1995 Ford Taurus Dead Clock and Whine

FORD TAURUS
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CSWTODBA
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My mother has a 1995 Taurus with 83,000 miles. It has been a good car for her and she takes excellent care of it (through a dealer mostly).

The clock in the dash quit working, also there has always been a high pitch whinning once the car starts. I've checked the fuse for the clock, but no luck. The high pitch sound, I'm guessing is the fuel pump because it starts as soon as you turn the key, before the car cranks over.

I welcome any advice as this car has to last her a while longer.
Dec 15, 2006 at 12:04 AM
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BRUCE HUNT
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The Whinning sound is the fuel pump. An older experienced mechanic told me, and others will probably disagree with me on this, that using ethanol fuel will reduce the life of the pump. I am not exactly sure about that but there might be something to it. Anyway, nurse the pump if you can but remember that should she start to have starting or shutting down problems, the pump might be where I would start looking. This thing could last a long time, so act accordingly.

The clock.... I would check to see if there is a voltage to the clock and it should be there at all times. If no voltage makes it to the clock it has to be from the fuse box to the clock where the problem exists. If there is voltage, the clock is the problem.
Dec 15, 2006 at 1:02 AM

Suggested Repair

Check for constant voltage at the clock. If none is present, trace the circuit from the fuse box to the clock; if voltage is present, replace the clock. The whine is the fuel pump; monitor it and investigate the pump if starting or shutdown problems develop.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1995 Ford Taurus reports a dead dash clock after checking the fuse, plus a high-pitched whine as soon as the key is turned. The expert identifies the whine as the fuel pump and advises watching for starting or shutdown problems. For the clock, constant voltage should be verified: no voltage points to a fuse-box-to-clock circuit fault, while voltage means the clock itself has failed.

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