3.8 Taurus........whaaaaaaaaaat?!!?!?!?!

PLUG?? WIRE?? AIR in System?? Heater CORE?? Multiple problems??
I dont know......???????????????????????????????????????? ???????




Thanks in advance to anyone who could possibly advise me on this situation. I've been at it for 4 days in the chicagoland area and if you know anything about the cold tools in chicago, you know I'm worn out. I just replaced the radiator, right heater hose, the alternator, the spark plugs, cap/rotor. BY THE WAY, has anyone ever changed one of those radiators....I had a hell of a time with the lower trans line.....any suggestion for future???

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Now here's what the possessed devil does to me at the start of every day. On cold start it runs like hell....misfiring and putting along as soon as I hit the gas. The heat doesnt work at idle no matter how long I let it run (up to 35 minutes I tried). Then when I start misfiring and hitting the gas in Drive or neutral the heat starts running. Then if I drive long enough it drives nicer and nicer and about the same time usually the low oil pressure light comes on. It does have a rod knock but it has for 25K so I don't think it is that. I seem to be losing a little coolant and as it goes down, of course the heat works worse and worse as the days go by. I don't thinks its a gasket because once i drive on the highway and the heat is working fine the car runs a lot better. If I fill it completely and do the whole fill, then run, then a little spills, then fill , run , spill and so on for about 30 minutes it will run like crap for about 20 minutes and then when the low oil light turns on it runs GREAT, like new. That's the only time it ever runs well. The next day if I don't refill coolant it won't run as well, but again, after 20 minutes of driving it starts to run better....Do i need to disconnect the battery to reset the computer???? I smell coolant out of the vents every once in a while so the coolant leak must be under the hood or in the heater core, right??? I pressure tested it and that's how i found the radiator leak. So how could I be losing coolant?? the upper radiator hose only gets hot if the heat is working. Also I unplugged the fan because it seemed to never turn off and turn on quickly on a cold start....also, is there a bleeder valve?? a mechanic I know says it sounds like there is air in the system since I replaced the thermostat........

ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED>>>>THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!

PETE
NAPERVILLE, IL

Wow. :( As much as I hate saying this, if it were me, I would start saving for a new car. I cannot tell you exactly what's wrong with it, I can only suggest that you check things and go from there.

Does it have oil in the coolant?
Does it have coolant in the oil?
Has the engine been compression and/or leak down tested?
No visible leaks, but still loosing pressure in the coolant system?

Sometimes the water hits things that are hot, and you never see the actual leak..

It would probably be in your best interest to plug the fan back in. If the cooling system is not working properly, you're going to have even bigger problems when spring gets here. You may need to diagnose the fan relay and temperature switch to determine why it's running all the time. Also, if the A/C is on, this will cause the fan to run constantly as well.

Pete

Wow. :( As much as I hate saying this, if it were me, I would start saving for a new car. I cannot tell you exactly what's wrong with it, I can only suggest that you check things and go from there.

Does it have oil in the coolant?
Does it have coolant in the oil?
Has the engine been compression and/or leak down tested?
No visible leaks, but still loosing pressure in the coolant system?

Sometimes the water hits things that are hot, and you never see the actual leak..

It would probably be in your best interest to plug the fan back in. If the cooling system is not working properly, you're going to have even bigger problems when spring gets here. You may need to diagnose the fan relay and temperature switch to determine why it's running all the time. Also, if the A/C is on, this will cause the fan to run constantly as well.

Pete


thanks pete....i'll start adding to my change jar for the spring.....your input was appreciated.

pete, as well

here's a good one for the kids..........
Knock, knock
who's there
pizza
pizza who??
Pizza gonna get you!!!! hahahaha
(get it, Pizza sounds like pete when you say it fast.....works well with chicks at the bar too.....later)

Do everyone a favor and stop creating new threads for the same problem. It's very hard to follow along with what's happening. Keep it all in one thread, and you might make some progress.

Since we're talking about how to make effective threads, I'd also suggest a using a meaningful subject. When I'm in a hurry, I won't even read a thread if the subject doesn't describe the problem. I don't imagine I am the only one who does that.

-Rod