Ford Taurus A/C and Heater Controls
Damaged climate controls will make driving your Ford Taurus less enjoyable. This critical Ford part accesses the heating and A/C control for your whole vehicle. Broken controls will cause problems ranging from no heat in winter to unpredictable A/C in summer.
How do Ford Taurus A/C and heater controls work?Depending on the year or generation of your Taurus sedan, climate controls vary considerably. For example, first generation Taurus made by Ford in the late 1980s has standalone, manual knob controls. The sixth generation Ford Taurus made in the 2010s includes integrated climate controls bundled into the dash. These controls come together with the audio system. To replace the vehicles temperature controls, you may need to replace other controls as well. Here are the three systems that the temperature controls access.
- Heater Core: A crucial piece to safety, the Ford Taurus heater core acts as a radiator. Together with the engine, this Ford part heats cabin air. When they are working properly, the controls let the heater core know when its time to start this process.
- Air Conditioner: The Taurus A/C runs off the engine using its own internal motors. Climate controls send a signal through the cars wiring when its time to start the cooling process.
- Blower: Neither the heater nor the A/C can do much without the fan. As a third necessary function, your climate controls let you adjust the blower fan speed.
If you need to find replacements for this critical Ford part, the options can seem daunting. Depending on your sedans year and build, the type and size will vary considerably. Here are the key points to use in your search.
- Taurus Model Year: Because temperature controls vary greatly for different model years, you should always narrow by year.
- Build and Options: In addition to year, optional Ford builds such as the Taurus SHO may have different interior designs. The SHO model represents an alternative build available through multiple generations of Ford Taurus. Even if your Ford sedan is not a SHO, options like Bluetooth or automatic transmission can also change the interior controls.
- Connectors and Related Parts: Depending on year, Ford Taurus replacement kits may allow you to replace parts like wire connections and automatic temperature sensors. In this case, you may be able to find the Ford part you need without replacing the whole unit.