Car Talk

i've been having some problems with my mom-mobile (reference to it looking tame). can anyone give me some suggestions? long sordid tale commenceth now.i have a 2000 taurus with about 130k on it.
i acquired it from my mom a year ago and have had almost no problems with it (flat tire, and the usual). since june-ish, i keep having this problem that makes me feel like i'm going to vomit (namely because i think i might need a new transmission). when i speed up after braking, it feels like it doesn't catch and then it jumps forward. i'd say it's the 1st to 2nd transition, but it's an automatic so i have no idea).at the same time, but potentially unrelated, i've had horrible mileage for about the same time period. i tried the e-85 for a tank and it dropped my mileage from about 25 to about 12. then once i got the ethanol cleared out after a couple tanks, it hasn't really improved much and i'm fairly certain it's still under 20. i've been getting about 250-300 instead of the 360-400 i was getting on a tank.my dear future father in law suggested we change the spark plugs, which has probably never been done. but. i don't anticipate this actually doing much. i will report when it's been done, but anyone got anything for me?Edited by brennakimi, : No reason given.

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

i think so. i think it was fine. i could be mistaken.maybe we looked for it in the book (this car hides things) and then didn't check it. no, maybe that was power steering, which is fine and completely unrelated. oh balls, i dunno. i'll get the boy to do it tonight.

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

i don't have any leaks. so if it's low, it's just from use. i have a white driveway on a hill, i'd know. but. i've recently had a whole tune up. wouldn't they have refilled all my fluids and stuff? i can't even remember to brush my hair. this is why i'm marrying a boy. so my car doesn't fall apart.*edit*apparently if the fluid was low it would in fact turn the engine light on, which is mysteriously absent. it might still need to be changed, but it can't be low.Edited by brennakimi, : No reason given.Edited by brennakimi, : No reason given.

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

it is. fancy green leaf and everything. it just still sucks.Edited by brennakimi, : No reason given.

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

*blinks*the one with moving parts?SPECIFICATIONS
2000 Ford Taurus SEBase Price $ 20,895
Price As Tested $ 23,185
Engine Type dual overhead cam, 24-valve V6
Engine Size 3.0 liters / 181 cu. in.
Horsepower 200 @ 5650 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 200 @ 4400 rpm
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 108.5 in. / 197.6 in.
Curb Weight 3,328 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 16.6
Fuel Capacity 16 gal.
Fuel Requirement unleaded regular, 87 octane
Tires P215/60 TR16 Firestone Affinity
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / drum, antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut /
independent quadralink
Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

it was a paste. i'm not gonna go out of my way to uncap something. that's just silly.

what a pain.i don't have any such light. it does work though, as it comes on when this one hose on the stage right side of the engine block which also dropped of my mileage. it was some collection of three letters but i've long since forgotten, since it's long since been fixed.

we'll look at the fluid tonight and see what it looks like. then we'll go from there.i'm really bringing people out of the woodwork for this.

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

i'm aware, but thanks.i'm not completely car stupid. i just don't get moving parts and electricity. i'm not an engineer at all.

---

i'm not going to capitalize my posts, get better eyes.

i'm unconvinced. my mom's aerostar ran for 15 years. and my dad's ranger ran for more until my brother totaled it. apparently they manage how much gas is actually successfully burned too, so it won't help the transmission, but it might help my mileage. don't remind me. the boy is currently checking fluids and changing plugs. he's not a mech, but he can do most basic stuff. at least he says he can.

btw. we changed the spark plugs. they were charred. the gap was too wide on them.also, we checked the fluid. it was too high with the engine not running (which the books said to do) and too low with the engine running (which the stick said to do). but, more importantly, it was gross, so i'm gonna take it to get changed.

yeps.

would you like to give me the money for this?

then i suggest you keep your expenditure suggestions to yourself since not all of us can rush out and buy big fancy things like cars. if i'm seething at the cost of a transmission, then what do you think a $20k plus new car with all the raised insurance would do to me?

i've been calling them for years about various vehicles and i never get on