I have chirping, too. Just began, still intermittent.

[taurusffv]

All car trouble started with the Jiffy Lube oil change in October. I couldn't get started on the first try in their own parking lot after the oil change-never experienced that before. It continues today intermittently. Black smoke comes out of exhaust at those times.

I am told the chirping is the same problem discussed in an earlier thread which sounded expensive to repair. One poster mentioned without fixing they would fail their smog test which sounds like a California thing :-) So here in the clear, cold Midwest, what will happen if I keep putting this repair off?

Currently the chirping is intermittent-if its cold it chirps more, if its warmed up it chirps less, speed of car affects speed of chirping on city driving. I am replacing the serpentine belt just as a precaution, and another oil change. Fortunately I finally found a good small shop owner who seems like a decent human being and whose shop has everything in its place and a place for everything but no excesses.

[dddcccmack]

If it the same problem I had I drove the car for almost 2 years with the CEL on and the chirp. the chirp did stop after 3-4 months. Forgot what it was called but it was a timing thing located where a distibutor would go. I fixed it for about $15. Not to big a deal.

[shorod]

I believe the sensor you are referring to is the camshaft synchronizer/CMP sensor. This has been a pretty common issue on the Taurus.

Taurusffv, what year is your Taurus? I assume that the car is an FFV model.

Don't overlook that Jiffy Lube may have dislodged a vacuum hose or left the Mass AirFlow (MAF) sensor and/or Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor unplugged. Either of these may have been dislodged when checking the air filter.

Also, make sure the air intake hose between the MAF sensor and throttle body is properly installed and snug. Any unmetered air entering the engine can cause the hard start and rich (black) exhaust. You'll want to get it remedied before the catalytic converters melt down due to being overworked, trying to convert all the unburned fuel to water. Not to mention the poorer than necessary fuel economy.

And as far as the chirp, replacing the serpentine drive belt to see if that has an effect is a reasonable thing to try. Or, you could spray a small amount of brake cleaner (not brake fluid) or silicone spray on the belt to see if the chirp changes. If so, then the belt is the likely contributor.

-Rod

[taurusffv]

Thanks-I have a 2000 Taurus FFV.

I love this car.
I bought it for $6,000 with 54,000 miles on it 2.5 yrs/18,000 miles ago.
I was riding bus/taxi/rentals before this car.
Owning it has been cheaper for me, so far.

They called with my total bill-I don't know if this is good or bad but serpentine belt replacement, oil and filter change, radiator flush/antifreeze, and automatic transmission fluid replacement was $289. The aut. trans fluid was supposed to occur at 75,000miles according to the car manual but I went for it 3,000 miles early.

[mrflint]

I've had the same chirping on 2002 SES for last 3 months. It started when weather turned cold and has been getting worse. It does quiet down when warmed up. Finally ordered the cam synchonizer from RockAuto. Wanted the Motorcraft part but screen kept biringing up the part from Dorman. I ordered and was suprised to find included an alignment tool and cam sensor. I expected a rebuilt synchronizer for the 36.99 price. I have not installed yet. It does look like the pictures I've seen on this forum and others. The part is marked China 689-107. Went to Dorman website and the part is described with alignment tool and pictured with Cam sensor. I don't know what you get for less than $40. I have never handled the part before and will be showing this to my autotech buddies before installing.

One Week Later...
I tried installing part last night, it doesn't fit. I tried all the usual tricks to install a distributor and the synchronizer does not go into the hole. The original fits. Checking for other posting and found similar problem for Dorman Part for Mercury. Taking that advice, measured with caliper. There are 3 alignment rings above the gear; original part size is approx 1.300 inches wide (if I'm reading it right). The Dorman part is 1.32 I'm going to try and find another synchronizer locally. that failing, will sand down the new part.

The original synchronizer was bad, squeaks and hard to turn by hand. Original Cam sensor was fine, mine has no magnet on top, Dorman part looks the same.

For the agravation, this part was not worth the $40 I paid for it.

One Day Later...
Final Note: I reduced the diameter of the Dorman Synchronizer to that of the original. Installed with slight tap at last 3/8 inch. FWIW, Marked the relative position of old sensor & synchronizer with correction fluid and didn't use alignment tool. Used the Dorman Cam Sensor. Did not have to remove throttle body. Car started and ran fine. Drove 50 miles without problems. Acceleration seems improved and the chirping is gone. As to part quality, tiime will tell.

From email...
Reduced diameter of synchronizer by using cloth backed sandpaper (abrasive cloth). Synchronizer has two flats on the body which are good spots for clamping carefully in vice - use wood to protect metal and don't clamp too tight. Using "shoe-shining" motion and continually shifting postion of paper to keep part round. I used 150 grit and cuts aluminum quickly. Check size often, finished with 240 to polish part. I taped all openings on synchronizer and covered open top and gear with paper to protect. Remove O ring before sanding and replace before installing.

[Willyum]

On my '02 Vulcan the chirping was the CPS (cam positioning sensor). Chirps most when cold and often is quiet when the engine is warmed up and been driven a while. Much more info on this can be found on the tauruscarclub.com site. You can waste a lot of $$ taking a shotgun approach and replacing a lot of useful parts. The Motorcraft part # of the CPS is DA-2089, costs about $150 from the dealer. You can replace it yourself if you have mechanical experience with instructions you'll find on the Taurus club site.

[Willyum]

Go to Google and enter 30-S2600 in the search window. You'll find more info about this problem than you need to know.
Makes no difference if the vehicle is FFV or not.
I found the Motorcraft part at an independent auto parts store for $99. Dealer estimated nearly $400 to do the job.

[taurusffv]

My bill this morning was:

Supplies:
14.95 oil filter and oil
44.70 Multi V-Groove Belt K060854 (so does this include serpentine??)
16.50 Antifreeze
49.90 Universal full synthetic automatic transmission fluid
05.32 Shop Supplies

Labor:
04.05 oil change, lube, inspection, top off fluids
34.00 alternator drive belt (includes Serpentine and V-belt types)
34.00 labor to flush and fill
68.00 labor to flush transmission
03.99 hazardous materials

still needed:
240.00 Cam Sycro Assembly
550.00 2 ball joints, tie rods, alignment
365.00 front brake job, clean/adjust rear brakes
Engine light on P1131 is stored in memory, possible oxygen sensor??

the noise turning the wheel is gone, the chirping of course is still there, and it started well and "felt" more energetic :-)

[Willyum]

Why are you using "universal" transmission fluid when Ford specifies "Mercon V" ?

[taurusffv]

Because no one ever asks the car owner? Because I gave him a short list of specifications and he ignored it? Because every man believes he knows better than the next guy?

[joeh100]

Not trying to steal the thread but my dad's car has the same problem. Can someone tell me where this sensor is located?

[way2old]

Do a search on this forum. There are some detailed instructions and locations.

[Alana_Towers]

CEL codes P0340, P1000 I have the chirping and i am thinking i will have to change the sensor at least, however, this drive assembly thing sounds like it too must be replaced. What do these codes mean? Where do I start?

[shorod]

In the upper right corner of the Taurus forum there is a "Search this forum" option. If you do a search for "P0340" you will probably find all the information you are looking for. It's too much to keep re-typing.

-Rod

[Alana_Towers]

I was just at the Ford Dealership and the price way out here in the great white north on the west coast for a Synchronizer for a CMP Sensor is $287.49 (Can). I phoned Can Tire and Lordco etc. they all tell me it is a Ford dealer part. Is it worth it to get one from a wrecker? Could I just buy the same problem? Is there an autopart dealer I could get it from that is not as expensive as a Ford dealer?