Comments: 1-15, 16-20
Interior lights intermittently will not turn off. Solution: spray WD-40 into the door locking pin/latches. Where the door mates with the grey metal apparatus. That's where the light switches are.
Brakes "pulse" at low speed breaking below 15mph. The calipers are warped, from what I have read the brakes are most likely "under engineered".
Windsheild Washer not working, bad relay most likely.
Take a basic business man's car and put an exotic, high revving 32valve V8 in it. Where do I sign up! At 110 miles an hour this car feels like I'm doing 70. The "stock" top speed is 145 m/ph (No...I am not going there). The suspension is generally comfortable and still sporty, but an occasional bump at low speed will cause the CD changer to skip. This car is designed to cover large distances in comfort. It succeeds triumphantly at this.
Don't expect to do burnouts in this car, it was never designed for that.
You will tear it up right away.
If you want to race, go buy yourself an Acura or Honda with a VTEC V6. This car can make it around corners quickly and would probably scare most people with it's entry speed into corners. That having been said obviously doing this type of driving on the streets is going to KILL your gas mileage.
If you are not the type that likes to take your car to the shop ROUTINE MAINTENENCE, DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. You "NEED" a GREAT MECHANIC to own a car like this. Someone that preferably has a background in diverse, exotic engine systems. Other than the engine and suspension these cars are pretty much like any other Taurus.
There has been a lot of talk about the 4 camshafts that operate the valves. I'm not stupid, this scares me to death. They have FAILED on lots of these cars leaving the engine an all aluminum hunk of junk. Replacement cost $10,000. I have talked to a certified Ford Mechanic that maintains the Crown Victorias for a large, metropolitan city in California. He checked an insider's website only available to professional mechanics. The way to tell if these cams are about to fail is a ticking sound coming from the engine. The TSB lists the "fix" for this as having a mechanic put "Thread Lock" on all the cam gears. My advice, find a mechanic with a racing background. They have been doing these types of operations for years. Have him "pin" the cam. That is the old way of changing the camshaft timing. This is the tested, tried and true method. Welding the cams sounds too dangerous to me. I wouldn't want the parts to get warped.
If you like the styling of these cars (I do) but the idea of engine problems scares you find yourself a V-6 Duratec Taurus. You get a 200 hp engine that you most likely can get to perform like a stock SHO with intake/exhaust and chip upgrades.
However, if you want a true to life, modern day "sleeper" come on in! You won't find the high performance support that you would for Honda/Acura, but it does exist. There are many SHO clubs around the country and all kinds of information on the Internet. There are plenty of people out there with 400 horsepower SHO's!
Nope, reviewer was indeed correct. It is a 32 Valve V8. 24 valve would be a DOHC V6.
I own a '97 SHO and I assure you it does have a 32 valve engine. I really dislike people who "think" they know everything. I don't believe the above review is a fake either. I love my car!
I wrote the original review and trust me I THOROUGHLY KNOW this car. The engine IS a 3.4 liter v8. Good night, why would I lie about owning a Taurus of all cars? If I wanted to make myself look better I would write a review about owning a Ferrari or Mercedes.
Anyway, this same information is available at v8sho.com and a few other websites that I visited before actually purchasing the car. My personal findings are generally in line with the information you will find at v8sho.com. Right now my mechanic is going through the engine and making sure that the cams are okay and also if they have already been modified.
Do your homework. The first few years 1989 to 1995 were the V-6 years. Those engines were built entirely in Japan. The first 2 or 3 years were strictly manual transmissions, which I believe are shared with the Mazda MX-6. After complaints by people that can't actually drive (if you can only drive an automatic, your skills are limited) an automatic became available along with manual transmissions until 1995.
At this point the V-8 was developed for 1996 and NO FACTORY MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS were available although some people have installed manual transmissions because the bell housing for the v-6 and v-8 are the same size.
