Check engine light is on?

make sure to check ecm fuse.
If the fuse for KAM is blown, check the A/C clutch,they are powered by the same fuse! If the a/c clutch is shorted or melted you have found the reason for your P1633!

2001 Ford Taurus 6 cyl

Quick history- Long warm up time and check engine light would come on from time to time. Changed plugs and it went off. Car overheated yet the temp gage never indicated hot. The reservoir started to leak so I replaced it. I added stop leak and it clogged heater core. The head gasket blew and I replaced it at the same time I also added failsafe thermostat, and water pump. Drove great for 500 miles then check engine light came back on code P0153. I cleaned MAF and numerous drive cycles later it went off. Lower idle since I replaced both head gaskets (surfaced also) was around 800 now 650 slight variations but runs fairly smooth. Engine light on and off was a problem prior the major repair. Any ideas what this intermittent light on and off could be?

My code library shows P0153 on a Ford as a "slow response from upstream sensor bank 2".

This could be a sensor heater malfunction or contaminated sensor from coolant from headgasket.
Coolant will destroy O2 sensors very quickly so the intermittent light could have been caused by the headgasket leak

An intermittent check engine light should set a code, have you had codes read after repair?

Also idle speed is low, should be 800-900 when engine is warm, so IAC may also be bad or stuck/binding.

Prior the head gaskets cylyinder 5 code (number not known) faulty plug, injector, wire, coil pack.
This factor I just realized... light would go on towards 1/4 tank and off after fill up around 3/4 tank however not every fill up.
After head gasket replaced light came on around 500 miles and O2 sensor error.
Cleaned MAF. Several fill ups later it went off around 3/4 tank it has not went back on yet. Lower idle since head gasket r&r. Can IAC be cleaned?

You can remove and clean the IAC, although they normally do not get very dirty.

You could remove and clean, disconnect negative battery cable first.
If you get an IAC code after cleaning, then PCM would need to be reflashed with IAC position % at closed throttle.

Probably better to simply start by cleaning the IAC connector with the MAF cleaner, then blow the connector dry.

I will clean the connector. Would the IAC explain why it takes a long time for it to kick down from high idle to low idle when it is warming up if not what controls that? Where can I get manifold vacuume to see what is going on?

IAC controls idle to some extent, usually it can control idle in the 300-700rpm range. If idle is above that, then you generally have a vacuum leak.

Manifold vacuum would be any vacuum source on the intake manifold.

IAC bypasses air from intake tube to manifold to control idle. Throttle plate is set at factory and should NEVER be adjusted.

Shakes or Wobbles problem
2001 Ford Taurus 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

When I drive my car it shakes and makes a weird noise. Also my check engine light blinks on and off. thanks for your help!!

Blinking check engine light is an indication of engine misfiring
need to check it for tune up
check if firing at all cylinders

the car just got a full tune up about a month ago. could the engine be going bad? or could it be bad engine mounts?

Need to check for codes
check coil if firing at all cylinder
tune up is the 1st step in diagnosing a misfiring issues
since tune up was done recent check for codes
check if coil firing at all cylinders if all firing
do a compression test

My check engine light comes on and it says misfire on cylinder 6, I have replaced the spark plugs, spark plug wires, fuel injector for cylinder 6, and coil pack, and still get this message. Do you know the compression of the cylinders so I can do a compression check of cylinder 6, and do you know of anything else that could cause this message? Thanks

Compare the reading of all cylinder if # 6 below or higher than the others you have a problem
Check if have injector pulse on the injector check if coil firing # 6 too
As it maybe a PCM issue

I have a 2001 Ford Taurus. I have 27, 000 miles (on new engine. Ford had to replace under warranty because dealer ruined engine by not tightening 1 bolt). I have two problems. The first is that when I am sitting idle at a light the car will hesistate. It happens frequently. I have had a full tune up. The check engine light came on. The code was misfire. (dealer tried to charge me $1500 to fix). I had the tune up and the light went off for a while. The check engine light comes sometimes but will go off a few days later. I have taken it to a mechanic who seems to think that it is a clogged fuel injector. He recommended fuel injector cleaner and high octane gas. The hesistation has improved however it has not gone away. The second problem is when I go to accelerate like entering the highway the car will hesitate and I have to give it more gas. It will then pick up speed. Any ideas?

Need to verify fuel pressure with a manual gauge. Sounds like the pump may be weak, you are right about at that mileage. Sometimes they get weak and will run, but not make enough pressure to run the engine properly. The fuel injector theory is probablt correct, an injector wave form read out should be able to tell him which one it is

Shakes or Wobbles problem
2001 Ford Taurus 6 cyl Automatic 148159 miles

ok, earlier today i drove during rainy weather and as i was down the road from my first destination my car started to sputter really badly (usually its only a little sputter during rainy weather) But its a really strong , hard sputter and then my engine light went on then started to flash! i got really worried so i called my dad. He claims that always happens especually with my car since it doesnt like 'water' , but when it would rain the light wouldnt come on at all and flash? My dad said to not worry about it becauseits typical, but i think he is wrong, my owners manual says that if my engine light is on and flashing then its a major problem - like the engine backfiring- what should i do? should i be worried? when i got home i opened the hood and didnt see or smell anything. i was also thinking about driving to autozone to have it read-codes- my car wouldnt go over 30mph even on a highway or a busy street....i had to drive with my emergency lights flashing to warn others that my car might die on me.

