I have a 1999 ford taurus that has coolant coming out of the surge tank, even though the dash temp gauge is a little under the halfway mark. i have replaced the water pump, thermostat, and surge tank fill cap. i'm out of ideas. please help. thank you.

There shouldn't be any coolant "pipes" in the back of the car, you are seeing coolant run from the front of the car.

try burping the cooling system a few times or could be your thermostat. as far as the belt squeek, you can take a litle bit on silicone grease and put it on the belt in one spot with the car off. let it run for a little bit and the squeek should stop

check your coolant level for anti freeze strength and also check your thermostat is opening fully, to do this take out the thermostat and place it in a bold of hot water you will see it closing then place it in a cold bowl of water an you should see it opening, Also check your temp sender for a few bucks you may as well change it out though.

Sounds to me like a blown head gasket. Even if your vehicle is not warmed up, if your reserve tank is boiling fluid out of it when the engine is cool, it's most likely losing compression from it all going to your reserve tank. And thats why it's fluids coming out of your reserve tank. BUT, if your radiator is clogged then the same thing could happen. So i would start out cheap before you have to replace a HG. Thanks, James Booth been a mechanic for 6 years

Jackie, Hi, yes this would be the problem if the temperature sensor is not working it will not tell the fan too start, so best advice would be too change this sensor, or have someone do it for you and that should cure your problem, Colin.

is the coolant level low when it comes on, due you have to keep adding coolant to the surge tank, have you repalced the surge tank cap?

The Taurus has Two temp sensors. One for the dash, which is isolated, then one for the PCM, it also controls when the fan relay should actuate. Its a 2 wire sensor, just above the thermostat. If you remove the harness from that sensor, and the cooling fan comes on, at any temp, (should take 5- 10 seconds) then thats your fault.

it sounds as if you need to replace your thermostat

check coolant level in overflow bottle and the radiator first.

check to see if temp blend door is rotating back and forth. Rotate temp knob while watching the motor that operates the blend door under the dash.

check to see if both heater hoses are hot where they go into the cowl in the engine compartment into the heater core. If not hot, check temp gauge to see if it reads nomal, if not replace thermostat.

No the light on your dash comes on when the coolant sensor is activated.

I would look at replacing the coolant temp sensor or somthing similar.