Automotive Forums

Now please, I know this is an old car, but it is the only car that I can afford now, as I am going to school full time, and only have a part time job. I am having a couple problems with my car, as listed below. If somebody could help me, it would be much appreciated.

I own a 1989 ford taurus (gl model), with a 3.0 engine, automatic transmission, fuel injection, and no abs.

First off, would a bad fuel tank sending unit still cause the gas gauge to work partially? Sometimes, my gas gauge will be at fall, and slowly make it's way down to empty as im driving, and visa versa.. Somebody told me it could be a ground, or a bad sending unit, which im hoping its not, because they are expensive to replace.

Secondly, when I am driving down the street, the car shakes (shaking increases in intensity the faster I am going), and the steering wheel shakes side to side when driving. I just had a wheel hub and bearing replaced, and a tie rod replaced, I was wondering if it could be the other tie rod, or the ball joints.

And lastly, if you dont mind me asking, occassionally, my car will idle down to almost stalling, and shake back and forth when im stopped at a light or stop sign, or when I take off from one. It stopped doing it for a long time, and occassionally it does it. What could be the problem ?
 

I know what it's like to be in school, have no money, and experience car troubles, so I'll answer according.

Don't worry about the gas gauge. Use the trip odometer to estimate how many miles you've traveled since the last fill up. You should get about 20 mile per gallon. The Taurus, I believe, has a 16 gallon tank. So, fill the tank and after 160 miles on the trip odometer (20 miles/gallon x 8 gallons), fill up, or at least remind yourself to fill up soon.

For the shakes, first try moving the tires from the back to the front. One or both wheels on the front may be out of balance. This is free if you do it yourself. If this doesn't work, then it could be the old tie rod. It's best to replace suspension parts as a unit: both driver and passenger sides.

For low idle, it may just need a minor tune up. On a budget, start by changing the plugs,air filter, cleaning the throttle bore, idle air passages with a spray can of fuel injection/carburetor cleaner, and pour a 12 oz bottle of fuel injection cleaner into the tank after the next fill up. Still rough, then change the spark plug wires. Still rough, then change the distributor cap and ignition rotor inside the cap. Still rough, change the fuel filter.

Good luck!  

I've been trying to do that, but due to the problems my car has been through, I can safely say taht I am very unlikely getting 20 miles per gallon. Gas prices fluctuate so much now, that being able to tell exactly when its going to run out is almost impossible. One day it's 2.39, the next day its up to 2.60 its outrageous. I really would like to have a working gas gauge.

What is weird, is that once I fill up, the gauge goes all the way up to full, and than slowly makes its way back down to empty the more I drive (nowhere near how it should be), and for a while it didnt move at all. I don't know if it's a grounding problem, one of the wires is bad, or if the resistor is bad, but I am hoping that I can get it fixed for little to no money, as I dont really have 150 bucks to spend on a new fuel tank sending unit. Thanks for the reply!