HELP!!!2002 Taurus SEL "dragging" stalling BADLY!!

[GALegal]

Hello All,

I tried to do some reading before posting...trying not to duplicate but, I think like most...I would rather be as sure as possible and make sure all my problems "quirks" are included...so here goes...

I have a 2002 Ford Taurus SEL Automatic....Since a year now...it started doing what I call "dragging" like it didn't want to go forward when the gas pedal was pushed...first thing I did was think Trans so, I took it to a National Trans shop and they told me...nothing wrong with the Trans (wonders!...I figure if they don't hit me for the bucks...then nothing wrong with the Trans!)...so..I kept driving it..sometimes it would seem better..other times...it kept dragging...ok now...(or since) #1...Car would not start one day...nothing..no clicking, no trying to turn over, nothing...towed to Ford Dealer...was told the battery was completely dead...replaced the battery....car running again....pick the car up from Dealer...A/C not working (was working when Dealer got the car for the battery)...Took it back..Dealear said...Temperature (something or other) under the dash near the radio????...Not working...and some hose was not connected so the hot air that was blowing was blowing out through the defrost vents and no where else...So...Dealer fixed that for free....NOW...Car stalling out on stops (at lights, stop signs, etc)...still draggin....worse..(sometimes it seems to be sputtering now a little...before shutting off)....also...seems (may just be in my head) that when the A/C is on..it drags more...wants to shut off more....WHILE DRIVING!...to be fair...it seems like it wants to stop while driving intermittently..with or without the A/C on.

This is really scary ($$$ wise and Safty wise) and...I am very concerned...can someone help with some possible issues?...Thanks in advance for any help

T

[GALegal]

PS....There is a light on now also...on the Lower left handside of the steering wheel...yellow...can't tell what it is bit looks kinda like an engine...with a flywheel???...Thanks

[shorod]

Which engine does your Taurus have? Does the car idle smoothly when at a stop, besides it acting like it wants to die? How about during the sluggish acceleration, is it at least smooth, or is it rough?

Do you have a vacuum pump that you can use to check the operation of the EGR valve?

You owner's manual should explain what the yellow light is trying to tell you. If you don't have the owner's manual, you should be able to download one from the Ford website.

-Rod

[Huney1]

The light that looks like an engine is telling you there is a problem and it's called a CEL, check engine light. Without going into a lot of detail, go by Advance Auto parts store or a parts store that "pulls codes" for free and they can plug into your cars computer and retrieve the codes that are "stored." Simple process, takes fifteen minutes and the codes should give you a good idea of what component(s) is causing the problem.

[GALegal]

Rod...

I honestly have no clue which engine it has...How can I find out?

It does not idle smoothly at a stop....After "sputtering" (Does that have something to do with idle??) it stalls out and shuts completely off


This is a hard one...while accelerating...sometimes it's smooth...sometimes it's rough....at first it was smoother...The best I can describe the ride is...like a pulling/then not pulling...(dragging) feel.

I do not have a vacuum pump to check the EGR valve

I am going to d/l the manual now...Thanks!

[GALegal]

Huney...Thank you...I will do this tomorrow (as this is driving me crazy and seems very dangerous..I am always afraid the car is going to stall out while driving and I will get hit)....Also....After I get them, may I please post the codes here for further assistance? Lastly...being that the car was recently in the shop twice...Do I have to ask the store to "clear" something or other?...Again...Thanks folks...this is much appreciated..I am at my wits end with this....

[brokenantimatter]

yes we will tell you what to codes mean if you bring them to us, don't trust the auto sport to interpret them for you.

[GALegal]

brokenantimatter...Thank you very much...I'll definitely do that tomorrow after I get the codes from a store.

[GALegal]

Rod...

After registering my car on MyFord.com I downloaded the book...(Yep Huney that light is definitely the CEL.... Thanks! and Yikes!)...by the way...does that help with possible causes?

Also Rod...I do now know that I have a 3.0 L Engine (?) and the engine code in my VIN is an "S"....Tell you anything?...If not...can you tell me how to find out which engine I have?

