The seller of this Taurus claimed the engine was just fine: the BRAP-BRAP-BRAP noise and slow acceleration were attributed to a clogged catalytic converter, which was maybe a $300 fix. But my exhaust guy disagreed - the converters were fine, but engine most certainly was not.

My mechanic kept it for a few days and ran a leak-down test, which showed that one of the pistons had popped its ring. That killed the hope that it was simply a bad plug, which also would have been expensive, as the rear bank of plugs was jammed up against the firewall.

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Fun With Beaters

1995 Ford Taurus GL Wagon