When I am running the car for an extended period of time, and in stop and go traffic, the cars temp gauge will rise to the red zone. When I pull over and turn the car off to let it cool, I can hear a loud bubbling/boiling noise coming from under the hood. When I drive the car on a long open road and at higher speeds the temp gauge pretty much instantly will go to normal. I just had the thermostat replaced. What could this be? I also have not heard the fan come on in a while, so I dont think it works any more.



-C3_Stingray

Well I'm guessing your engine headgaskets are probably trashed from the overheating.. apply 12 volts to the fan connector, see if it runs... if yes the temp sensor may be shot, maybe something else.. stop overheating that engine, it's already widely recognized as a troublemaker in it's own right.

Ford's 3.8 V6 is a known troublespot and it seems to constantly overheat and blow its' headgasket. Don't drive that thing any more till you find out if the fan IS working and if it's not coming on why that is. If the temp gauge drops as soon as you get it moving that means the waterpump is working -- but if the fan isn't kicking on you're still going to overheat with that thing.