My ’89 Taurus radiator fan does not move and the car overheats. What might be the root of the problem?
I keep the car running by adding water and coolant, but oftentimes the plastic tank becomes full. The car (1989 Ford Taurus GL) is beginning to have a knocking sound on the passenger side. There is some kind of fluid (condensed water maybe?) coming not from the tailpipe, but somewhere before it gets to that point. Could the problem be the thermostat? I want to know how I can fix the problem myself. Help!
Tagged with: 1989 ford taurus • coolant • ford • ford taurus • ford taurus gl • plastic tank • tailpipe • thermostat
Filed under: Ford Taurus 1986-1991
If the fan does not move, then it is typically an electrical problem like a bad relay or blown fuse. It may even be a bad connection somewhere like at the temp sensor or at the fan itself. Also, the fan motor itself may be bad.
Now, the knocking is a result of the overheating and can cause serious damage to your car’s engine. Unfortunately what you have described may be a warped head or a blown head gasket, both of which are not easy or cheap to fix for the typical DIY’er. I wish you the best of luck, and hopefully it isn’t quite that bad yet.
Good luck!
You could try installing an electric cooling fan an the front of your radiator. BEWARE!!! The knocking sound is a very bad sign. The water leak could be from the overflow tank leaking excess water. Check your oil. If there is water in your oil, you have a bad head gasket or cracked head due to overheating. See a mechanic ASAP!!!
Sounds like you got engine problems head gasket leak check your oil if its a brown milkie color you have blown head gasket as for the fan not moving try a jumper wire from the battery to your fan if the fan works then its relay or a sensor problem . Good luck
Does the fan come on with the AC? Try bypassing the low pressure switch in AC.
the fan should only affect it at idle and it should still run cool at speed, or you have more troubles , like a blown head gasket, this would give off a white vapor from the tail pipe.
If the engine is a 3.8L, you need head gaskets.