97 Taurus No Heat

[jenbrink]

My 97 Taurus stop putting out heat. I flushed the Rad. and put new antifreeze and put a new thermostat in it. Still no heat.

I've read a lot of forums, and now I'm more confused on what should be the next step.

Should I look at the core first? and if so what am i looking for beside the temp. of the inlet and outlet hoses? Should I try to flush, and if so, how?

Is there anyway to test or look at in the temp. gage inside the car to see if it is stuck on cold? (closed damper?)

How to test the waterpump if that may be a factor?
When cold outside, light squilling sound, like water pump when engine is cold, but stops when it is warmed up. 2 years ago that started, mechanic said it was Tensioner and I had one put on it, put it did not stop the noise when cold. Never a problem with the heat though.

Air flow is good, Temp Gage is normal, 3-5 seconds of warm air comes out when heat is turned on, then ice cold. car has 175,000 miles. I had it since new and never a problem with heat or air condition. Rad. Fluid was brown and nasty last year and I had it flushed, other than that, no work has been done on the car in the last 8 months. Had heat a month ago.

Thanks for any help or resources that anyone can provide,
Jen

[KimMG]

Try flushing the heater core.

[jenbrink]

Originally Posted by KimMG

Try flushing the heater core.

I'm having a hard time trying to find something on the web on how to flush the core.
I have a chilton book but it is the wrong year (86-95). Would you know of any links with instructions on how to do that? Thanks!

[KimMG]

This is what some people do. Disconnect both hoses going to the heater core. Hold garden hose up to the oulet on the core and run water through it. Then hold garden hose up to the inlet on the core and run water through it.

[97owner]

I have a 97 Taurus with no heat. I took my car to a mechanic and asked them to determine why I have no heat.

For whatever reason, they added a dye to the antifreeze to check for exhaust gases. They determined that exhaust gas was getting into my antifreeze due to a possible cracked head or head gasket! They further explained that this is probably causing an air pocket to set up in the heater core, thus preventing coolant to flow through the core!!

That was the last thing I expected to hear. I'm not sure I agree. My car runs fine. I'm going to get a second opinion in the near future.

Good Luck!

[jenbrink]

97owner: Thanks for letting me know that. about 3 years ago I brought my car in for a few things and one of them was to flush the radiator. They told me that I was getting gases mixed in with the fluids somehow or another because my fluid was nasty brown.
They told me that my car would only last a couple months that it needed an engine overhaul. (something like that) well it's over 3 years since it was suppose to last a couple months and it runs great.

I really dont think that is the problem. I havent flushed my core yet, but I am leaning towards that it is clugged more than the head cracked or gasket. I've had a couple fords with cracked heads and believe me you know when you have a cracked head!! Lots of water mixer coming from the tail pipe. White smoke.

It has been so cold that I havent flushed the core, but I will soon and if that works, I'll be sure to let you know.

After I put 170+ miles on the car, this is the first thing that I cant figure out. The car has been great for me and I'm trying to get at least 250 to 300 out of it!!

Thanks again for letting me know what your mechanic said and maybe my experience can help you as well!!

[97taurusdude]

I just got my 97 Taurus out of shop, had my heater core flushed out 2 months ago, and just recently would go warm to cool to warm, so I figured heater core was plugging up again. Because they did say it was full of crude the first time. But they figured out the water pump was bad, not leaking but the small fins all rusted off the main blade. Just the main blade that is flat just agitating the antifreeze not really circulation much. Think thats why last summer my car started pinging the heads probably got little too hot. Hope this summer no pinging. Not keeping your antifreeze fresh and flushed RELIGIOUSLY!!!!!! can be fatal to your car. Can end up with muddy looking antifreeze all the time even after a flush because the block has rust. Radiator will rot out somewhere and leak like mine. I'm not going to flush my radiator because I think I will have a BIG leak afterwards, it cost 450.00 to 550.00 to replace radiator. (it has to be dropped out from underneath) (6 hrs labor). Fins rust off water pump. Freeze plugs can rust and leak. Could get leak somewhere, overheat and blow head gasket. I bought my Taurus with 132,000 miles now 146,000 but damage was already done who ever owned car before me didnt attend the antifreeze. SO SINK IT INTO YOUR BRAIN TO KEEP FRESH ANTIFREEZE IN YOUR COOLING SYSTEM!! OR YOUR GONNA PAY! Every 2 years do complete flush. (If you use the green kind) Antifreeze, freeze and heat protection does NOT wear out but anticorrosion protection DOES wear out.

[jenbrink]

Hmmm. This is the second time in the last 12 months that I changed/Flush the fluids. I had my student auto mechanic son flush it in the spring last year.

Maybe that is the entire problem!!! I should of done it myself!!

The second time was just a week or so ago when there was no heat.

I'm going to have to dig into it sooner or later. I dont mind putting the money into the car since it has been paid off for years and I still plan to get another 100,000 miles out of it. I just have to wait until I can hook up a hose outside since it is so cold.

Thanks for the info. The more I get the more I can look for with the problem!!!

[SHOcruzr]

Your problem could be as simple as this.
A/C - Lack Of Temperature Control
Article No.
98-23-20
This is a TSB about a AC Blend Door Actuator.