Heaters in cars, including the Ford Taurus, use a combination of cool air from the outside and warm air from the engine to produce heat and circulate it throughout the car. Most of the operation is taken care of by the radiator, which manages the coolant used as a heat exchanger. Different problems can be caused by various malfunctions throughout the system.
The heater is controlled by owners through a temperature dial or similar mechanism, but this is not the device that actually senses the temperature and tells the radiator when to start or stop heating the air. When one of these thermostat sensors malfunctions, the heater does not know when to start or stop. Sometimes sensors can be reattached to the proper positions, but at other times they must be completely replaced.
The radiator pump moves fluid throughout the system, drawing in heat from the engine and circulating it in the air. If the pump is not working, the coolant fluid will not move, and this will cause problems with both the heater and the engine temperature, making this problem easy to notice.
Various problems can be caused by the coolant fluid itself. If the coolant is old or dirty, it will not function properly and should be replaced. If any air has gotten into the system, then it should be bled to remove the air immediately, before it can inhibit heat transfer and cause more serious problems with the engine.
Old radiator hoses can become blocked or cracked, leading to coolant leaks and requiring extensive repair. Old hoses should be replaced, and if other old parts of the radiator system are malfunctioning, they should be replaced as well, or the system should at least be flushed to remove any rust particles and oil.
Sometimes the heating system is working properly, but the fans are not turning, so the air is not circulated through the Taurus. Sometimes the fans are blocked by something in the air passageway, and sometimes the motor controlling the fan action fails. Blockages need to be removed and motors need to be fixed to ensure proper operation of the fans that send the hot air into the cab of the truck.
