2004 MERCURY SABLE PROBLEMS

[lonewolf5348]

I like to ask any mechanic out here with any ideas were to look  with a problems with the wife car
2004 sable 48,000 miles :
problem : hesitates only when the outside temperature hits 85 degrees or above.
I had in the shop last year and diagnostic show no faults or engine codes,car runs never stalls but you can feel the miss at idle sometimes on acceleration it will hesitate, but if you punch it it will go no problems.
I cleaned the MAP sensor,replaced the fuel filter also replaced the EGR value.
The car started to run fine when the weather cooled of all fall winter and spring.
I also tried fuel injector cleaner and upgrade the gas to Plus instead of Regular
fuel pressure I did not check but can't understand only when the weather get hot
any ideas?

[Larry L]

You didn't say if you have a CEL or any stored codes. I'm assuming none. You didn't say which 3.0 you have- 2v or 4v. Hesitation is generally caused by a vacuum leak. There is an elbow downstream from the MAF that is a known issue with having leaks and tears. A vacuum leak is going to get worse with higher temps. There's also a TSB in regards to the transmission causing hesitation. These are the leading causes. Low compression can also be an issue.
 
MERCURY SABLE 2004 technical service bulletin was issued Jan 01, 2004.MERCURY SABLE 2004 had a failed POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION . HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING OR DURING TRANSMISSION UPSHIFT. ON 3.0L 2-VALVE ENGINE WITH POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TEAR TAG PTF3. *TT .

[quickdtoo]

He did state there were no fault codes. I'd look at a heat related electrical issue, failing coil pack or ignition module, possibly TPS.

Tim

I had in the shop last year and diagnostic show no faults or engine codes,

[lonewolf5348]

Tim: will a bad  TPS throw a code?
I also change the ERG Solenoid : I just pick up a TPS at advance auto 28.00 bucks who know it may fix it or have a extra replacement part.
I here some say DPFE Sensor may be the problems starts that way lots of early hesitation until it finally say good buy.
 
I had it on the large diagnostic Machine show no faults or NO engine codes
I was thinking maybe the crank position sensor intermitting when getting hot but it a pain in the butt to change
Man give the old Chevy small block with Carb: and points and plugs

[Ranger99]

do you clean your throttle body or
iac valve regularly?
although it doesn't say to anywhere,
i consider it to be a regular maintenance
item. you should check the dpfe hoses
before buying the sensor. also check carefully
for vacuum leaks as posted earlier.

[Lloyd Smale]

TPs is my guess to. If you dont want to replace it there usualy pretty easy to remove and clean.

Tim: will a bad  TPS throw a code?
I also change the ERG Solenoid : I just pick up a TPS at advance auto 28.00 bucks who know it may fix it or have a extra replacement part.
I here some say DPFE Sensor may be the problems starts that way lots of early hesitation until it finally say good buy.
 
I had it on the large diagnostic Machine show no faults or NO engine codes
I was thinking maybe the crank position sensor intermitting when getting hot but it a pain in the butt to change
Man give the old Chevy small block with Carb: and points and plugs

[quickdtoo]

Without a fault code you're kinda shootin in the dark at the likely suspects eliminating each until it fixes the problem, good luck! 

Tim

[Bugflipper]

I asked the fellow I carpool with because his sable did that a couple of years ago. It would idle kind of poor as if it were slightly missing. Sputter when taking off then a few seconds later would be running normal while driving. It did it for a few years (only in summer) and got worse so he finally had someone fix it. He said the shop he took it to said it was either a TPS, MAP or MAF. Since no codes they told him they could change one at a time until they got it. They ended up changing them in the order of price. It was the middle priced sensor and they didn't have to replace the third. He couldn't recall which one, but maybe that will help a bit none the less with similar problems and it being a sensor. His was the 4v motor.

[lonewolf5348]

thank you for all the help I keep you updated on the TPS should install it tomorrow

[scootrd]

thank you for all the help I keep you updated on the TPS should install it tomorrow

Wife's car was doing same thing  fine when cool , sputter when hot - a simple thermostat change fixed the issue.

My F-250 started having a similar issues 2 years ago (not heat related ) sputter at idle at higher RPM's no issue  - within about 3 weeks one of the V10's coil packs finally went south. A little over 50.00 wallet hit. 

[lonewolf5348]

TPS installed as soon as the temp climb into the high 80's she back to her old ways