Yea, it is a little bit of an unconventional setup. One of the several drawbacks to it: the plastic degas bottles like to crack and leak.

 

I see ALOT of TSB stating "contaminated coolant" causing high or flucuating temp gage readings...What is the contaminent and since the car has been flushed and filled a few times wouldn't it be free of the factory contaminents?

 

My bottle looked new enough that i figured it had been replaced

 

That condition is known as "brown coolant" and it ain't pretty. It will ruin a cooling system and destroy an engine.

Link to Article No. 01-11-6

You said your Taurus Wagon coolant looks clean and green. So I wouldn't sweat it.

 

Some cars, (Corvettes come to mind,) use what they call a 'surge tank' which serves the same functions as the degas bottle. (That is DE-GAS, separates the gasses, not a Spanish painter.) It is installed in line with the heater return hose. It has a regular pressure cap on top and it is mounted high because it acts as the fill opening for the system, but it is called a "surge tank" because the weight of the coolant, (maybe two quarts,) feeds into the water pump intake side which helps alleviate any tendancy of the pump impeller to cavitate. This is just like an undersized propeller on an outboard engine, when it spins up too quickly to get a grip on the water and it makes bubbles rather than moving water. In the case of most water pumps, they are lifting the coolant. The surge tank give it a gravity assist.

So, as to the Taurus, is there any chance that it has an undersized pulley that might cause it to overspeed, causing cavitation? Do replacement Taurus pumps come with the pulley attached?

Strange problem, may have a strange answer.

 

So, as to the Taurus, is there any chance that it has an undersized pulley that might cause it to overspeed, causing cavitation? Do replacement Taurus pumps come with the pulley attached?



I am picking up a new pump today. The most common reply to this has told of impellers being ate up and eroding away. Suppose a bald impeller would have similiar symptoms to a cavitating one. A coworker just purchased a Duratech powered Mercrury Mystique similiar year and mileage that needs a pump too. He got it installed for $450 @ a dealer. I will get mine @ NAPA for $36 and spend part of Sat. afternoon on it. Will post results, and once more THANKS for all the info.

 

I had the same problem with my Taurus, it was the Resistor for the radiator fan. Mine was on the left (drivers side) front of the engine about eight inches off center. Its a "U" shaped ceramic block about six inches long by one and a half inches wide by about a half inch thick. Two wire go to it, and are attached to a heavy wire imbedded in the ceramic. The resistor starts to slowly go bad, thats why the over heating comes and goes. It will be worse on short trips in stop and go traffic close to home. I would forget the after market water pumps as they are junk and you will be replacing them after about a year.

 

Just came in from replacing the pump. Will go for a ride shortly and see if things are any better. Old pump did not look bad. The impeller had all of it's vanes. The new one sounds better. Even if it wasn't causing the gage's dance, it was sounding/feeling like the bearings were showing their age. I will be looking at the resistor next if it acts up on this next ride. THANKS!!

 

it was the Resistor for the radiator fan. Mine was on the left (drivers side) front of the engine about eight inches off center. Its a "U" shaped ceramic block about six inches long by one and a half inches wide by about a half inch thick. Two wire go to it, and are attached to a heavy wire imbedded in the ceramic. The resistor starts to slowly go bad, thats why the over heating comes and goes. "


Gage still does same after stat and water pump. I am going to try coolant temp sensor for the gage next. I do not see a resistor other than igntion listed for my app. on NAPA online. What year was your Taurus? Do they list it by another name? Thanks to all again!!

 

Your '96 has the resistor, it's located inside the right front bumper, in front of the windshield washer reservoir.

 

Would it be called something else in a parts catalog?

 

Listed as "Fan Resistor" Sable, Taurus At Ford Parts On Line for $39.77

 

The Ford Manual simply calls it what it is, a "dropping resistor".

 

BIG thanks again! Found it @ Ford Parts online just like stated. Does that seem like something NAPA should carry too and just may not be showing on their website? Gage still doing it's dance, I'll try the resistor as soon as I get my hands on one and maybe an engine temp sensor as they are only $6 too. Any other sources for the "fan/dropping resistor" appreciated? Other's have experienced this same up and down of the gage with this bad resistor?

 

Hey, "Aftermidnite" or "Rockledge", have either of you expeienced similiar gage flucuations firsthand that were cured with the resistor? The parts guy at my local dealer and service manager look at me like there are lobsters hanging from my ears when I tell them what I have going on, and then say no dealer in town has one in stock. Is the resistor for a 96 just a long section of black wire? Would a resistor out of a "junkyard" be a good idea?