Ford: Reprogram PCM 1996 Taurus

What was the code that was pulled?

For $750, you should drop $200 to $300 for an OBDII scanner so you can pull
your own codes.

You can easily replace your own serpentine, replace the PCV valve, and I
believe
the DPFE sensor and hoses, IF that's the problem.

Your CEL will not come on for a serpentine belt though.

Again, the code would help, and the mileage on your 96.

r/
-IanCT


"Steven" <me> wrote in message
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Read your Haynes manual, disconnect the battery terminals, after you
reconnect them, drive the car for about 20 minutes on a mixed city/highway
stretch. You PCM/computer will relearn your driving style. That is all it
takes. At any rate you should disconnect the battery before you replace the
DPFE sensor.

"Steven" <me> wrote in message
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V.B. Mercon opined in news:com:
 

That's what I was thinking.....
 

Huh? Why?

I mean it's always a good idea if you're going to do extensive underhood
work... but say I was JUST going to replace the DPFE ..is there some weird
connection between EGR system and airbags now?

Steven wrote: 
No. 2 the reprograming of the PCM is simply resetting the computer which
you can do by disconnecting the battery and then attaching it back and
it reprograms itself as is releans the engine and will tell you what
trouble codes you have.... what trouble code did you have from the
dealer??? is it code P0401???? if so you might want to go to
www.contour.org and do a search on that code there is also a procedure
that you take off the throttle body and remove the carbon deposits
behind the throttle body and clean it out to allow the passages of egr
gases to be burned off and the code will go away.. the serpentine belt
did not cause this, so probably just needs to replace anyway....
also if you have a list of 7 things that they want to do.. try one at at
time and your Check engine light will probably go out before you replace
all the things... one at a time and clear the codes by disconnecting the
battery and the codes will come back on after a two cycle drive if the
problem is not solved... (it takes two short trips in the car to have
the trouble code come back on).....go for the hoses if they are leaking,
the the fuel filter, the cheap stuff first... one at a time and save the
$750 dealer bill, probably worth about 1/2 of what a regular shop would
charge you....

Steven,

When the dealer reprograms the processor the processor will be reset as the
previous writer stated however the WDS (scan tool) will check for any
updated calibrations. If ford has updated the calibration from the one that
is in your vehicle it will reflash the rom.

Sometimes a reflash (reprogram) will cure the problem but typically engine
lamps coming on (mil) are the result of a defective part. The Taurus model
as well as some other fords have a high replacement rate of PFE/DPFE
sensors. The function of this sensor is to measure the back pressure in the
exhaust and send this info to the processor. This information is used to
determine egr opening as well as other controlling other output components.

To replace the sensor is actually quite simple. If memory serves the Taurus
sensor is connected by two hoses and one electrical connector without any
screws. One hose is larger then the other so you can't mix them up.

If you do decide to disconnect the battery be sure to warm the car to
operating temperature first. When you restart it you want it to adapt to a
warm engine first. it may run a little different until it adapts.

hope this helps,

John


"jim" <com> wrote in message news:com... 
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99.0+% of the time a bad DPFE sensor is associated with code
P0401..insufficient EGR flow, or code P0402..excessive EGR flow. Normally,
you will not notice any difference with code P0401, but with code P0402, the
engine runs jerky/crappy, as if it was starving for power.

"IanCT" <hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Each and every electronic device has its own electronic signature, even if
they were made side by side on the same assembly line.The PCM uses that
signature to establish a reference base value. By disconnecting the battery,
you are dumping that old/bad DPFE signature from the PCM. When a new DPFE is
installed, the PCM will use that new signature to establish the new
reference base value, as it relearns. Lucky for us that this is all that is
required, and it does not need a bunch of sophisticated equipment, because
the DPFE sensor has a high rate of failure in the Taurus with the 3.0V6
vulcan engine.

"Backyard Mechanic" <com> wrote in message
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Reprogramming the PCM is not "resetting" or any thing else all of you have been
stating. Reprogramming the PCM is just what the name implies. Installing a NEW
program replacing the old. There are a number of reasons for this. Maybe the
revised program is designed to fix the constant DPFE codes for one.
"PC PODD" <com> wrote in message
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