1996 Mercury Sable Consumer Discussions

Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

• new fuel pump not working

  Written by: suzysneed on Nov 1, 2011 4:43:51 PM

  Can anyone tell me where the fuel pump relay is located on a 1996 mercury sable?

Ford Taurus Fuel Pump

• fuel pump or fuel regulator

  Written by: peez on Apr 11, 2010 10:40:00 AM

  have 1996 mercury sable 3.0 have problem engine runs ok then after 20 miles will start losing power . have replace fuel filter if engine is shut of it will restart and not have the problem it has gotten progresseably worse . any body have any suggestions

1996 Taurus electrical/power steering intermittent issue

• Re: 1996 Taurus electrical/power steering intermittent issue [looogan]

  Written by: jim12051 on Jun 20, 2009 5:02:16 PM

  THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE '96 MERCURY SABLE, YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL SWITCH, IT IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.(VERY EASY TO GET TOO.) THE ORIGINAL NEUTRAL SWITCH TAT CAME WITH CAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED, AND WHEN ANY AMOUNT OF MOISTURE THAT CAN GET IN THERE WILL CREATE ALL KINDS OF ERRATIC ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. REPLACE THIS SWITCH ... Read More

Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

• O/D light blinking

  Written by: shawn18 on Aug 28, 2007 2:43:19 PM

  the overdrive light on my 1996 mercury sable is blinking how do i turn my overdrive back on

What Are Your Thoughts on the Return of the Taurus/Sable?

• What Are Your Thoughts on the Return of the Taurus?

  Written by: jchan2 on Feb 7, 2007 5:36:24 PM

  Well... Ford unveiled a renamed Five-Hundred and Freestyle at the Chicago show. Seems like the Five-Hundred will now be a Ford Taurus, a Mercury Montego will become a Mercury Sable, and a Ford Freestyle will become a Ford Taurus X. I think that the name change is questionable because sure, people recognize the name Taurus more, but the Taurus name has baggage, including low resale value, the image of "rental car ... Read More

Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Wagons

• 1996 Mercury Sable Wagon

  Written by: fridgeola on Oct 2, 2006 7:36:10 AM

  I have a 96 Sable Wagon which I got from a repo deal. It had all the usual stuff wrong, brakes worn out etc. The transmission went kaput a few months after I got the car. I had the trans replaced with a recon unit ($1300)and that went south a few months after the warranty run out. Luckily I had friend who put some pressure on the people who sold me ... Read More

Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

• Turn Signals Aren't workng on my Merc. Sable!

  Written by: tc1458 on May 31, 2006 12:06:13 PM

  Hello all. The turn signals aren't working on my Dad's 1996 Mercury Sable! Where is the module/relay located so it may be checked out? Thanks for your help.

Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Wagons

• SABLE/TAURUS

  Written by: ford_boy_1984 on May 27, 2006 10:19:46 PM

  As far as the reliability of the sable and the Taurus I can say its better than people say. Yes in the 80's the technology was bas but look at all cars in the 80's in the same class. As far as American cars go, their were few mid sized cars worth wild. And Dodge had the worst of all. Yes ford has problems but I’ve owned a 1990 Mercury Sable ... Read More

• 1996 sable

  Written by: ford_boy_1984 on May 27, 2006 9:50:36 PM

  I have a 1996 mercury sable wagon the only problem I have is that the tranny is acting up, a common problem but I can fix it my self. Most ppl will go and have 1100 dollars of work done rebuilding the tranny, NO done. first look at the "VSS" (vehicle speed sensor) first alot of times it will ware down, because it is tied to the tranny directly it has ... Read More

Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

• warning light for airbag on

  Written by: delsoler30 on Dec 3, 2005 5:36:03 PM

  I have a 1996 Mercury Sable that has recently had the Airbag warning light come on continuously. I took it to the local Auto-Zone and they told me they could not use the analyzer to determine why the light came on. Is this something I need to go to the dealer for or is there another way to check this out. Thanks. The car was involved in a front end accident ... Read More

• Re: re 1996 mercury sable speedometer and transmission slipping from 1st -2

  Written by: moab on Nov 2, 2005 7:37:39 AM

  Where did you find the exact part number for your car for the VSS? I am presented with 7 options and can not seem to find information on which is for my 1996 Taurus GL.

• Re: re 1996 mercury sable speedometer and transmission slipping from 1st -2nd [scrapper1]

  Written by: captain7 on Oct 29, 2005 8:00:46 PM

  I had a similar problem on my 98 Taurus. I found out that the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) affects the tranny AND speedometer through the computer. I changed the VSS (not expensive - gear on one side that does into the tranny and wire connector on the other) and all is well. Just a bit tough to get to - mine was near the firewall and I had to take off ... Read More

• Re: My 1996 Mercury Sable cranks but won't start [scribe1of11]

  Written by: devw on Oct 12, 2005 10:49:10 PM

  i love to hear what you come up with on this topic my friends 97 just did the same today, in the past it would take a jump or wait to get it started and it had already recieved the new battery treatment. from looking around the web the ignition switch seems to be a bad problem, though i had a grand am before and the crank sensor cracked on it ... Read More

• Re: My 1996 Mercury Sable cranks but won't start [cali2te]

