Differences: `96 vs. `97

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SHOVNST

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Disclaimer: I'm more of a GEN 1/2 person so take it easy......;)


Off the top of my head I can think of two; one being the sound system (JBL in `96 vs. Mach in `97) and the other being the transmission indicator light on the gauge cluster which is present on `96s but not on `97s. The indicator light is self explanatory but I would really like to hear some solid opinions on which sound system is better and why......


If there are any other differences between the `96s & `97s that I'm missing please post up.....:sun:
 
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Funmart6

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Correct me if I am wrong, but I think 96's had courtesy lights in the doors also. In '97 they were changed to a mere reflector.
 

SHOZ123

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Article No.
96-26-1

1997 PRODUCT CHANGES - TAURUS/SABLE AND TAURUS SHO
GL wheel cover locking pedestal which attaches to the wheel has been deleted.
Outside front door handle activated interior dome light (illuminated entry feature) is no longer available.
NOTE: REMOTE ENTRY EQUIPPED VEHICLES WILL ACTIVATE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WITH USE OF KEY FOB OR KEY PAD. NON-REMOTE ENTRY EQUIPPED VEHICLE'S DOME LIGHT WILL SHUT OFF WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED.



Six-passenger model (column shift) glove compartment door damper has been deleted.
Rear seat fold-down armrest is no longer available on GL and GS models.
All models have the 2-way (up and down) head rest. High series (LX, LS, SHO) pivot 4-way head rests have been deleted.
Lighted pull down mirror (in sun visor) has been replaced by a lighted flip-up mirror for high series models.
Power lumbar on the passenger seat is no longer available.
The secondary visor on the high series will no longer be available as of February 1997.
Heated mirrors are no longer standard.
On floor shift (5-passenger) models, the PRNDL gear selector indicator located on the instrument cluster has been deleted.
The lamp outage and low washer fluid indicators are no longer available.
Black paint has been deleted from rear lower control arms.
The front door trim panel courtesy lamps have been replaced with a red reflector.
Rear seat fold-down (60/40 seat back) passenger compartment release has been deleted on the G model. The releases located in the trunk on the seat backs are still functional.
G series remote trunk release button is no longer available.
G series mesh pockets on the back of the front seats has been deleted.
SHO leather steering wheel is common with LX.
The chrome tailpipes on the LX and LS are no longer available.
The interior front and rear door trim panels no longer have a plastic cap covering the screw in the pull cup.
The snap ring on the lower ball joint has been eliminated. There will still be a groove in the ball joint for the snap ring but the ring will not be installed.
The JBL sound system has been replaced with the MACH Audio System which does not require a center-mounted sub-woofer under the package tray.
The MACH Audio System is CD-compatible. The high level Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) Integrated Control Panel (ICP) contains the controls for the Compact Disc Disc Jockey (CDDJ), even if the vehicle is not ordered with it. The CDDJ can be added to the system at a later time if desired by the customer. The CDDJ can be mounted to the vehicle and connected to the Rear Control Unit (RCU) with a jumper harness. After November 1996, all audio systems will be CD-compatible, with the CD controls in the ICP and RCU, except for the base (i.e., non-cassette) system. If the CD button is depressed on a vehicle without the CDDJ installed, the ICP will display "NO DJ." On vehicles with the CDDJ installed, the ICP will display "NO CD" if there is no CD in the magazine or the magazine is not in the DJ.
NOTE: THE CDDJ IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ALL FORD CD MAGAZINES. BE SURE TO USE ONLY THE MAGAZINES WITH F6DF PREFIX (ENGINEERING PART NUMBER LOCATED ON THE MAGAZINE) PART NUMBER IN TAURUS, SABLE AND SHO. ANY OTHER MAGAZINES WILL JAM IN THE MECHANISM.



The Sable illuminated Mercury symbol ("flying M") located at the front grille opening no longer illuminates with the headlights. This change occurred mid-May 1996.
 

SuperHO

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aren't there also interior color changes? for example, didn't the 96 get a two tone dash, whereas the 97 on up was all one color?
 

Izzmo

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"The lamp outage and low washer fluid indicators are no longer available. "

Why the **** would they delete that. Lame, I want it.
 

E1 v2

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96 steering wheel = leather all the way to the airbag
97 steering wheel has little rubber inserts between outer wheel and airbag

96 WAY better chrome wheels than 97/98 style chromies

96 no charcoal cannister on evap emmissions, 97 has this feature

96 waterpump temp sending unit is different than 97 - up system

96 can over-rev in reverse and pop tranny. 97's can't

96 has brake light out indicator on dash. 97's don't

96 has double windshield visors. 97's single

96 passenger visor has pull-down mirror. 97 is flip up

96 shifter handle is different from 97
 

Izzmo

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1998 is listed as having 2nd gen SARC.... what's different between the 98 and the 96/97?

Also, I think that's wrong..

97's did not come with Passenger lumbar support.
 

Funmart6

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It seems that it was common to use up parts left over from the previous year until they ran out, then the remaining cars built for the rest of the year were just SOL.
 

1bad98SHO

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Is all the wiring still in the 98 and 99 for the JBL speaker setup. meaning if i go rip the JBL system out of a 96 in the J-Yard will it all plug in?
 

1bad98SHO

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I know that. This is why I am asking if i pull the JBL setup out of a 96 are all the necessary connectors still there on the 98.
 

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