Comments: 1-15, 16-21
My coolant thermostat malfunctioned coupled with a faulty radiator fan, caused high coolant temps to burst the radiator housing apart, resulting in extreme coolant loss.
It sounded like someone firing a gun next to you.
I repaired all these items myself.
Due to the previous excess overheating, this caused the head gaskets to leak a few weeks later.
These weren't the only 3.8L Taurus nightmares and gremlins encountered.
For instance, I previously suspected the coolant temp sender.
No major problems ever happened with this car parked in the driveway or at the service shop, except for that faulty speedometer pointer that bounces around at any speed above 45m.p.h..about $400 for the parts to R$R it.
The transmission went at 148,000 which cost me $1300.00 to rebuild.
Things I've replaced personally or had professionally (A.S.E. cert.) replaced, were items that I knew should not go prematurely, like,
Struts.
Outer ball joints.
Front and rear rotors.
Numerous brake pads: the front end loves the attention.
The car loves its passenger side headlight bulb replaced every 2-3 months also.
Water pump.
Serpentine belt: shows excess wear/over-stretching at 25,000 miles is not common.
The cruise control died because of the speedometer problems and no-one reading this should even attempt to operate a faulty cruise control system, you should pull its fuse to prevent accidental activation.
I leave the engine check light on, not because I know how to shut it off, but it reminds me how stupid I was for buying a money pit called the ford Taurus instead of the German vehicles I'm used to owning and working on.
All this headache from the engineers at Ford, if only they had copied the Audi5000 design and mechanicals right down to the last nut and bolt instead of its style the Taurus is based on!
Typical wear for the exhaust system, so is the interior parts (just some) : P.O.S. plastic is even used in the best of cars now-days.
I, m a certified collision tech and I'll sum up what it takes to own one of these cars, a lot of money and that's asking fellow mechanics in the business to give me a break.
The a.b.s. system is a joke, its not proportioned right to the weight of the car, but that's the size of the braking system they put on these cars, not everybody baby's their car in the real world and you shouldn't feel afraid after mechanical problems occur that the vehicle will continue to have them, but with this ford 3.8L Taurus, its one right after the other, just like dominoes.
The 3.8L engine is under powered for a cubic inch displacement (C.I.D.) close to a 4.0L baby eight cylinder car.
And heck no, under no circumstances would I buy a Ford product ever again, even though I purchased it from a relative in dire straits.
There is no job quality, that's only said to get people who know nothing about cars to purchase them, so how can Ford be number one through this P.O.S. product?
When a Ford comes into the body shop, be it old or new model years, we know they are a P.O.S..
The only thing I like about the whole car was its heater system in the winter time and sitting in the seats, but I caution, anything over 450 miles in this car and the seats need to have an extra cushion placed below your ass.
Any other words of kindness need not apply to a product that falls short of owning up to what the company quotes as being a quality job; which should last the life of the car in my opinion.
I have a Taurus that constantly over heat and has been in the shop more than
it has been in my drive way. It keeps over heating and every thing has been
replaced that has to do with the heating system. Any one know any thing
about this and how to fix it if so please e-mail me at jsplin@yahoo.com
Thanks.
Replace your thermostat!
Your Taurus was no good because it has the 3.8 liter engine. The '92-'95 Ford Taurus is an exceptionally reliable car when it has the 3.0 Liter engine. 172,000 miles with no major repairs. And it saved my life in a serious accident. We bought another and so far it's doing just as well as the last one. So shut up and quit talkin smack about a good car.
It's not exactly a new car, is it?
First commenter - if the car overheats despite everything you've done the head gasket is probably blown.
Before spending a lot of money on a headgasket repair I would
advise you to buy a headgasket (liquid) repair additive. You must follow the directions exactly as discribed. I've had great success when the problem is overheating from the headgasket. Your cost will be between 5-10 dollars and your time will be about an hour, but the car may need to sit overnight. It really just depends on the additive you use.
