2000Taurus SE multiple problems....help?

3.0 vin code U

Bought the car from a "buy here pay here" lot in january. since then have had both head gaskets, engine cradle and ball joint replaced. The car doesn't have any heat. Also the cruise control doesn't work, and I can't figure that one out....did some checking and found out that it seems to be a fairly common issue with this car (2000 SE) but couldn't find anything specific. Any tips?

Welcome to the forum! I am sorry to hear you are experiencing so many problems with your car.

Maybe the previous owner used a head gasket sealer additive in the cooling system to attempt to "fix" the head gasket, but instead it did a nice job of plugging the heater core. Or maybe there is a large air pocket in the cooling system that is preventing you from getting good heat. Or, possibly your car has a water pump with a dissolved impeller (or did have which plugged the core with sludge) or if the water pump was replaced with the head gasket, maybe the new water pump impeller is on backwards.

Is the ABS light on, and if not, does it perform the bulb test when the key is first turned to run? Does the transmission shift fine?

-Rod

i've got a 2001 taurus and am having the same problem with heat and cruise control. I'm not car savy, but have read on here in multiple posts saying to back flush the heater core a few times and it should help. as for the cruise control i have no idea. i checked and replaced all my fuses but thats about the extent of my knowledge lol also on the heater core check your blend door if it's broken or stuck it won't allow for heat. on mine its on the passenger side close to the floor to the left of the heater core. It's been said you have to tear apart the entire dash to get the heater core but but i've looked at mine and i think with some finagling i can get it out just by removing the panel under the glove compartement. it will be uncomfortable but i think i can get it i'll post again when i get off my lazy butt and do it

Thanks for the welcome.


The ABS light is not on, but I haven't checked to see if the light comes on. The transmission shifts with no problems.
I was thinking it had something to do with an after market add-on the dealer did. (GPS unit with engine cut off for people who don't pay on time) but the dealer said no one else has had this issue with any of the other cars bought off their lot.
I've had the cooling system flushed and filled several times since I bought the car, and it hasn't done anything to help the heat. If there was a problem with the water pump, or impeller, wouldn't that show up as an overheat on the days when the outside air temp has been warm? Same with an air pocket? Not sure if this will matter, but the other day was pretty warm here, and I used the A/C. That worked fine....

Checking the air blend or diverter door is worth a try. When I got my '02 (purchased used) the A/C wasn't very cold and the heat wasn't very hot. The diverter door was stuck, once released it has worked like a champ.

The ABS light comes DOES work, and DOES come on like normal when the car is started. Shuts off approx 5 seconds after the engine starts.

Air blend/diverter door? I'm assuming that's on or near the blower motor right? Sorry, not too familiar with Heating or A/C systems here.

I think I'm going to have to invest in a haynes/chilton's repair manual for this car...

the blend door should be to the right and above your heater core. If you pull your glove compartment all the way down until it detaches and you will see a white box.. that is your blender door motor..underneath that is your blender door to get the steps to get to it i would suggest the manual as it has been a couple of months since i tore into mine. there is a site posted telling you how to remove the heater core without removing the dash but if you have small enough hands you should be able to get to everything. it might hurt a little and be uncomfortable lol it was for me, but i got the motor off and checked my blend door. mine was fine but numerous others on this site replaced theirs and it fixed the problem. and aonce again when i find the time and I'm:evillol: not to lazy lol i'll rip out my heater core and post on how it went.

I downloaded the whole factory manual for 2000 to 2007 Taurus' at Tradebit.com for 12 bucks. It practically filles a CD. Lot of dagrams to help us laymen!! Rick

ok, heres one....a few days ago on my way into work, it was cold enough outside to need heat for the defroster. I didn't think it would work as usual but I tured it on anyways. About 10 minutes into my 15 minute commute it actually got warm inside the car. haven't had to use the heat since that day....so I don't know if it's still working or if it was a fluke.

have you checked your thermostat. It may be stuck open. My taurus eng. will get hot then after a couple of minutes with the heater on the eng. temp will drop and the slight heat i did have will be gone. during the winter months i have to constantly cycle the switch on and off to get any heat or freeze on the way to work(which is what i usually do lol) also check your coolant mixture. Not sure if it matters or not but it seems to me coolant is designed to cool your super hot engine so it doesn't blow. If your running to rich of a mixture and my logic isn't completely jacked up it may prevent your coolant from heating up enough to provide adequate heat to the cabin. I was running 100% coolant and when i changed to 50/50 it helped a little. Which all that did was tell me the problem was elsewhere but at least i could rule that out