Engine keeps overheating?

Tiny
DORIAN_WINDLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 139,000 MILES
I have a 1996 Ford Taurus that keeps over heating it has a new radiator and new water pump but it still continues to over heat what else could be the problem? Everything that would cause it to over heat is new what else could it be?
Friday, January 13th, 2012 AT 12:04 AM

25 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
It sounds like you may have a cooling fan that is not working but o be sure these guides will help us find the problem.

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

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Friday, January 13th, 2012 AT 12:09 AM
Tiny
SCVCANDO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
How about the thermostat? Are you getting heat from the heater? If not, the thermostat may not be opening to let the coolant circulate which overheats the engine but not the heater core.
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Saturday, January 14th, 2012 AT 3:18 AM
Tiny
MIKEMAN124
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 117,869 MILES
It started about two days ago, while I am driving, the car temperature starts to rise and stays at the hot side of the thermastat. I will let it sit for awhile and also have to refill the water because when I stop, it all starts to come out the overflow. I start it back up and drive for a little more and it heats back up again.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,805 POSTS
Have you tried the basics such as changing the thermostat, flushing the cooling system?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
YOUKNOWMYNAME67
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
It does sound like a thermo issue. If the thermo is siezed shut it will not open causing the over heating problem and the water pushing itself out the resevoir is just a sign there is a problem delivering the coolant. (Siezed thermo)
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROADWARRIOR320
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
I've changed the themostat, radiator, heater core, temp. Sensor, temp. Sending unit, upper and lower radiator hoses, & water pump, the coolant is fresh and the right mixture 50/50 and the fans are working properly. It only tends to overheat whlie driving, when in park at idle with A/C on max it will not over heat. Trans. Fluid is at the right level. Will changing the trans filter and oil fix the problem? Trans not giving any trouble
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Could be air lock -bleed the cooling system

Always bleed air from cooling system after replacing coolant. Set heater for maximum heat. Remove radiator cap. Loosen drain plug and remove drain bolt (if equipped) from engine block. Drain coolant reservoir. Fill coolant reservoir to MAX mark with 50/50 water-coolant mixture. Loosen bleed bolt and fill radiator up to base of filler neck. Close bleed bolt when coolant flows out without bubbles. Tighten bleed bolt. With radiator cap removed, start and operate engine to normal operating temperature. Add coolant if necessary and check for leaks.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TOTO_FORDKUGS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 284,000 MILES
How to drain my coolant reservoir and where is the location of my thermostat?
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+1
Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,805 POSTS
Hi:
The coolant tank will need removed or sucked out. As far as the t-stat, follow the upper hose to the engine. It will end at the thermostat housing. The t-stat is under the housing. I think the housing is held on by two bolts.

As far as the freeze, make sure you didn't pop any of the freeze plugs. Also, if it froze solid, you may find other problems after it's running again.

Joe
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ERINFROEHLICH21
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
Engine Cooling problem
1996 Ford Taurus Automatic

So I have 1996 Ford Taurus that has been having overheating problems for a couple of days, but didn't seem to affect the way it ran. However, yesterday when I was driving home and it started to make a very loud rattling noise whenever the accelerator was pressed and it stalled out. I was able to switch it into park, turn it off and restart it just to have the same thing go on again after a very short and noisy ride. I know it must be some sort of cooling problem, my car is leaking green fluid and one of my friends noticed my fan wasn't working when the engine was running. How much do you think this would cost to fix?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DDANN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The nois you were hearing probably was the fluid boiling First look to see if the front of the radiator is clear of blockage, the front isnt smashed closed, etc if it looks fine then the lack of fan and overheating might have caused a build up of gunk, take it to the carwash and remove the two hoses spray through and watch what comes out, it would be smelly and probably brown If it is caused by overheating then the leak might be on the little metal line that goes from the radiator to the transmission let the car get warm and see if the fluid is leaking out around where it connects to the radiator a new line is pretty cheap. If this doesnt work after 1 or 2 tries try taking it to have the coolant flushed profeshionally. Also on my taurus the fan is set by a thermostat and only turns on when the car reaches a temperature of 190 degrees so also check that when it gets hot. It all could be caused by a bad thermostat which could make life a lot easier on you
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JUSTDON
  • MEMBER
  • 150 POSTS
Fan relay has failed. A Taurus is very sensitive to overheating. I hope that a head gasket and/or intake gasket has not blown due to the overheating.

Never re-statr an overheated engine. I would bet that you need a professional to take a look to rule out further damage to the engine.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLAZIN24
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Dear BMRFIXIT the engine will overheat unless I have the a/c on. I read some other posts with same problem what I needed to know is the guage on the dash reads right, (I know when engine is getting hot) but the fans don't kick on at all. Could this still be the temp. Sensor even though the guage reads right. Thanx for the quick reply last tme. Blazin24
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Could also be the engine temperature sender
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLAZIN24
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Where is the engine temperature sensor? And approx. How much does one cost?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Its near the thermostat along with the engine coolant temperature sensor, about $30.00
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLAZIN24
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hey rasmataz thanx for the quick reply, Im going to try these two possibilities in the next week or so (short on dough right now) but I will let you know as soon as I do. Thanx again, blazin24
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OLMJENSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
My 1996 ford taurus has overheating issues. It can sit and idle forever, and not overheat, but when I start to go somewhere it starts pumping the water out of the reservoir. I have flushed the lines and reservoir, repacedthe thermostat. Any ideas?
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,889 POSTS
Have your mechanic check the cooling system for combustion gases. That involves drawing air from the radiator through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially filled with a special dark blue liquid. If the head gaskets are leaking, that fluid will turn bright yellow.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
UNSURE
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
My engine is overheating and leaking/overflowing from appears to be the reservoir. This maybe a stupid question but for the best service and cost. Where would be the place to take it.
1) regular auto shop
2) radiator shop
3) other specialist

Is one better than the other for this kind of problem?

Thanks in advance.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:11 AM (Merged)

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