2002 Ford Taurus O2 Sensors

Tiny
JUNKY2002
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 13,100 MILES
I have read through most of the 2002 Taurus posts. As with many, my mileage dropped suddenly from 22mpg to 14mpg. Suspecting the O2 sensor. But, I am no mechanic and not sure how many sensors this car has and where are they located. Also, do I need to replace all of them. Thanks for the help.
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008 AT 3:53 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
If it was me, I would also perform a complete tune-up based on the mileage, which include spark plugs, all filters (air, cabin, fuel, and PCV). You should also clean the throttle body and use some injector cleaner.

Your O2 sensor is recommended replaced every 100K miles. You have 3 O2 sensors, but the ones that you need to replace are the one on the exhaust manifold. When you go to purchase, tell them the O2 sensor for the upstream/in front of the catalytic converter.
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008 AT 9:53 PM
Tiny
JUNKY2002
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
So, I need to replace two of them? I see one in front of the engine and one behind the engine - what looks otme like o2 sensors.

And, why is it important to repalce the cabin filter.
Thanks for the answers !
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008 AT 11:31 PM
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Cabin filter. As the name says, it filters the air going into the cabin. If it is dirty, it will make your A/C or heater works harder than it should (trying to push air through a clogged surface), reducing its efficiency and increasing the load to the engine, thus dropping your fuel economy. You will also breath "dirty" cabin compartment air.
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Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 AT 9:24 PM
Tiny
JGAROFALO
  • MECHANIC
  • 489 POSTS
Sorry to butt in and contradict, BUT.

Back in the early 1990s, Ford introduced new throttle bodies that are not to be cleaned. This had been a chronic problem with multi-point fuel injection through the 1980s. This was an effective cure. The throttle body has an internal coating that seals the outside diameter of the throttle plate. The throttle plate has a calibrated bleed hole in it to allow the proper airflow at idle to be maintained. Cleaning the throttle body removes this coating, and causes untold agony in trying to diagnose erratic idle, racing at stops, etc. NEVER - repeat NEVER clean a Ford throttle body!
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Sunday, December 28th, 2008 AT 6:52 AM

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