Engine low power?

Tiny
BLAKEBARTSCH04
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,000 MILES
My taurus accelerates fine up until 4k rpm, as it nears it or hits it the car seems to lose power and starts jerking backing and forth like it wants to go faster but cant. It is a real problem trying to pass on the freeway or driving through steep terrain as the car bogs down, one time while driving through the mountains in flagstaff, az it almost came to a complete stop because the rpms would already be at 4k if you just pressed on the pedal. Anywho any suggestions would be great.
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 AT 6:02 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
It sounds like the engine is misfiring due to lack of a tune up but to be sure these guides will help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-tune-up-a-car-engine

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 AT 6:08 PM
Tiny
FORDFOREVER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
I have been working on the front end getting struts and CV axles put in so the car has been sitting for about three weeks as I do not have much time to work on it with work and a two year old son. I finally got it drive able again the other night so I took it for a test drive and it started misfiring like crazy and I could not get over thirty mph, I pulled the codes and came up with p0306 and 01506. According to what I have read I took the IAC off of another Taurus I have and nothing changed. I have dug into it a little bit and have found nothing out of the ordinary other then a bunch of oil leaks, all hoses seem fine with no leaks. What is the next step on trying to figure out this piece of junk car? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,433 POSTS
As it has been setting. Go over all the wiring looking for rodent damage. They love to chew wiring. It causes a lot of problems and it only takes a small area of a hidden harness to drive you nuts hunting problems.
For the misfire, pull the plug and see if it is rusted. With the way the weather has been around the country it is possible that an open valve let in enough moisture to cause a problem.
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BCSTEARNS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
Periodically I'll be driving and all of a sudden the engine loses power and dies. It starts right back up however.
I recently had the P1131 OBDII code come up and replaced the two upstream oxygen sensors thinking that this would fix the loss of power problem. The code went away, but still when I'm driving everything will be fine then all of a sudden it loses power and dies. What would be the next logical step as far as what to check
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
If its stalling as you coming to a stop or at the light
check and suspect IAC valve
remove and clean 1st also check for any vacuum leaks
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
J6769
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 40,000 MILES
If I lose all acceleration suddenly but, can still run engine and everything else, could it still be a fuel pump? Or something else. I donated already. Unsure on last answer. Can you be more specific?
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
They suggested that you do a fuel pressure test in your other question.

Especially would want to know what the pressures are while you are reving the engine and holding it at 3000rpm. If it will get up that high.
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OSTATESMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
2003 Taurus SES, 59K 3.0 V-6

My 03 SES is having an odd issue.

After driving the car for a good long while at highway speeds (70-75) the car bogs down when I accelerate.

The speedometer seems to be giving a correct reading and is steady. The tach jumps way up though.

I don't think it's a VSS problem, I had a 99 that happened on and this is different, at least it seems that way.

The other thing about it is turning the key off and restarting seems to resolve the issue, and it never does it when traveling for less than a half hour or so even at highway speeds.

Is this a transmission problem or possibly a computer issue?
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Could be but try testing fuel system, almost sounds like pump is getting tired.
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OSTATESMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Sould I try changing the fuel filter?
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Couldn't hurt!
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THOMAS SCHERRER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 116,400 MILES
When I accelerate hard, once car is cruising, engine hesitates/misses(though tac. Indicates increase in rpms). Mechanics completed 120k tune up; which also included the r&r of coil, plugs, wires etc. & Fuel filter and fuel pump. Car runs great other than the bogging down when I accelerate hard to pass. And spending over $1k. Hope U can help- appreciate your time. Tom, Florida

PS, I do not use online credit card transactions. If U send me info, I will gladly send you money order
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
One of the following could be the cause of your problem:

Oxygen sensor
Catalytic converter
Dirty fuel injectors (cleaning the injectors often fixes this).
Bad MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor
Bad TPS (throttle position) sensor
Bad or dirty MAF (mass airflow) sensor
Low fuel pressure (leaky fuel pressure regulator or weak fuel pump)
Vacuum leaks (intake manifold, vacuum hoses, throttle body, EGR valve)
Bad gasoline (fuel contaminated with water or too much alcohol)

Sometimes, what feels like a hesitation is actually ignition misfire rather than lean misfire. The causes of ignition misfire may include:

Dirty or worn spark plugs
Bad plug wires
Weak ignition coil
Wet plug wires
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GIRLIE84
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
My car makes this mooing sound after driving about 25 minutes or so. It happens at low speeds and sounds like a dry belt or something. Also does not accelerate quickly and sometimes feel like it might stall. Can anyone help me out?
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Bell sounds, check exhaust system for a loose clamp and or a shield
no power and or lack of acceleration
do you have a check engine light on?
Have to check for code
check it for tune up
check for vacuum leaks
check MAF sensor
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ARYAN14IN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 61,380 MILES
While drive on street, suddely my car lost acceleration. When I press accelerator, it sounds well but car neither move forward nor back. Its like in neutral state. I took it to reputed mechanic but they could not find out what is wrong with car with their tool. Please suggest what could be wrong with car and how much approximately it would cost.
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Makes me wonder why they didn't get you a price on the tranny and or check the tranny
I would suspect internal tranny failure
check with your local tranny shop

need manual CHECK IT @
https://www.2carpros.com/kpages/auto_repair_manuals.htm
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BENSONFAM4
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
Tires and Wheels problem
2003 Ford Taurus 6 cyl Automatic 75000 miles

The other day I was driving and my car would not accelerate, so I had to pull over. Would this be the transmission?
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
If the RPM go up and car having hard time moving suspect Tranny
check tranny fluid
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Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 AT 9:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DGOAT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 43,000 MILES
Engine is running rough and has no power. I have replaced the fuel filter, mass air flow sensor, both o2 sensors, plugs, cables, and cap, also pcv valve and had the fuel injectors cleaned and I am still having the same problems.
Does anyone know what is causing this?
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Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)

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