They don't put flashing reds lights in cars for minor things. Yes, you should go to AZ and get the codes read. The flashing part of this means that the engine is misfiring badly enough to ruin the Catalytic Converter and should never be driven that way. The moisture is effecting something in the ignition system ad it needs to be diagnosed properly. The codes will at least tell you which cylinders are having the problem.

I dotn want to drive my car until it drys off and stops raining- i dotn want to overheat my catalyc converter causing meltdown. Im pretty sure that a 'misfiring' code will result at AZ . Also i forgot to state this earlier that when i had my car parked and i started it , the engine light didnt come on , until i drove down the street in the rain then it came on and then started to flash again.

The code should be a cylinder specific misfire code so you will know where to look for your problem.

Is there something i can use to keep my car from becoming sensitive to water? thx

It's not just a sensitive car. There are component/components that are absorbing the moist and causing it to short out. This component has to be found and replaced. The plugs, wires, or coils are the most likely suspects.

Thanks, i figured that there is something exposed. Anything , like sensors, electrical wires i can protect with the special tape right? thx

No, the parts aren't supposed to absorb moisture like that. They may even be cracked. You just need to replace the parts that are absorbing moisture

i know, afterwards i can protect the wires by covering them with the special (eletrical ) Tape?

NO, you can not!
You just replace the parts and the problem goes away. Non-defective parts do not have this problem. Tape won't help a thing and likely will make it much worse.

my engine light is on along with gas cap light and the door ajar light. the engine light and door ajar lights go off as soon as i turn on the parking or headlights. i installed a new gas cap and used an obdII code reader and there are no codes neither before or after i installed the new cap. I also oiled all the door latches to see if door ajar light would go out also and it didn't. i also unhooked the battery completely overnight to see if all these lights would go out and it didn't work.

I'm assuming you used a generic scantoll? These wont read B or U codes, and one of these could be stored if the GEM(generic electronic module) is defective. It's expensive so get it scanned by a shop that has the capable scan tool...for the interior lights if this trick doesnt work, it could also be related to the GEM.
Try this cure, buy a can of brakekleen and a can of spray white lithium grease, spray the latch area, thats the claw in the door where it closes, spray liberally with brakleen, open and close the door 5-6 times, repeat, then spray with the white lube, open and close the door 5-6 times. Reapeat on all doors...

Engine Performance problem
2001 Ford Taurus 6 cyl Automatic 136000 miles

My car has had the fuel pump replaced and the air flow sensor, but the emmissions light comes back on and stays steady. The car also shakes and almost shuts off if you are stopped (light, drive through, etc), could it need a tune-up or something else? Thanks!

It could be a couple things causing this. Have you had the computer scanned? If it is on, there is a code stored in the computer that will help identify where the problem is coming from. At this point, I would recommend having it scanned for codes. Most parts stores will do it for free. Let me know what you find so I can direct you. To me, the idle problem is either a vacuum leak or the idle air control valve. I can't be 100% sure without knowing the code.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

2001 Ford Taurus check engine light came on and the car appears to be idling at a very low rpm, almost to the point where it feels like it is going to turn off.

Also, the passenger side auto locks do not work. The drivers side are still working fine but the passenger side only works very rarely when it is freezing outside.

Any suggestions on either of these issues?

First thing you need to do is have the codes read, Autozone does it free, Post the results with the code number(s). Even if the service engine light is not on, there should be freeze frame data stored.
If it won't make it to Autozone, buy a cheap scanner, they can be had for 30-40 dollars, a good investment, since they cover all cars sold in the USA from 96 on...
The lock may be an actuator in the door, test the wire with a vlotmeter, if ok and actuator does not move, replace it...This requires a special riveter for the large rivit at the door.

Computer problem
2001 Ford Taurus Front Wheel Drive Automatic 108800 miles

We recently bought a 2001 taurus sel loaded i tested it that night good performance,running smooth no on board lights on at all. I bought the car for my fiancee , every thing was ok, then by that night she called me to advise me that the check engine light came on,then later went off, stayed off then next morning came on and stayed on, now i do admit that we didn't know that keeping the gas cap off while the car is running would light up the light , and i know i did it twice before i realized it. The car seems to be running fine the muffler seems to be a little loud but thats it , can you tell me the problem. also went to autozone scanner pulled out three codes basically saying oxygen sensor, mabey egr valve,lean on bank 1 or 2 etc... Thanks Darrell

Possible vacuum leak under the hood most common area is the PCV valve hose
check if soft or collapsed
always stop engine when fueling

what do u have for codes ?