1997 Ford Taurus (Sho)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. UNDER THE HOOD, COOLANT WAS OBSERVED LEAKING AND THE TIMING CHAIN BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START WHEN ATTEMPTS WHERE MADE, BUT THERE WAS A TICKING NOISE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO RESOLUTIONS. UPDATED 10/6/2006 - *NM

I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I KEPT HEARING A TICKNG SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MIS- FIRING CYLINDER. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE DEALER FIX IT SO I FOUND A MECHANIC WILLING TO WORK ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. I HAD THE TWO MIS-FIRING CYLINDERS REPLACED. THE TICKING IN THE ENGINE STILL WENT ON. BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. FINDING A MECHANIC THAT HAS ACTUALLY WORKED ON THESE TYPES OF CARS IS HARD TO FIND, INLCUDING A FORD DEALER MECHANIC. I HAD A FORD MECHANIC THAT NOW WORKS OUT OF HIS OWN GARAGE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BROKEN CAMSHAFT 4 BAD VALVES AND BENT PISTONS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC FEELS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALSO DONE RESEARCH INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. TO DATE THERE ARE 550 VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A FREAK INCIDENT WITH JUST MY CAR.