Thanks....T

[brokenantimatter]

Duratec engine, i have noticed this problem a lot lately. I blame the parents.

Will your engine die with the over drive off (the little button on the shift knob or the gear right after OD on the dash)?

I am betting this is a vaccum/emission related and just for shits and giggles I am guessing the errors codes are going to be:

System to Lean (Bank 1 and/or Bank 2)
Insuficent EGR Flow or Insuficent EGR Circut Range/Performance.

And if it is I have a pretty good idea what has caused...but I will keep it myself for the moment.

[GALegal]

brokenantimatter...I have been googling my butt off...and I think you are right...but..I am going to still get the codes and report back tomorrow...(I am about as pooped as my car sounds lately )....

I'll let you know!...Thanks a Bunch!

[Huney1]

"Do I have to ask the store to "clear" something or other?"
After they pull codes they usually clear them, but if the engine is still malfunctioning the CEL will come on again.
If the CEL is on and you get it fixed and the engine computer is happy it will automatically turn the CEL off in a few days. Whoever pulls codes should give you a print out but be sure and write them down anyway. We have some real pros here so don't fret and they'll get you squared away shortly.

Need to find a good shop and technician who won't rip you off and sell you parts and do repairs you don't need and while you're in the auto parts store it would be a good idea to ask about a good, honest repair facility.

[shorod]

How many miles are on your Taurus, and when was the last time a tune up was performed? Bad spark plug wires could cause the symptoms you describe, and if they haven't been changed recently, it may be worth replacing them and the spark plugs as part of general maintenance anyway. Same goes for the fuel filter, and you may as well dump a bottle of fuel injector cleaner into the fuel tank for good measure as well.

As mentioned above, a vacuum leak can cause the symptoms you describe, as could a stuck EGR valve, open Intake Manifold Runner Control (IMRC) - but less likely, low fuel pressure, dirty fuel injectors, low compression, faulty MAF sensor, etc.

Like brokenantimatter suggested, the next step should be to get the codes read, posted on here, then we can hone in on the next reasonable steps.

-Rod

[GALegal]

Well...Report time...Somewhat...to begin and to show you all just how much I need this help...Car stopped on a exit ramp tonight...reason? no GAS! (who woulda thunk that when that lil red needle went past the "E" that would happen!...)

Ok...I was on my way to the store when I ran out of gas so I did not make it today to get the codes But...I do have other things to report...

#1...I tested this over 25 times earlier today and tonight when I got home...When turning the A/C or the Ventilation/Heating??? (I had to use the Defrost because it was raining here tonight) the car Definitely loses rpm's (is that power???) I mean it goes way down as soon as these systems are turned on and it goes back up when they are turned off...each time...without fail

#2...When turning the above systems on, there is a definite "clicking" noise that seems to be coming from under the front hood on the passenger side of the car (not exactly sure that it is coming from that area because I was doing this by myself therefore I had to be mostly in the car while turning the A/C/Heating/Ventilation system on but, I am 90% sure it was coming from that side of the car under the hood).

#3...I forgot to mention yesterday that there was also a pronounced "shutting down" or "door closing" type noise near the radio when the A/C was turned off...but that was yesterday...now I don't hear that but I do hear the "clicking" sound mentioned above.

#4...and Lastly...although the "dragging" feeling has been intermittant for a year and has gotten progressively worse, the stalling and the worse dragging started AFTER the dealership "fixed" the A/C (it had started blowing hot air and was only blowing through the Defrost vents). They also did the recall work on the Wire Harness thingy for the 2002 Taurus'...

At any rate, I still plan to take the car to the store to get the codes and post them here tomorrow (as I got some gas ).

[GALegal]

Oh...and Rod...the car has 67,168 miles on it and I am sure I missed two oil changes (haven't had one in 10,000 miles (omg that's 3 isn't?)...and...What's a Tune-up??? (j/k).......I have never had one

This is giving me new respect for Maintenance...usually at this point...I would just get a new car and hope this one ran while the dealer checked it for trade-in value....but right now...I am not in that position...