Cold stalling

TARA1127

MEMBER
FORD TAURUS

I recently had my 2000 Taurus SES DOHC (109,000 miles) serviced for cold stalling. According to the invoice they repaired PCM replaced IAC and vacume hose and upgraded the computer. Still having same problem. When I start the car in the morning it stalls within 10 seconds. It will continue to stall when stopped until its been running 20 minutes or so then it runs fine. Now the engine light is on when it never was before. When I brought it back they performed self test and retrived DTC P0171 and pending DTC p0174. They also perf. Smoke test and found lower intake gaskets were leaking. I have sort of lost confidence in this mechanic and I am reluctant to have it serviced again and it not be fixed. Will fixing the gaskets take care of my problem.

1 Reply

INDYUKE

MECHANIC
416 POSTS

Both those codes relate to the fact that the engine is running lean for some reason. A leaking intake manifold would cause that problem. Leaking intake manifolds tend to make the engine run badly both while cold and while hot. You should replace the gaskets, even if it's only a step towards repairing the problem you have.

This is a theory, but this is why I think you should replace the heads as a step towards repairing your problem. I believe your vehicle has aluminum heads, and while cold the gap between them and intake manifold may be large enough to cause the stalling. But after reaching operating temperature, they have expanded to close that gap enough so that the car remains running. Aluminum responds to heat by expanding on a drastically larger ratio than steel or iron. Keep us posted.