Grandma Car Help Needed

[Drache]

Well my grandmother lives a good distance from me and she has a car problem. I was just wondering what the mechanics on here think it might be. Sorry but this is the only info shes given me:

Car: Early 90's Ford Taurus
Engine: No Clue

Problem (in her own words):
There is a rad leak [not too bad], but even when i add more coolant, it takes a long time to heat up, then the gauge goes to high, then there's a gurgling under the dash and the gauge goes to normal & then it finally heats up [interior heater not engine]

[bordin34]

Maybe a bad heater core. It could be clogged with something? Or the T-stat.

[nh_mopar_fan]

air trapped in the system?

[Charger_Fan]

If it's had a coolant leak for a while, chances are that someone put some stop leak in there to "fix" the problem. The only thing stop leak's good for is to plug the heater core...every time.
Yep, the gurgling sounds like plugged heater core.

[Drache]

If it's had a coolant leak for a while, chances are that someone put some stop leak in there to "fix" the problem. The only thing stop leak's good for is to plug the heater core...every time.
Yep, the gurgling sounds like plugged heater core.

Hasn't had the problem for awhile and Im the only one who touches the car besides her, no stop leak has been added.

[Charger_Fan]

If it's had a coolant leak for a while, chances are that someone put some stop leak in there to "fix" the problem. The only thing stop leak's good for is to plug the heater core...every time.
Yep, the gurgling sounds like plugged heater core.

Hasn't had the problem for awhile and Im the only one who touches the car besides her, no stop leak has been added.

Gotcha, well it still sounds like a plugged (or partially plugged) heater core.
This is what I've done a couple times, with decent success...undo both heater hoses at the engine. Get one of those sprinkler adapter things from a hardware store that screws onto the end of a garden hose, with a 5/8 barb end on the other end. Stick the barbed end into whichever hose does NOT go to the water pump, clamp it tight with a hose clamp.
Hold the other heater hose with the end pointed away from the car, then have a helper turn on the faucet full blast & hang on! It should spit all sorts of crap out. When the water runs clear, switch the barbed fitting to the other heater hose & flush it that direction until it runs clear.
Hook the hoses back up, add antifreeze & see if it's improved.

[400/6/PAC]

If it's had a coolant leak for a while, chances are that someone put some stop leak in there to "fix" the problem. The only thing stop leak's good for is to plug the heater core...every time.
Yep, the gurgling sounds like plugged heater core.

Hasn't had the problem for awhile and Im the only one who touches the car besides her, no stop leak has been added.

Gotcha, well it still sounds like a plugged (or partially plugged) heater core.
This is what I've done a couple times, with decent success...undo both heater hoses at the engine. Get one of those sprinkler adapter things from a hardware store that screws onto the end of a garden hose, with a 5/8 barb end on the other end. Stick the barbed end into whichever hose does NOT go to the water pump, clamp it tight with a hose clamp.
Hold the other heater hose with the end pointed away from the car, then have a helper turn on the faucet full blast & hang on! It should spit all sorts of crap out. When the water runs clear, switch the barbed fitting to the other heater hose & flush it that direction until it runs clear.
Hook the hoses back up, add antifreeze & see if it's improved.

Thats How to clean it out.
Also, if you Think It might be the heater core, Try bypassing it and see if the problem goes away.

[The70RT]

air trapped in the system?

That what a friend of mine was. She put fluid in it every week when it got low and the air pocket stayed there because of no pressure. On GM's they have a bleeder on the front coolant rail. I am not too sure on the Fords.