  Written by: scribe1of11 on Oct 4, 2005 5:03:12 PM

  Guess what! the day after my post on this problem, it would not start, and after 3 days of just cranking and no starting, I had it towed to the Subaru dealer I bought it from (never buy a Ford product from a Subaru dealer is probably a motto worth remembering). They said they ran the diagnostics ($80) and found no trouble codes except for a "weak battery". So they gave ... Read More

• Re: My 1996 Mercury Sable cranks but won't start [scribe1of11]

  Written by: cali2te on Sep 29, 2005 8:05:56 AM

  Hi, I am actually going through this right now. It seems like we have the same similar problem. My car is actually getting fixed this morning as we speak. It seemed at first there was something wrong with my temperature light and I went to one mechanic that I usually don't go to and he told me it was the water pump. My regular mechanic that I usually go to came ... Read More

• re 1996 mercury sable speedometer and transmission slipping from 1st -2nd

  Written by: scrapper1 on Sep 24, 2005 12:57:01 PM

  speedometer erratic between 0-40 and transmission slips between 1st and 2nd gear and then will run fine. Sometime speedometer stays at 0 then when is starts working car car runs fine after that. Transmission fluid is clean and full. The problem starts when car has been driven a long time. Help do I need a new transmission. Had a diagnostic test done and the camshaft sensor and the o2 sensor came ... Read More

• Re: 97 Mercury sable Shifting & Electrical problems [andersonrickd]

  Written by: scribe1of11 on Sep 13, 2005 1:20:20 PM

  Wow! Have you considered an exorcism? My 1996 sable, among other things, also has gone through periods of visibly psychotic sensors. But none of the things you mentioned happen; its a bunch of other symptoms. Perhpas they fixed the 1996 model problems by transferring them elsewhere in the 1997 model...

• Re: Sable hardshift [moniree]

  Written by: scribe1of11 on Sep 13, 2005 1:11:52 PM

  I hate to say it, but like the other guy who replied to your post, the hard-shifting transmission problem you describe may be something you just have to live with, and hope it does'nt break a "hard" part that requires someone to overhaul it. I have a 1996 Mercury Sable, and as well as a few other surprise problems that I am posting herewith separately, it also SHIFTS HARD. It would ... Read More

• Re: Computer "learning" period [vicala]

  Written by: scribe1of11 on Sep 13, 2005 12:53:22 PM

  Alan, You probably have a loose ignition lock cylinder. Did you replace it yourself? I have the same exact problem. When I bought the car, used, 8 months ago, I asked the dealer "why does the alarm ring every time I open the driver's side door, even when the key is not in the ignition?" He said that was just the way the alarm system works and I believed him because ... Read More

• My 1996 Mercury Sable cranks but won't start

  Written by: scribe1of11 on Sep 13, 2005 12:42:05 PM

  I just joined the forum and posted in the wrong place, as a response to a 1999 message. Now I see where to put a new message, so here it is: My 1996 Mercury Sable "intermittedly" will not start, for no reason that is obvious to me anyway. I get in the COLD engine car and turn the key and it cranks real good but the motor simply does not start. ... Read More

• Re: gchernya1 [gchernya1]

  Written by: scribe1of11 on Sep 13, 2005 12:30:39 PM

  Ha! That response brought tears to my eyes...I'm not sure if I'm laughing or crying. ..Hey, I have a starting problem with my 1996 Mercury Sable; can I discuss it with y'all or should I just shoot it? Problem description is every now and then (like today because I was in a hurry to get someone), I get in the COLD engine car and turn the key and she cranks real ... Read More

• Headlights

  Written by: rvac88 on May 11, 2005 5:30:35 AM

  Hey... someone with my answer.. PLEASE BE OUT THERE. I have a 1996 mercury sable and I was wondering if the headlights were positive side switched, or ground side switched? PLEASE ANSWER!!! Thanks.

Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008

• Door lights HELP!

  Written by: gloryca on Apr 1, 2005 3:45:21 PM

  Hello everyone, :) I have a 1996 Mercury Sable Wagon and last night i just noticed my door lights won't were on all night long and they won't go out. Now i get the signal that one of the doors is not properly closed, but they all are, i checked several times and they are all properly closed. Any ideas of what i could do? Thanks a lot! :P

• 2003 Mercury Sable LS - A/C

  Written by: bgbolumen1 on Jul 17, 2003 11:12:19 AM

  ""That's the way it's supposed to work. In any mode except vent, the a/c will engage. It's in the owners manual. All my Ford products (1986, 1988, 1991, 1996 Sable and 2000 & 2001 Lincoln LS) have done/do it" I was afraid of that since most days at 70F, there is no need for A/C but it would be nice to have Venting to the feet and up or anywhere for ... Read More

• re: 2003 Mercury Sable LS - A/C by bgbolumen

  Written by: ezaircon4jc on Jul 16, 2003 8:49:45 PM

  That's the way it's supposed to work. In any mode except vent, the a/c will engage. It's in the owners manual. All my Ford products (1986, 1988, 1991, 1996 Sable and 2000 & 2001 Lincoln LS) have done/do it.

• ezaircon4jc

  Written by: upsetter1 on Nov 21, 2002 7:23:04 PM

  Current Taurus was redesigned in 1996 and in 2000 they made some changes in exterior, interior and safety equipment. I just read that Ford is starting new ad campain in TV and press to push Taurus. But it doesn't make it more competitive. They also said that Taurus will be kind of rental car and car for those who look for inexpensive midclass sedan. Real import fighters will be Ford 500, ... Read More