Known for their ground-breaking aerodynamic design, the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable were first introduced in 1986. The 1999 Sable model introduced the third major redesign of the popular sedan. One of the changes in this redesign was the removal of the distributor from the ignition. On the 3.0-liter engine, the distributor was replaced by a camshaft position sensor, a crankshaft position sensor and a set of ignition coils wired directly to the spark plugs. The timing of the coils firing was controlled by powertrain control module. On the Sable, the crankshaft position sensor is on the front of the engine, just above the crankshaft pulley.
Disconnect the connector leading to the crankshaft position sensor. Loosen the two mounting bolts securing the sensor to the engine block, using the ratchet and socket. Remove the sensor from the engine block. Inspect the ring at the back of the crankshaft pulley for any chips or missing teeth.
Clean the mounting surface before installing the new sensor. Position the new sensor and hand thread both mounting bolts. Torque them to between 45 and 61 inch-pounds, using the torque wrench and socket set. Reconnect the connector to the sensor, ensuring the sensor wiring cannot come into contact with the belt or pulleys.
Using the code reader, erase the stored codes in the powertrain control module. If a code reader is unavailable, you can also erase the codes by disconnecting the battery and depressing the brake pedal several times, then reconnecting the battery cable. Start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature. Watch to make sure the check engine light doesn't come on.
