2003 Ford Taurus Idles roughly even quits

Tiny
TRENFROW
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,036 MILES
The check engine light came on about a week ago and the car began running rough at very low speeds and when idling. Autozone's OBD II diagnostic computer spit out O2 sensor codes. I replaced both the O2 sensors but the car runs just as poorly as before. When the RPMs are below 1000 it bucks and even quits if you sit still in traffic for more than a few seconds. Do I need to replace the rear O2 sensors or is this a Mass Air Flow sensor problem or something else? I don't want to spend more money on a guess and check fix.
Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 8:16 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Well I wanna say your idle air control valve by what your telling me, but here are a couple of things that you can check on your own that will put checks next to the list of possible causes. One is ignition and spark and the other is fuel pressure. I will send you a couple of video links that will show you the easy way to do these your self. Hang tight.
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Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 2:41 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Her is a link to show you an easy way to check ignition and spark.:

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_engine_ignition_system.htm
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Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 2:42 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
HERE IS A LINK TO SHOW YOU AN EASY WAY TO CHECK FUEL PRESSURE/l . Also remember to check for vacuum leaks first before anything else

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_fuel_injection_pressure.htm
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Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 2:43 PM
Tiny
TRENFROW
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
If it were either of those things, wouldn't I expect performance problems all the time, not just when the car is in idle?
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Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 3:10 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Not all codes related to o2 sensor means that sensor bad
if you have the p code that auto zone came out with
that p code will help to pin point the trouble area
check for a vacuum leaks and check mass air flow sensor
check egr valve (if have one )
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Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 5:31 PM
Tiny
TAURUSWHEEL
  • MECHANIC
  • 718 POSTS
If you're getting codes showing multiple o2 sensors faulting, most likely it's something other then bad o2 sensors, usually multiple failures are uncommon. Check for a vacuum leak somewhere, check the pcv hoses for pinholes, a common cause of lean codes, as an aside, my son's 93 Taurus spit out o2 codes, indicating a lean condition, turns out the ground was corroded.

.
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Monday, April 28th, 2008 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
TRENFROW
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
It was a vacuum hose leak.

Thanks for the help all.
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Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 AT 9:26 AM
Tiny
MIKE451961
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Where is the vacuum hose on the ford taurus?
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Saturday, August 16th, 2008 AT 8:02 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Check pcv valve hose
check around the intake
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Saturday, August 16th, 2008 AT 8:15 PM

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