2000 Ford Taurus(V6) not running well

[MrMazda92]

Hey guys, I'm trying to get my girlfriend's car up and running again. Time is a MAJOR constraint, so I need to figure it out quickly.

The engine bogs down at low RPM and will not stay running unless you give it throttle. It stays running aafter it's warmed up, but the idle bounces.

I rear ended another vehicle last year and the damage was mostly cosmetic; the battery and fuse/relay box in the engine bay were pushed back a few inches, but the engine appears unharmed. The radiator was mangled by the crash bumper, which I can not remove(bolts out, double/triple checked, 10 lb sledge wouldn't free it).

My current thoughts lean towards vacuum or IAC. Those are obviously very loose thoughts, and I would be grateful for any input.

Thanks guys!

[Savin]

Um...which V6 is in it? And don't say the 3.0L 'cause they're both 3.0's, lol. Regardless, check for vac leaks, clean the IAC and the MAF and see where you get from there. Clean the EGR valve too.

[MrMazda92]

It's a duratec 3.0, and that's about all I know about it.

The car is a 2000 Ford Taurus SE, if that adds anything helpful as well.

[MrMazda92]

I'll get those done this weekend, thanks for the starting point.

[MrMazda92]

Wow, reading a bit about this engine surprised me. 201 BHP and 207 ft/lbs stock? Torquey thing isn't it?

Has anybody fit one into an MX-3 by any chance? I know it wouldn't be bolt-in and go, but mounts/vacuum/intake/exhaust aside, would it fit?

[Savin]

I've put some thought into it.
Duratec 3.0 bolts into Cougar and Contour. Both those came with a duratec 2.5. Contour also came with a 2.0L zetec. 2.0L zetec also came in escort/zx2. zetec drops into mx-3/older escort/protege/323. Therefore, I'm sure there's a way to make the duratec 3.0L fit without too much effort.

Hell....it even looks like an oversized KL.

[MrMazda92]

I believe it would fit as well, and I've never seen an honest attempt at it. I've seen the usual "It's not easy, just ZE it" crap, but never actual measurements. I guess I'll be the test dummy... I've got a pulled DE and a Duratec 3, may as well take some measurements. ;D First though, fixing the car so I can test the brakes...

[MrMazda92]

Fixed the rough idle, it was a single vacuum hose that was disconnected during the wreck. That's the good news... the bad news is how it actually disconnected. The tranny mount and rear motor mount were damaged, and the engine is sitting crooked in the bay. There's more damage as well, that I'm currently unable to examine without pulling the engine.

Long story short, the cost of repairing the car outweighs it's current value... Thankfully we are still able to write it off from the accident, even months later.

[Ryan]

Hm... a writeoff eh? Sounds like a perfect donor car...

[Dragon1212]

Write off should be looked up upon, because the problem with a used car is they don't get a full inspection and the owner could have abused it to crap

The thing about a write off is it has to pass the same standard as a school bus, and the owners didn't have any time to abuse them, it was a boom, its not yours anymore. (cruel but better for next owner)

Agreed its ridiculously expensive compared to a used car, but you aren't gonna have any nasty surprises such as get this,,

the frame guy i know, pulled a cars frame and the piece he was attached to just flew off into the shop because somebody taped the inside of the frame rail then bondod over it painted it and everything, Just to hide a potentially life threating thing. Idiot.