How do heating controls work on a Ford Taurus - Mercury Sable?

Answer 1

the heating controls are electronic and vacuum controlled if you take out the radio/heater/ac cluster, there are around 5 vacuum lines going to 1 switch..

• No control valve is used to vary the amount of coolant flowing through the heater core - coolant flows through the heater core all the time.
• Temperature adjustment is done by moving a damper / door down inside the heating/cooling ductwork.

  This door controls the flow of the air through the heatercore - the more air moving through the core, the hotter the air being blown into the car.

• 1986-1995 used a traditional stiff wire cable from the control knob/slide to the door
• With the total redesign of the Taurus/Sables in 1996, Ford changed from stiff-wire cable connections to a small electric actuator motor to control the temperature blend door.

  This actuator motor is one of the most common causes of heater problems in modern Ford vehicles.

• The directional flow control (defrost, vents, floor) is still a vacuum controlled switching 'manifold'.

  Look for clear w/colored stripes rubber hoses behind the dash and up by the firewall to the right of the gas pedal.

• 1996-? Integrated dash panel - Removing the dash panel that contains the heating/cooling controls along with the radio controls is exactly the same procedure as removing the radio.

  See "Related Questions" regarding the "radio converter kit" for detailed instructions.

See "Related Questions" below for much more about trouble-shooting Taurus/Sable heating problems.

Yes. Look in your owner manual for the fuse location. however if the heater turns on, but isn't warm, check your coolant level.