New Owner, 2001

I recently bought a '01 Ford Taurus about a month ago, just rolled over to 113,000 a week ago. I am curious about a few different things about the car I find to be wrong, for lack of a better term.

-The transmission shifts harder(while driving and from P-R-OD-D etc)then normal cars and can be jummpy at times, slipping perhaps? Could this be a costly repair?
-The bottom of all four doors has minor rust on them, after these past two snow storms the northeast has had I noticed that sandy/salty snow gets jammed right where the rust is, do other owners have this problem?
-When started in the cold today(in an ice storm) it was idling(sp?) around 1000 and there was a slight squeal, perhaps a belt? It was very cold and only did this once, something to worry about?
-The CD changer pre-wire is located in the truck, on the left, on the fender, behind the trunk liner, correct?
-I have an SE and the back seat does not fold down, I feel like that is a pretty standard thing on cars, am I stupid or does it really not fold down?
-Not a Taurus specific problem, but it has an aftermarket Car Starter installed, manual says 1000' range, but it only starts if I open the window and point it directly at the car. If I buy a new battery, (which I suspect is the problem) how much better will it work?

I have not brought it to a shop to be checked, as I am strapped for cash.

Any answers and of you have for me would be great, I really like this forum, it seams very informative.


Thanks, John. :)

Welcome to the forum!

I don't have suggestions for all of your questions, but I'll provide my advice for ones I have suggestions for.

Rust on the bottoms of the doors has been a common issue for most Ford products, and really most cars these days, not just Fords.

The squeal at start up could be a belt, or could be an Idle Air Control (IAC). Not being able to hear the noise, it's hard for me to give a better suggestion than that.

I would expect you'll find the wiring for the CD changer in the trunk on the lower left side (as you're facing the trunk) if your factory deck has the CD changer controls.

I'm not real sure about the 2001 specifically, but are there handles in the trunk to release the seat backs?

As for the remote starter, the only way I'd understand the window needing to be down for the remote to work is if the window has a metallized window film on it. Are the windows tinted? You might be able to get by with relocating the antenna to improve the range. Battery could have an impact, but shouldn't require a window to be rolled down. Or, if you want to go with a new system, get one with a Frequency Modulated (FM) remote.

-Rod

Thank you for your help and suggestions.

I should have been more specific, I have to open my house window to start the car from my house, not the car window.

What brand of remote start is it? Unfortunately rs makers can state any range on their product but many don't come close to it. Changing the battery in the remote may help especially if you don't know how old it is. Also, if you live where there are any RF noises, that'll mess up the range. Same is true for window tint.

It's a "prestige" which I believe is made by Audiovox? I chaged the battery "23A" in one remote and "27A" in the other, the range is improved but I think it was just the tricky remote. You must press the start button two times in two seconds, which isn't easy because of the set up of the remote and "clicking" (for lack of a better term) of the buttons. I have no window tint, thanks for all of your help guys.