Last bit of SHO trivia. The original v-6 engine was developed for a mid-engined sports car to compete with the Corvette. The plans were scratched for that car and the engine was put into the Taurus and the suspension was stiffened to make it "sportier".
But I don't actually own a Taurus SHO (whatever...-shaking my head)
All in all its still just a lowly taurus.
To the previous commenter, I would like for you to explain to me why when I opened the hood of my 1993 SHO, I can clearly see 5.0 markings on the engine...? and the owners manual stated that the 5.0 was an option?
You mean 3.0 you tard? The Yamaha V6 was a 3.2L. 5.0L would not fit in there, to my knowledge. Which stop were you supposed to get off @ on the short bus???
You are the tard here!
I HAVE a ford taurus SHO WITH the 5.0V8!!!
Thank you, but obviousley you need to go educate yourself, and maybe next time your knowledge will be correct!
Re the above comment: yeah buddy you might want to rethink that whole "tard" comment cause you're making yourself look pretty stupid by insisting that you have a Taurus SHO with a 5.0 V8. NO Taurus SHO ever came from the factory with a 5.0, so either someone figured out somehow to get one in there, or, (much much more likely) someone transferred some 5.0 logos from an old Mustang GT to this Taurus, to convince some sucker (you, perhaps?) that it has a 5.0--one of a kind, hahaha.
I own a v8 SHO and they have a 3.4 v8 and they will run a mid 15 stock. Most people don't even know what a SHO looks like or why its so much different than a regular Taurus. It maybe a Taurus, but its gotten its respect over the years. So your research before you run your mouth. It just makes you look incompetent. Plus all V8 SHOs have a top speed of 144 most cars can't dream of reaching that. Unless we start talking vettes and high end exotic cars. We are talking about a 4 door sport sedan though. GM has nothing with that kind of high end power in a 4 door. 3.8SC models are much faster in a lower end race, but they lose there power after about 110. And there is one guy on our Forum that has a 97 SHO that he stuffed a 4.6 Continental Engine in, 5.0 I don't believe unless I see pictures. I didn't believe the 4.6 till I saw it in real life.
So, my buddy's 1991 Ford Mustang has the 5.0L v-8 in it, and yesterday when we were changing the oil I couldn't help, but notice that the engine in this mustang looks exactly the same as the 5.0 engine in my Taurus, which is a 1993. now I agree that this may not be plausible and sounds incredibly unbelieveable, but it is true. the previous owner of my 1993 Ford Taurus SHO found some way to stuff this 5.0 engine my car, and slapped some 5.0 badges on my car. now, I don't mind it, and I really don't care if anyone believes this, but I am stating the situation as it is.
And also, what I don't understand is how people can try and tell other people what is under their hoods, especially when the engine is clearly labeled. just because it might not come that way stock, doesn't mean someone couldnt get a wild hair and swap drive trains.
When you burn rubber see if its now coming from the rear wheels... or look underneath for a rear drive shaft and differential. Maybe then it's a 5.0...seems like a lot of work.
1) merry christmas
2) its always burnt from the rear wheels, I thought this was normal for all taurus', as I didn't know they were front wheel drive.
You didn't know all Taurus were front wheel drive?
Didn't you read that in your owners' manual? The same one that says that, uh, the 5.0 was an option on the Taurus?
No, I didn't as the car I bought didn't have one, and that comment left saying the 5.0 was an option wasnt left by me, I was just backing that person up with my experience in my taurus.
Yeah, I'm not calling anyone a liar, but I wonder why anyone would stuff a 5.0L or a 4.6L into a taurus. These are RWD motors. the DOHC 24 valve V6 and The four cam 32 valve V8 are enough to make this car fly. I owned a V6 model (sold it) and currently own a 1997. Also the 5.0 and 4.6 are heavier, and would require an absurd amount of modifications. FORD TAURUS SHOs do not come with 5.0s or 4.6 (never have never will). However if you say your car has one of these engines, I believe it.