Ford equipped the 1998 Taurus LX and SE with a 3.0-liter, overhead-valve engine as standard equipment. A 3.0-liter, dual-overhead-cam engine was an optional upgrade. The 12-valve OHV engine produced 145 horsepower and 170 foot-pounds of torque. The 24-valve DOHC engine produced 200 horsepower and 200 foot-pounds of torque.
Find the crankshaft position sensor mounted on the front of the engine block -- the passenger side -- at about the 11-o'clock position of the crankshaft pulley. Disconnect the sensor's electrical connector.
Remove the two sensor mounting bolts, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the sensor.
Install the new sensor and tighten the mounting bolts to 45 to 61 inch-pounds. Connect the sensor's electrical connector.
Park your Taurus on level ground and set the parking brake. Put the gearshift in "Park" and chock the rear wheels. Loosen the wheel lugs on the front passenger-side wheel. Lift the Taurus with a floor jack and support the Taurus on jack stands behind the front wheels. Finish removing the wheel lugs and remove the tire.
Remove the splash shield from the passenger-side inner fender, using a ratchet and socket to remove the bolts and a small screwdriver to pry out the push-pins. Find the crankshaft position sensor to the left of the crankshaft pulley, mounted to the right side -- the firewall side -- of the engine block. Disconnect the sensor's electrical connector. Remove the sensor mounting bolt, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the sensor.
Install the new sensor and tighten the mounting bolts to 71 to 106 inch-pounds. Connect the sensor's electrical connector. Install the splash shield. Tighten the splash shield bolts to 11 to 15 inch-pounds, with the exception of the front bolt that mounts the shield to the radiator air deflector. Tighten the air deflector bolt to 19 to 25 inch-pounds.
Install the tire and snug the lug nuts. Lower the car to the ground and tighten the wheel lugs to 85 to 105 foot-pounds in a star pattern. Test-start the engine.