If you have time and the ability you can also re-torque the head bolts before putting in any additives.
If it works you will save some big bucks.
GoodLuck!
I own a 1995 taurus gl 3.8 with overheating problems, I have replaced radiator, thermostat, fan relay box, and flushed 4 times. it is still running hot, but when I hit the gas on an off it cools down some, also loose heat during this time, but it returns after hitting the gas (water pump is good, heads are good) could it be in the heater core. steven.
I own a 1995 taurus gl 3.8 with overheating problems, I have replaced radiator, thermostat, fan relay box, and flushed 4 times. it is still running hot, but when I hit the gas on an off it cools down some, also loose heat during this time, but it returns after hitting the gas (water pump is good, heads are good) could it be in the heater core. steven.
I own a 1995 Taurus Gl 3.8 with overheating problems, I have replaced radiator, thermostat, fan relay box, and flushed 4 times. it is still running hot, but when I hit the gas on an off it cools down some, also loose heat during this time, but it returns after hitting the gas (water pump is good, heads are good) could it be in the heater core. Steven.
You're totally right dude.
Don't buy from ANYONE!
Daewood all the way!
I have a 95 Taurus 3.8L and the car has been nothing, but problems!! It only has 80,000 miles and it's on it's third engine. Just recently I had trouble with it overheating and it was due to the fact that my coolant was 3 quarts low. However, they found no leak. Explain that one. This car has left me stranded more times than it has gotten me to where I want to go and the Ford dealership I go to has been nothing, but rude and incompetent. I would NEVER own a Ford again!
I also own a 95 Ford Taurus GL 3.8 it's a great car-Yeah Right
Since about 95k things literally started to fall apart it needed new brakes at least twice a year the engine coolant leaked like crazy as a matter of a fact all the fluids started to leak constant I put brake fluid in every other day mechanic says there is no leak I also put in coolant once a week hes says its not a bad leak it shouldn't leak that bad and also the transmission its going its been slipping from gear to gear a lot and last it loves to burn oil if you let it it will burn through a quart a month I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY MECHANIC he said FORDS are piles of junk after 100k and boy is he right and I want to sell it now and I had someone look at it and they told me it was only worth about 300 bucks basically for the engine.
To the reviewer and everyone that commented... BEEN THERE-DONE THAT!! There is NO benefit to owning a Ford!!
I have the overheating issue with my 3.8L '94. However, I disagree with most of the don't buy the car issues. My car has nearly 250,000 on it and it just started the problems. The reason the car got to this point was because the block heater simply croded from age and my coolant drained out while I was going 180km/h. The engine baked and since keeps doing it. The overheat issues with the Taurus is usually a result of such an occasion or lack of proper maintinence... not the actual design by Ford, although I still hate Ford lol.
My diagnosis due to the fact that I smoked the engine is that my gasked needs redoing or a liquid repair. Am I right?
I would simply bang some kind of miracle snake oil gasket fix inside the Motor and sell this wreck on.
I have to agree with almost all of the comments I have read. The Taurus with the 3.0 is a very reliable car. With the 3.8, well, that's another story. I have owned a Supercharged T-Bird with a 3.8. I know it's not exactly the same engine (it's beefed up quite a bit) but it blew head gaskets twice in the 4 years I owned it. I also drove it very mildly. I also owned a 95 Taurus with the 3.8. I do all my own work and let me tell you after the second set of head gaskets it was time to go. Last, but not least, I have a 90 Taurus SHO with the Yamaha engine and 5 speed. I have 146000 miles on it now. Never had the engine or tranny apart. Yes, it does require maintenance regularly. Any high performance machine does. The struts, ball joints, water pump and most other parts are still original (except for brakes, rotors, belts and hoses). It's a blast to drive and handles very well. So, if you want a fun Taurus, get an SHO and make sure it's a stick not an automatic. Just my two cents.