Transmission Issue

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BuddhaRock

BuddhaRock

Gotta Drive 'em All!
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BuddhaRock
I drive a 2003 Ford Taurus, automatic, about the most generic car you can find in the USA. Anywho, my transmission light came on today. It's been having an issue with accelerating in that it kind of sputters. I thought it was just the engine having issues with air intake but that doesn't seem to be the case. I had my oil changed today and they checked the transmission fluid which is fine, so I'm not sure what's going on? Obviously I'm going to take it to a shop but does anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing that issue?
 
You can probably get the code read at an AutoZone or similar place.
 
Eric.
Don't think your transmission will make the car sputter.
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I'm not sure what to call it, then. All I know is that it sputters while accelerating... you know when you get a fountain soda and sometimes air gets in the line? It's like that. I just thought maybe it was the transmission because the tranny light came on.
 
Sounds like an ignition issue. Check spark plugs?

Does the problem intensify if you accelerate quickly?
 
How many miles on it? This is the way a Mystique(like the Taurus) I broke went and I cracked the block. I seemed to have the same symptoms. Especially after hard acceleration. I ask the milage because all of these car's engines seem to go at around 100-150 thousand miles. Although I broke this car punching the gas and thrashing it around for about an hour.
 
BuddhaRock
I'm not sure what to call it, then. All I know is that it sputters while accelerating... you know when you get a fountain soda and sometimes air gets in the line? It's like that. I just thought maybe it was the transmission because the tranny light came on.
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Does it feel like the trans is slipping?
 
Joey D
Does it feel like the trans is slipping?
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He said the engine was sputtering, and unless his interpretation of the word is different, it can't be this. An engine paired to a slipping transmission still sounds solid all the way thru the revs, its just that the revs are increasing at a rate not proportional to the speed, or they are jumping around.
 
Would it not be a check engine light rather than transmission? I've never heard of one. My dad's Taurus had a bad plug wire, somehow worn in some spot and begun arcing on the block. Appeared as a misfire.
 
As said, I would think that would be some sort of an ignition issue. Does the car lunge forward or feel like its "jumping"? If it's an ignition issue, which sounds like it may be, check the plugs. When was the last time you went for a tune up and/or changed them? It could be a number of things from there if this isn't the case.
 
Slash, yes, that sums it up well. It sputters and sometimes lunges. I apologize, I know very little about cars outside of the game we play but that sounds accurate. I had an oil change on Monday and I told them about the issue but they didn't really say much about it.
 
Has the fuel filter ever been changed? After 9 years I would imagine it would be fairly clogged. If the car still sputters after you have the filter changed, your fuel pump could be on its way out and that is not a cheap repair.
 
RVDNuT374
Has the fuel filter ever been changed? After 9 years I would imagine it would be fairly clogged. If the car still sputters after you have the filter changed, your fuel pump could be on its way out and that is not a cheap repair.
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It can be but that all depends on brand. If that's the case I'd replace it with a Holley.


When was the last time you had a tune up? Sounds like engine hesitation and an ignition issue. Do you notice any loss in power or sluggish acceleration? Maybe your timing is off.
 
Slashfan
It can be but that all depends on brand. If that's the case I'd replace it with a Holley.
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Replacement fuel pump modules for his Ford Taurus are no less than $215. Add in the labor, and it can easily run over $400. And yes, you have to replace the entire module on a Taurus. I know because the fuel pump crapped out on my Taurus a year ago and it cost $750 because the local shops were probably going to put in a cheap Chinese pump so I bit the bullet cannonball and had it serviced at the Ford dealer. :ouch:
 
If you know what you are doing you could just do it yourself and save yourself 300 bucks. If you can turn a few screws it really isn't that hard.
 
Slashfan
If you know what you are doing you could just do it yourself and save yourself 300 bucks. If you can turn a few screws it really isn't that hard.
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A lot of people aren't going to want to lower and drain their fuel tank.
 
I have a solution to your problem. You're not gonna like it, but it'll work.
 
Oh wow, sorry I neglected this thread. After changing the plugs the problem continued so I took it into the shop. They had to change the spark plug wires and the coil. After parts and labor it was about $450 total. I was satisfied with that.
 
Eric.
A lot of people aren't going to want to lower and drain their fuel tank.
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That depends where your pump is located, some inside the tank, others run along side the frame, like mine. That depends on the vehicle itself.
 

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