This fucking Duratec right here.

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
12/09/2014 at 11:25 • Filed to: None

Has given me nothing but trouble the whole time I've been working on it. Or rather the people in my class.

First it was spewing transmission fluid, figured out it the damn dip stick wasn't put in all the way.

Then the battery wasn't charging, someone didn't re attach two wires that led from the PCM to the fuse box to the battery. Reattach those it works fine.

Then the power steering was super stiff and heavy, someone forgot to put fluid in it.

Then finally it was throwing a P1633 code that meant the keep safe voltage was low. Turns out the PCM is bad.

The car itself had 242,000 miles on it. I hope my girlfriend's Taurus doesn't become this troublesome as the miles go up.

DISCUSSION (20)

Jcarr > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:30

When I was in high school we took apart and rebuilt an old 60s Ford I-6 as part of our auto class. For some reason one of the kids unscrewed the bolts that held it to the engine stand and it fell into the floor as we were working on it. Luckily it didn't hit anyone and didn't do any damage other than denting the oil pan a bit.

We remounted it, finished putting it back together, and it started right up.

Bandit > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:31

Well, time to swap in an LS

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:31

To be fair a lot of cars have been crushed into a cube by 240'000 miles.

itschrome > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:32

Sounds more like a lot of user error rather than an issue with the system it's self..

I found the duratec in my Taurus wasn't a bad engine at all. every fucking thing else on that car though... OMG!! how did everything else break?!

Takuro Spirit > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:33

Just be happy it made it that long before the timing chains and guides wore themselves into uselessness.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:33

That's a 2000 car. water pump is on the front the engine, 01+ is cam driven from the trans side.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jcarr
12/09/2014 at 11:34

Sounds like something a kid in my class would do..

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > itschrome
12/09/2014 at 11:35

It's more a case of me cleaning up my other incompetent class mate's messes. When they tell me it's ready to go and the teacher has me doing a once over and it's throwing codes, the power steering doesn't work, the battery isn't charging... IT ISN'T READY TO GO.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/09/2014 at 11:36

This one had to be close to dead. It had chronic tinworm in the rear arches and looked generally like shit.

itschrome > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:36

haha seriously! slackers..

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier
12/09/2014 at 11:37

Jesus christ you can tell that from a general engine shot? It was built in April of 2000.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Takuro Spirit
12/09/2014 at 11:37

Oh I'm sure it'll be back in for that next week.

LappingLuke > Jcarr
12/09/2014 at 11:40

Damn that's ridiculous. I remember a friend of mine telling me a similar story from when he was in auto tech school. They were working on a big diesel work truck (think like big box van thing. Heavy duty) and one kid was under it and one was in the cab working under the dog house. I forget what they were doing maybe removing the transmission or something. But the kid on top pryed the flywheel away with a pry bar like an idiot and the huge heavy flywheel with teeth around it fell on the kid's head underneath...I don't think it was pretty...

Jcarr > LappingLuke
12/09/2014 at 11:42

Ouch

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:42

Sounds like a 240k car to me.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 11:53

Yes, yes I can. It's also one of the 3 years the Duratec had coil on plug.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 12:22

I have this engine in my Mazda MPV. I just got done taking the intake off to replace all the coils only to find out that the O2 sensor was ruined by the misfiring coils on the backside of the engine, so now I have to take the manifold off AGAIN to change the downstream O2 sensor. Which is located by the cat under the floorpan. But the car packaging people apparently have a sense of humor and attached it to the wiring harness with a 24" lead that goes up behind the firewall with no good access without removing the intake.

Not that I am bitter or anything.

RallyWrench > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 12:50

Sounds like most of those problems weren't the car's fault. With 242k, I'd call it pretty good.

wantafuncar > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 12:51

My Taurus has been one of the least reliable vehicles I've ever owned, but honestly a lot of it was just sorting out prior deferred maintenance.

2002 Vulcan 3.0 ffv; Current mileage: 125k.

In the last two years, I have:

Replaced both tie rod ends

New left ball joint

New rear brakes

All new fluids

Replaced fuel filter

Replaced plugs & wires

Replaced heater core

New Battery

Replaced upper intake manifold gasket

Replaced a sensor (I think EGR but I forget now)

New tires

A/C recharged

(I know I am forgetting some stuff)

Things still broken/wrong:

Struts/shocks are borderline dangerous (replacing all 4 on Thursday)

It leaks into the passenger footwell from the cowl (common problem – has a tsb)

Windshield washer doesn't spray

Drivers door/window switch cuts in and out (common problem I believe)

Good luck with your Taurus!

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/09/2014 at 18:36

Tech school, right? I had about the same issues with the people in my diesel class. A bunch of incompetent rednecks that had no business touching a wrench. I don't think I was always the most popular guy there, and I never cared. I did stuff right.