2002 Mercury Sable Logo
Vintage Whine Posted on Jan 17, 2013

2002 Sable sedan choke/missing/sputtering intermittent

2002 Mercury Sable w/112K miles runs great at highway speeds & w/cruise control, but AFTER running at highway speeds (over 55) for a 20-minute trip or a 2-hour drive, after stopping normally to do errands for 15 mins or so, engine often misses/chokes/sputters, and sometimes dies while idling at red lights if not giving it some gas pedal. Code 316 was the last code, after replacing coil pack, cam sensors, and before tune-up that changed spark plugs and fuel filter (which mech said was clogged). I drove car this week 2 hours on highway, did fine, BUT after I made 3rd in-town stop, engine started sputtering again, but not as bad & with no codes displayed. Drove it 2 hrs back on highway (after letting engine 'rest' for a couple of hrs) and it worked FINE! I need to drive this car on a 700 mile move at end of this month, & what concerns me is the intermittent sputtering. Anything else you experts can recommend would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you! :)

3 Answers

A

Anonymous

The PO 316 is still misfires om first 1000 revolutions
so the shop did a poor job for you on resolveing the
cylinder misfires

Try a diffferent shop

Have to clean the MAF Sensor & replace upstream
oxygen sensors if over 100,000 miles

Need the correct oem spark spark plugs/any brand

No reason the gas filter should be clogged unless it was in
the car for 10 years

Fuel pressure should be checked

Need to check for cylinder misfires on a road test of 20
miles or more with professional software in Mode#06

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  • Posted on Jul 02, 2014
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This sounds like a text book EGR valve sticking. This will not be noticed at highway speeds, but willcertainly cause a rough idle. Have the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve checked. Good luck!

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  • Posted on Jan 21, 2013
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Clean mass airflow and clean out throttle body.

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Anonymous

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  • Posted on Aug 09, 2009

SOURCE: replaced o2 sensosor, SES light back on

If he used a "universal" O2 sensor, you could have a wiring problem. I had the exact same behavior on a Mazda MPV. The universal O2 sensors have to be crimped to the old sensor connector, which can cause problems. You can check the wiring closely, or insist that he use an OEM sensor, which will have the proper connector attached.

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  • Posted on Aug 16, 2009

SOURCE: i have an 03 merc. sable. 58000 miles. drove 22

I've had the same thing happen with my '03 Sable. at around the same milage. THe one thing is that it only happened when it was cold and damp like early sping in MIchigan. I changed the plugs and wires and seems to be ok now. I'm at 70K and the transmission has gone out! Getting harder to beat the FORD drum when they keep pumping POS vehicles out like this!

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Apr 25, 2012

SOURCE: I have a 1991 Mercury Capri. Replaced ignition

Sounds like it may be missing the alternator belt or needs a new one... I had the same problem the belt controls the water pump as well as the battery.

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