04 taurus new owner, questions
yeding1
09-11-2007, 03:52 PM
hi, all:
I just got a used 04 taurus with 70,000miles on it. it has Vulcan engine. The car runs fine but I have some questions:
1. I can feel a little bit gas pedal vibration when the car is running about 40mile/h. is this normal? I did my research online, ford has a TSB for this, but I dont know how much do they cost and is this worthwhile to do this for a used car.
2. I checked my coolant and found it's a little bit lower than the "cold fill range", and the coolant color is gold transparent(just like clear engine oil), is this the normal color for ford's so called "premium gold coolant".
3. my power steering pump makes a whining noise, it's not too bad, but kinda annoying, my mechanic said it mightbe the pump. I can see the power steering fluid is kinda dirty, will this be the reason? or I need to change the power steering pump ASAP?
thx for your help, and yes, I still love my taurus :)
I just got a used 04 taurus with 70,000miles on it. it has Vulcan engine. The car runs fine but I have some questions:
1. I can feel a little bit gas pedal vibration when the car is running about 40mile/h. is this normal? I did my research online, ford has a TSB for this, but I dont know how much do they cost and is this worthwhile to do this for a used car.
2. I checked my coolant and found it's a little bit lower than the "cold fill range", and the coolant color is gold transparent(just like clear engine oil), is this the normal color for ford's so called "premium gold coolant".
3. my power steering pump makes a whining noise, it's not too bad, but kinda annoying, my mechanic said it mightbe the pump. I can see the power steering fluid is kinda dirty, will this be the reason? or I need to change the power steering pump ASAP?
thx for your help, and yes, I still love my taurus :)
taillight
09-12-2007, 09:55 AM
1. If it isn't a problem don't fix it.
2. Yes gold is the right color. Add a little.
3. You might need the pump changed and the system flushed out.
2. Yes gold is the right color. Add a little.
3. You might need the pump changed and the system flushed out.
yeding1
09-12-2007, 10:29 AM
thx for reply. if I dont change the pump, will it cause other problem? thx
taillight
09-12-2007, 12:43 PM
No power steering someday.
tripletdaddy
09-13-2007, 03:11 AM
Your gas peddle may be vibrating due a couple of things, irregardless you seem to have found its natural frequency at 40mph. Does anything vibrate at that or any other speed? Does the steering wheel vibrate at that or any other speed? My first guess would be the front wheels need to be rebalanced, but it simply could be the pedal will vibrate on its own at 40mph, it happened with one of my vehicles. At that point, you would have to figure out if it is loosely attached or there is some wear. That seemed to help for me. I replaced some nylon bushings that were worn where the pedal pivots inside the driver's compartment.
On your whining, noisy ps pump, I would concur that flushing is worth a try before the expense of replacing it, especially if you are doing it yourself. My taurus also experienced the breaking down of the ps fluid. Is yours no longer cherry red and does it smell burned? If so it needs replacing. If it makes you feel any better, on older Fords, I can tell that one is running behind me without seeing it at all by the sound of its whining ps pump. They are everywhere and they seem to run like that a lot without problems, but I'm not sure about something so new.
On your whining, noisy ps pump, I would concur that flushing is worth a try before the expense of replacing it, especially if you are doing it yourself. My taurus also experienced the breaking down of the ps fluid. Is yours no longer cherry red and does it smell burned? If so it needs replacing. If it makes you feel any better, on older Fords, I can tell that one is running behind me without seeing it at all by the sound of its whining ps pump. They are everywhere and they seem to run like that a lot without problems, but I'm not sure about something so new.
Huney1
09-13-2007, 09:19 AM
3. my power steering pump makes a whining noise, it's not too bad, but kinda annoying, my mechanic said it mightbe the pump. I can see the power steering fluid is kinda dirty, will this be the reason? or I need to change the power steering pump ASAP?
My 03 Vulcan whined at 48K mi and I changed the fluid and idler pulley and did everything possible including purging it of air but it wouldn't stop whining. Put a new/rebuilt pump on and it stopped. Tech said when they got into it the presure relief valve had blown. Here's a simple test. With thegine running idle look in the reservior neck and you should see a whirlpool in the fluid and if you don't I would say something is wrong internally. My old pump the fluid just sat there and didn't appear to circulate that much, but the new one it is an obvious whirlpool in the fluid.
Idler pulleys start going bad they will whine or make wierd noises. Take one of those stethiscopes with the probe and touch it to determine if that's what's whining, BUT THAT IS A JOB FOR A TECHNICIAN and working around or near belts and pulleys when the engine is running is very dangerous!
Easy way to change the fluid. Take a piece of 1/4" clear tubing you can get at auto parts store or hardware. With the engine & fluid cold siphon the fluid out of the pump reservior then refill with Mercon V, drive it a day then siphon it out again and do that four days and the fluid is all but brand new. If the pump fluid is kept clean and not voerheated it lasts 100K mi so IF the fluid is still good fail to see how old fluid would make it whine. But, for what it costs, it's worth a shot. By the way, you can't buy a new pump and have to go with rebuilt. I tell you get clear tubing so you can see the fluid coming and not get it in your mouth, YUCK! Das Nasty Stuff! :(
My 03 Vulcan whined at 48K mi and I changed the fluid and idler pulley and did everything possible including purging it of air but it wouldn't stop whining. Put a new/rebuilt pump on and it stopped. Tech said when they got into it the presure relief valve had blown. Here's a simple test. With thegine running idle look in the reservior neck and you should see a whirlpool in the fluid and if you don't I would say something is wrong internally. My old pump the fluid just sat there and didn't appear to circulate that much, but the new one it is an obvious whirlpool in the fluid.
Idler pulleys start going bad they will whine or make wierd noises. Take one of those stethiscopes with the probe and touch it to determine if that's what's whining, BUT THAT IS A JOB FOR A TECHNICIAN and working around or near belts and pulleys when the engine is running is very dangerous!
Easy way to change the fluid. Take a piece of 1/4" clear tubing you can get at auto parts store or hardware. With the engine & fluid cold siphon the fluid out of the pump reservior then refill with Mercon V, drive it a day then siphon it out again and do that four days and the fluid is all but brand new. If the pump fluid is kept clean and not voerheated it lasts 100K mi so IF the fluid is still good fail to see how old fluid would make it whine. But, for what it costs, it's worth a shot. By the way, you can't buy a new pump and have to go with rebuilt. I tell you get clear tubing so you can see the fluid coming and not get it in your mouth, YUCK! Das Nasty Stuff! :(
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