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Engine overheating?

Tiny
REMKAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • 100,000 MILES
What would cause a ford taurus to overheat?
Friday, December 17th, 2010 AT 2:57 AM

34 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Faulty water pump, faulty thermostat, coolant leak, faulty radiator cap, blocked radiator, head gasket these are the most common problems. This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

mark (mhpautos)
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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
To include air in the system will block off coolant flow-cracked head or block-
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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
JREADY10
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1994 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 198,757 MILES
Hello,
I have a 1994 ford taurus sho. I changed the thrmostat but its still running hot. Iam running I on straight water with no coolant.I thinks Its the water pump. Can yall help me out.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
I need some more to go on. Does the car overheat when driving? How does the temperature guage act. Vehicles need antifreeze to help distribute the heat the engine puts out. And a mix of 50 50 is recommended most times. The most popular reasons for overheating are the thermastat, blocked lines or blocked radiator. Before putting anti freeze in back flush the system. To get out any build up and cleaning out the lines. Check in front of the radiator to see if there is any build up of leaves that would cut down the air passing through the radiator to cool the engine.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AUTUMNBERWICK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 FORD TAURUS
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 134,567 MILES
My check engine comes on when I use my car for just a couple of miles. It has done this for a least 3 years. I got it checked out and they told me that some of these type of cars do this and not to worry about it. About two months ago it started to over heat. It doesn't leak when sitting still only when I drive for awhile. When I do put water in it my gauge for the hot and cold goes up and down very fast. And then it starts pouring out very fast and starts to steam. It seems to do this when I am driving up hills.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
It doesn't leak when sitting still only when I drive for awhile. Is it actually leaking? If so you need to fix it. If not could be the thermostat try replacing it and see what happens-continues to overheat get it block and pressure tested.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FEBRUARYMOM1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • FORD TAURUS
I have a 1994 ford taurus, It has 130, ooo miles on it. As long as I am out on open road the temperture needle stays on c but when I am in traffic at about 35 miles an hour the needle goes over to hot. We have replaced the water pump, We have checked to see if the fan is running and it is. Please give us some idea what it might be. It is a v6 3.8 Thank you
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Either the fan isn't running fast enough, or you have a blockage. Flush. Flush. Flush!
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MFBFL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD TAURUS
Engine Cooling problem
1993 Ford Taurus 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive 172000 miles

where do I find the thermostate so I can change it to determine if it is the cause of over heating?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
What do you have for an engine?
Follow upper radiator hose to the engine and to the thermostat housing
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROB1805
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 123,000 MILES
1993 Ford Taurus V6 3.8

I have already changed the thermostat & water pump last year. Today changed the radiator fan because it wasnt turning on. It was frozen when I looked at it. So I replaced it. The thing is the fan is still not turing on. And my temp gauge is bouncing back and forth from hot to the middle.

Is there a sensor I should change? Or at this point to I seek a professional for a dianostic?

Thx.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Unfortunately you problably burnt out the relay box that turns the fan on, they are very tempermental and usually need replacement when fan goes bad, especially if it seized. Its located under the radiator cover
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DDHALL9989
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD TAURUS
Heater problem
1993 Ford Taurus V6 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 161, 00 miles

Our friends’ car temperature gage fluctuates and when sitting at a light it heats up. They told me last summer it heats up when going up a long hill and cools down going down the hill. They said they took it to a jiffy lube. They had the radiator flushed and also they had a friend replace the thermostat and water pump long with a new radiator cap not from a dealer. What could cause the inconsistent heating problem and the over heating?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

If all is well with the mechanical side of the cooling system I would look at the cooling fan, is it turning on? Also these cars have a 2 speed fan and the high speed fan setting may not be operating, causing your over heating problem, get that inspected first.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDKTRK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 12,000 MILES
I have replaced radiator, thermostat and radiator cap. There are no leaks. No water in oil. Temp gauge will go up and down sometimes but usually very hot. Have been told might have air pocket. What is this and how do you fix it?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JGAROFALO
  • MECHANIC
  • 489 POSTS
A "pocket" means that there could be air trapped in the cooling system. If you have an air pocket, the heater is most affected by it. If you get heat from the heater, then your cooling system doesn't have any trapped air in it.

You may want to check the ACTUAL temperature of your coolant. You could have a problem with the cooling fan, the fan relay, or just a sensor that is giving erratic readings. You can check the actual temperature by putting a thermometer in the radiator filler neck, and running the engine until it warms up. Fan should come on at low speed at around 195. High speed kicks in at a higher temp (not sure without looking it up). High speed fan will also come on when A/C is turned on and the car is not moving.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DEBRAANN2266
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 FORD TAURUS
I let a friend charge a smaller battery on my car. He took my battery out and installed his which is much smaller and let it run for about an hour. I went out and noticed the car of course was running hot. Went down the road 3 miles and the car overheated. Can a smaller battery cause the water pump to go or just blow a hose? He says that has nothing to do with my problem but I didn't have one before. I just want to know if I'm right or is he?

Thanks
Debra Ann
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GEEKBOYWONDER
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
It is unlikely that a smaller battery would cause the mechanical systems to go south. In theory the car would run just fine without the battery in it at all (once it was started). I would be more concerned about over charging a smalled battery than damaging the cooling system- which is to say not very concerned at all about either.

Without more information, it will be difficult to tie the two together, except by the rule of bad luck and coincidences.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PIMP946312
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1993 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 590,000 MILES
I was going on a long trip and my car got hot and shut off I fixed the water pump, one head, 2 head gaskets, and the thermostat. But it over heats after I fixed all of that what am I missing?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Get it block and pressure tested this will tell you something is to why it still overheating
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)

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