Confused new SHO owner...

[Nizate]

This is prolly going to be long... sorry. I just found this forum and I am ecstatic. I used to own a T-bird Super Coupe and was a member in the SCCOA for a while.
Anyways I got my 90 mtx white SHO about 3 months ago for only $750!!! and shortly found out why. First off the odo is exempt so I need to run a carfax some year to figure that out. Ill start from least and work to greatest. I'm sure the fuel pump is about gone becuase it is quite audible.
Next I need new struts, springs, and mounting hardware in the back. It chirps like a bird and gives me great headaches, and my back right clunks when I hit large bumps.
Next the ABS light is on constantly and once the abs engaged when I lightly tapped the pedal at about 5 mph and scared the crap outta me. It hasnt done that since I replaced the right rear caliper. I read up on the ABS posts and I think im just gonna leave that be for a few years or so.
Next that wonderfull check engine light has been going on and off. I have put about 5k on the car since I got it. Well anyways the light didnt start coming on until a put a tank of ethanol in. Well I quit doing that and now it comes on when I slow up after driving for a while and goes off in heavy stop and go traffic. O2 sensors, thats my guess... or hope.
Next it makes alot of valve-train noise when accelerating between 2k and 4k, not really knocking but just hearing the valves and they are too loud. It didnt do that when i first got it. I am hoping that is just a bad timing belt, which will be replaced shortly, I hope.
Next I think something in the steering is funny because when I take corners and highway speeds the wheel is tight at first but after a certain point it goes past the tightness and I end up jerking it a little bit. From what I have read I think thats the rack.

Next the clutch... oh the wonderfull SHO clutch. It is slippin pretty bad. However I knew it was slipping when I test drove it and thought well the car is cheap so I'll just put a new clutch in it and drive it for a while... Little did I know that I would get quoted $1000 for a clutch job oh_my . Oh well I have been searching around at shoshop and shonutperformance and I think I'm gonna go with the full kit and resurfaced flywheel from shonut. I have a question for you veterans if you are still reading this. Do I need to replace my actuator fork??? I dont know, I'm gonna go to a ford shop and have them check the records to see what kinda work has been done in the past and how many cluthces. Anyways thats the big part, do I need that fork.

One other thing are there any SHO Owners on this foroum from Lincoln Nebraska??? If so lemme know where I should take my new toy to have work done on it especially for the 60k maintenance. That was one thing that sucked about the super coupe, there was no-one in the SCCOA close to me. I had to go to Missouri to talk to ppl.

Anyways I love this new project of mine to death and I want to see it running at full steam within the year. And if somebody actually read all this I and posted back I will be extatic.

Happy SHOing!!!

 

[smacd]

Sounds like you've got your hands full!

The CEL could be O2 sensors or EGR system if your car is equipped with one.

As for the ABS problem - I would inspect all the wheel speed sensors and make sure none of them is bent - I have seen many sensor in various cars in my line of work at a Ford dealer in Lethbridge, AB where the sensor gets bent from rocks, etc. The module recieves an innacurate reading of wheel speed on one or more wheels causing a false activation of the ABS system. I'm not sure if that problem is possible on the Taurus but it may be an easy thing to check out.

For your clutch - it is not necessary to replace the fork unless there is unusual wear or damage from a bad TOB. It's a pretty heavy duty cast part that should hold up to years of driving provided the bearing has not failed.

Good luck on your project. thumbs_u

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

PLEASE dont take it to a Ford dealer for work!

And that $1k quote for a clutch job is a bit steep... typically it will run from $600 - $800

Just shop around, use the SEARCH feature of the SHOforum and be sure to visit www.shotimes.com !

good luck!

 

[olympic]

Follow the directions here to read the EEC codes http://www.dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html From what you described, it sounds like it's O2 or EGR related. Both very common problems.

When you replace the rear struts and strut hats, also replace the rear sway bar bushings. They tend to rot out and let the sway bar move around which will cause clunking over bumps. Moog makes a nice poly set which are cheap and easy to install. The end links tend to rust and break so check those out too.

Your steering problem could be the rack, but it also could be the subframe bushings. This is another common item that needs replacement in older Taurus's. When they break, the subframe can move around which will cause the symptoms you described. These can be replaced when you install the new clutch since the subframe will have to come off anyways. Same thing goes for the rack and pinion.

The valve noise is serious and should be checked ASAP. The car probably hasn't had it's 60K mile valve adjustment and one or more of the valve shims is damaged. The shims are easily replaced but if you leave it too long, they will damage the cams which cost a bundle to replace. Check out the SHOtimes link above for what's involved in a 60K service.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[projectSHO89]

Welcome!

See my signature? It's a little out of date and I still need to do more work, but you get the idea...

You will have at least a $3,500 SHO and that's if YOU do all the work.

Just making sure you understand what you are getting into..

I've chronicled on this site many of the necessary repairs on this car since I got it 15 months ago. Might be informative reading...

Steve

 

[HopefulSHO]

I'm from Omaha. Not that far from Lincoln thumbs_u Love to meet up sometime and drink beer...err, talk cars...err, you know, whatever.

 

[I'll_SHO_U]

Anybody have any ideas on the chirping sound? Mine JUST did that last night. Sounded like it was comeing from the drivers side.

 

[93nighthawk]

Welcome to the SHO-Forum! thumbs_u I would also recomend going to www.shotimes.com and read up on your car. As for suspension, do a search, plenty of posts of different type you can get. Tranny quote does look a little over priced. Good luck with your SHO!

Eric