tedhontz
New Member
Hi, my name is Ted and I just bought a 1994 Taurus SHO. It "seems" to run very well, engine-wise. The body looks nice, the interior is terrible with greasy leather seats all ripped up, but I only paid $300 for the car! Being new to this car, I would like to get some stuff fixed up on it and therefore need some help with questions.
1. Being its a 1994, how do I read codes on it?
2. I've been reading many posts and don't know what these things mean.
D4U1
ASFB
LPM
VSS
VAK
Can anyone tell me what these abbreviations mean?
What tranny does my car have? an AXOD or an ATX? its a 94 SHO
OK, here are my problems.
Vehicle starts good, but when I put it into gear I can hear a vacuum type air sound. If I hit the gas too soon, it will kinda jump a little. If I accelerate from a dead stop and put the pedal to the floor it will only go up to 3500-4000 rpm and then it shifts from 1st to 2nd, then before 3500rpm it goes into 3rd and so on. It is refusing to let me "get on it". When im driving along at low rpms doing like 30-35mph and then hit the pedal to the floor for instant downshift and pickup, it will not downshift, it will only accelerate in current gear and then shift to next gear. But it does downshift through gears when I approach a complete stop at a red light.
As i mentioned the inside of the car was trashed, here is maybe a link to the tranny problem. WHen I press the button on the shifter handle to take it out of P and into R, the whole handle is loose and will turn from side to side. I also notice when I hit the OD/OFF button, it does not turn on any OD OFF light. I tried to tighten the shifter handle **** by turning it clockwise. No luck. I gently pulled up and the whole assembly came off. I can see just the metal rod with a 1" plastic rod sticking out of it. I can push down on the plastic rod and shift in and out of gear without even having the shifter handle on it. I looked inside the hollow stem of the shifter handle for some kind of wire that would go to that od/off button but I don't see anything.
I began to think that this is the problem with the tranny shifting too soon and the lack of aggression on acceleration, but then I'll add this in the mix. With the car in park, I start it and it idles perfect. But shouldn't I be able to rev it to like 6000 rpm's in park before a "limiter" kicks in to prevent redlining? I can rev the engine in park to about 4000rpm but then it shakes and forces the engine RPM's down to 3500rpm and then with my foot still on the gas it goes back and forth from 3500-4000rpm. All this when its in park and not even moving.
It does have the famous long delay from 1st to 2nd gear shifting, but it does go through the rest of the gears ok, though I have felt it slip on occassion. My speedometer isn't working which may or may not play into this problem? I've test drove other SHO cars in the past and I must say this engine sounds the best while idling. BUT it doesn't have that aggressive sound like the thottle pedal really isn't getting nailed down like I think it is. I really don't want to beat on this car, but occassionally I would like to be able to know that I can do it.
I also know that its been wrecked in the front previously and when Im accelerating from a dead start and it goes from 1st into 2nd, the car wants to ******** the road. It kinda feels uncontrollable in the front with there is no stabilizer links or sway bar. So, me being new to this car. Is there a sway bar or stabilizer links on this car? What else could the swaying problem be? Power steering seems to be working good if that helps anyone.
I'd really appreciate any help I can get from everybody that can help. I've owned 10 mustang 5.0 cars in my life, and this car is so different! I bought a haynes manual that covers the taurus and sable, but it doesn't cover a thing about the SHO making the book worthless. Anybody know of a book for the SHO. I don't even have the layout for the fuse boxes. I'd even be willing to pay for some help from people and I'm also looking for a lot of parts. New interior parts mostly, new headlights, and a new windshield. Mine has a crack in it. Like I said, Im desperate for help and will kindly repay you for any help or guidance that I can get! Thanks Again!
1. Being its a 1994, how do I read codes on it?
2. I've been reading many posts and don't know what these things mean.
D4U1
ASFB
LPM
VSS
VAK
Can anyone tell me what these abbreviations mean?
What tranny does my car have? an AXOD or an ATX? its a 94 SHO
OK, here are my problems.
Vehicle starts good, but when I put it into gear I can hear a vacuum type air sound. If I hit the gas too soon, it will kinda jump a little. If I accelerate from a dead stop and put the pedal to the floor it will only go up to 3500-4000 rpm and then it shifts from 1st to 2nd, then before 3500rpm it goes into 3rd and so on. It is refusing to let me "get on it". When im driving along at low rpms doing like 30-35mph and then hit the pedal to the floor for instant downshift and pickup, it will not downshift, it will only accelerate in current gear and then shift to next gear. But it does downshift through gears when I approach a complete stop at a red light.
As i mentioned the inside of the car was trashed, here is maybe a link to the tranny problem. WHen I press the button on the shifter handle to take it out of P and into R, the whole handle is loose and will turn from side to side. I also notice when I hit the OD/OFF button, it does not turn on any OD OFF light. I tried to tighten the shifter handle **** by turning it clockwise. No luck. I gently pulled up and the whole assembly came off. I can see just the metal rod with a 1" plastic rod sticking out of it. I can push down on the plastic rod and shift in and out of gear without even having the shifter handle on it. I looked inside the hollow stem of the shifter handle for some kind of wire that would go to that od/off button but I don't see anything.
I began to think that this is the problem with the tranny shifting too soon and the lack of aggression on acceleration, but then I'll add this in the mix. With the car in park, I start it and it idles perfect. But shouldn't I be able to rev it to like 6000 rpm's in park before a "limiter" kicks in to prevent redlining? I can rev the engine in park to about 4000rpm but then it shakes and forces the engine RPM's down to 3500rpm and then with my foot still on the gas it goes back and forth from 3500-4000rpm. All this when its in park and not even moving.
It does have the famous long delay from 1st to 2nd gear shifting, but it does go through the rest of the gears ok, though I have felt it slip on occassion. My speedometer isn't working which may or may not play into this problem? I've test drove other SHO cars in the past and I must say this engine sounds the best while idling. BUT it doesn't have that aggressive sound like the thottle pedal really isn't getting nailed down like I think it is. I really don't want to beat on this car, but occassionally I would like to be able to know that I can do it.
I also know that its been wrecked in the front previously and when Im accelerating from a dead start and it goes from 1st into 2nd, the car wants to ******** the road. It kinda feels uncontrollable in the front with there is no stabilizer links or sway bar. So, me being new to this car. Is there a sway bar or stabilizer links on this car? What else could the swaying problem be? Power steering seems to be working good if that helps anyone.
I'd really appreciate any help I can get from everybody that can help. I've owned 10 mustang 5.0 cars in my life, and this car is so different! I bought a haynes manual that covers the taurus and sable, but it doesn't cover a thing about the SHO making the book worthless. Anybody know of a book for the SHO. I don't even have the layout for the fuse boxes. I'd even be willing to pay for some help from people and I'm also looking for a lot of parts. New interior parts mostly, new headlights, and a new windshield. Mine has a crack in it. Like I said, Im desperate for help and will kindly repay you for any help or guidance that I can get! Thanks Again!
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But good job on being descriptive and clear. Always helps.
