94 Taurus-Temp guage/no heat problem

I have a 94 Taurus, 3.8l. Everything works fine and then the temperature guage will start rising all the way up and the heater will start blowing cold air. If you let the car sit for @ 1 hour, it will be fine. This happens sporatically and only during cold weather. The car shows no sign of being overheated when this happens and the coolant level is ok. Has anyone ever heard of this before?

Yes, I have a 1996 ford taurus with the identical problem. The temp guage rises in traffic and comes back down when moving. However, I have no heat almost all the time. Once in a while I get a blast of hot air. I know the heater core is OK because sometimes the heat will work for 20 minutes. Then it all of a sudden gets cold again. I removed the thermostat and flused the entire cooling sytem,the radiator, the heater core and the engine. I then put in a new thermostat and I still have the same problem. Driving is mighty cold! In my case the upper hose into the radiator is hot but the return on the bottom is cold. I am thinking it is either the pump or the radiator, but I still don't see how it could be either?

Yes, I have a 1996 ford taurus with the identical problem. The temp guage rises in traffic and comes back down when moving. However, I have no heat almost all the time. Once in a while I get a blast of hot air. I know the heater core is OK because sometimes the heat will work for 20 minutes. Then it all of a sudden gets cold again. I removed the thermostat and flused the entire cooling sytem,the radiator, the heater core and the engine. I then put in a new thermostat and I still have the same problem. Driving is mighty cold! In my case the upper hose into the radiator is hot but the return on the bottom is cold. I am thinking it is either the pump or the radiator, but I still don't see how it could be either?

wow! I have the exact prognosis with my 90 taurus and was planning to do the flush and t-stat but now....let me know if someone figures this problem out, and I'll do the same if I figure it out....

had the same problem. flushed heater core,radiator, changed thermostat. Before, it would heat up when stopped and cool back down when moving. I removed the upper most hose and ran the engine to remove any air bubbles stuck in the system. Now the thermostat stays right in the middle. I still have no heat though?????? I have heard talk about some door that controls the hot air, that is the only thing left to check but I hear it is a bear to get at.

Replace water pump, solved my same problem. Flow fins on pump starting to errode, will give coolant flow sporadically until fins are totally gone, then temp gauge will stay hot. W/pump 98 tauras replaced, now everything back to normal.

I have a 94 Taurus, 3.8l. Everything works fine and then the temperature guage will start rising all the way up and the heater will start blowing cold air. If you let the car sit for @ 1 hour, it will be fine. This happens sporatically and only during cold weather. The car shows no sign of being overheated when this happens and the coolant level is ok. Has anyone ever heard of this before?

Hi, I have 94 taurus lx with a 3.8l. I am having the same problem. It has been about three years since I had the themorstate replaced. I am going to start with that. I had a new head gasket put on back in 98 because it was blown. It was factory problem on the car. Then I will move on to the water pump next. The car has 151,000 miles on it. The hose going up to the thermostate collasped this morning, and water was pouring out the overflow thing. Any Ideas would be very thankful.

Sounds like the thermostat is stuck closed to me. That is unless the hose was really bad off.