1988 Ford Taurus Service and Repair Manual
This factory service and repair manual for the 1988 Ford Taurus covers three engines: the 2.5L OHV inline-four, the 3.0L OHV V6 and the 3.8L OHV V6, all naturally aspirated and gasoline fueled. Five trims appear this year, Base, GL, L, LX and MT5, on the four-door sedan and the four-door wagon. Each of the three engines gets its own procedures, specifications, torque values, wiring diagrams and diagnostics, and body work is split between sedan and wagon where the two differ.
Engines covered
- 2.5L inline-four (153 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 3.0L V6 (182 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
- 3.8L V6 (232 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sedan
- 4-door wagon
Trims covered
- Base
- GL
- L
- LX
- MT5
Known issues on the 1988 Taurus. Six recalls are on federal record. One covers power seat switch wiring routed over the seat brace, where spring ends can abrade it and cause a seat fire; another is the front strut sway bar bracket weld that can tear free; a third is the rear corners of cars in listed states dropping and making steering suddenly difficult. Owners have logged 419 complaints with NHTSA, most on the electrical system, then engine and engine cooling and structure. The manual's wiring diagrams cover the seat and electrical circuits, and its procedures and specifications cover the struts and body structure.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 -
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
SERVICE TIP INFORMATION ON REVISED OIL PAN GASKET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT
Showing the 8 most recent of 54 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL AT 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
DRIVER SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCKUP ON REAREND COLLISION. TT
Showing the 2 most serious of 419 complaints filed with NHTSA.
