My Ford Taurus Barely Runs - Please Help!!!

[hurricanecentral]

Just had my 1990 Ford Taurus tuned up at the mechanic. New plugs...new wires...new distributor cap and rotor...new fuel and air filters. Drove home fine, but now it idles VERY rough then dies. It has virtually no power when you press the accelerator. It is almost like it is not getting any gas (new fuel filter). Please help!!!

[shorod]

The first thing I'd check is to make sure that all the plug wires are snapped on tight, both at the plug and at the distributor cap. Since you have a single coil and a distributor cap, make sure the coil wire is properly seated.

If those check out, then follow the plug wires from the origination to the plug and see if there are any connectors in that area that may have been disconnected during the tune and not reconnected completely. Same for the area of the fuel filter.

Also, since the air filter was replaced, make sure all the air intake tubing is connected and tight. If your Taurus has a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, make sure it is properly connected.

-Rod

[hurricanecentral]

Originally Posted by shorod

The first thing I'd check is to make sure that all the plug wires are snapped on tight, both at the plug and at the distributor cap. Since you have a single coil and a distributor cap, make sure the coil wire is properly seated.

If those check out, then follow the plug wires from the origination to the plug and see if there are any connectors in that area that may have been disconnected during the tune and not reconnected completely. Same for the area of the fuel filter.

Also, since the air filter was replaced, make sure all the air intake tubing is connected and tight. If your Taurus has a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, make sure it is properly connected.

-Rod

Thanks!

Is there a line running to the MAF that may have popped off?

[shorod]

The MAF would be in series with the air intake tube. It often will be quite near the air filter housing and will have either 3 or 5 wires on a connector plugged into it. If the electrical connector is not making a good connection or if the air intake tube is not sealed or loose, it could cause what you describe.

-Rod

[The Chevy Guy]

How did it run before the tune up?Recheck all things mentioned by Rod I had this problem before but it turned out to be a bad catalytic converter........

[bigtexas1986]

Originally Posted by The Chevy Guy

How did it run before the tune up?Recheck all things mentioned by Rod I had this problem before but it turned out to be a bad catalytic converter........

Mine did that as well, Chevy, and it was the catalytic converter. Runs strong and smooth now that it got replaced, but double check everything they did in the tune up. Something might be lose in the plugs and coils. Also another thing to check would be to check to be sure the gap on the plugs is right. If too small or too big you might not be getting the right spark you need to run smooth.