hot.

There were not any codes once AAMCO cleared the "transmission" codes. They did say that my stereo was telling my computer in my car that it was being stolen. When they tried to disconnect my radio the spedometer was disconnected instead so they had to reconnect. But they said that had nothing to do with the dying. Also I wanted to mention this dying thing seems to only happen in warmer weather. The entire winter fall and even part of spring it didn't die at all. It did waver after I drove it 75 miles. But it didn't actually die. Which is why I thought it had gone away. I did have the fuel line cleaned 2 times. I was worried I might have gotten some bad gas last may 2004 when quite a few stations in sarasota came down with some bad gas. But everyone I spoke with said that wouldn't do this either. I was going to take it to someone else but they wanted $200 to put it on another computer, and like you said they could see me coming from a mile a way. AAMCO said it was trannie but it wasn't, others mentioned fuel injecter computer. Not sure if that sounds right. course i really don't know much. Just that when i push the gas pedal fast enough it doesn't die. But we all know in traffic that isn't always possible and just sitting at a light in drive it often dies or when slowing down to stop at a light it dies almost like its not getting enough gas. almost like choking. and only when weather is hot.

Help is on the way:

Does your car already have pats keys ??? not sure if '98 has them. if so, check if the lite comes on when it dies, could be a bad key or receiver. Also, without obd2 codes your guess is as good as mine, really need those to pinpoint a cause Try to find a pepboys , they scan it for free, but don't buy anything from them

Johan

I have had a '93 and a '95 do similar things and the cure was a new IAC. The Idle Air Controller (I think) sits above the throttle and allows air into the engine when your foot is off the gas so it will continue to run. It could be failing or sticking when hot - probably won't set a code, tho. This might be the idle motor they spoke of. Be sure it was really replaced.

The temp guage going to H is confusing - it could be as simple as a loose wire but when an engine overheats, it will run badly and stall, too. Usually it knocks and pings like crazy when it's too hot.

I don't remember if you took it to a Ford dealer or not but they have driveability specialists who ought to be able to fix it. I have found that, unless you have a very strong recommendation for a mechanic, a dealer usually comes closest to being trustworthy.

Good Luck! PoD

yes i did take it to ford first. They told me it was the trannie and charged me $200 for the tip. They called it an "Idle Motor". And it is the only new looking thing in the engine. I will ask about what you said. I would gladly take any suggestions. Thanks all!