You need to have a shop check your radiator cap, water pump, cooling fan and thermostat for proper function...the most common cause for over heating is a thermostat that has gone bad and is stuck closed not allowing the coolant to circulate and cool the engine.
Thermostat could be at the tempure setiting, No antiboil antifreeze coolant, and the water leakage or a bad waterpump.
You're Thermostat may possibly be stuck in the closed position, therefore not allowing coolant (water/antifreeze) to pass through to the engine. Basically check your thermostat is working.
if fans are working and thermostat is good welcome to the world of northstar famous headgasket/faulty headbolt and stripped block crap engine problem
Check the fan clutch, it may not be working properly.
I had a VW Jetta that had a problem with overheating. It ended up being the thermostat had gone bad so the fan never "kicked on." A car can over heat if there isnt enough antifreeze in the radiator or a bad thermostat or if your fan isnt working properly or is bad
There are a few reasons a vehicle is overheating. The common causes are the thermostat, water pump, radiator, or the fan stopped working.
There is really no good way to prevent this from happening other than making sure you have a proper supply of coolant/antifreeze in your system and a properly working thermostat. Overheating is a great way to warp the head and then blowing the gasket.
A 2001 Mitsubishi Spyder will experience overheating even though the fluid is good and the fans are working if the thermostat is stuck. A stuck thermostat will prevent coolant from circulating and will quickly overheat the engine.
Take your thermostat out and put everything back together, run your car without a thermostat... If your car no longer overheats, replace your thermostat.
Low coolant? Cooling fan not working? Thermostat not opening? Water pump not circulating coolant?
Check the coolant in the 96 Taurus. Check to insure that the thermostat is working properly, and that the water pump is working.
check thermostat. check engine fan coolant sensor possible locations radiator or thermostat housing. check electric fan working