Hiya all,

Don't mean to bump an old thread, but I am going through this right now and cannot find the right switch. I have a 2000 2.5L 4cyl.

I purchased what appears to be the sw-5174 switch (part number T6740 at Napa) and the plug is wrong. The sender plug indeed has two spades, and as you can see below the plug only has a spot for one spade (i think). Here are two pics,one of the plug and one (poor) one of the new switch which you can kinda see the spades. Also, the plug is kinda round on one edge and square on the other, while the new plug is more of an ice-skating rink shape.

Just thought I would see if anyone had anything to add. I'm going to call Ford tomorrow and see if they can help. I'll update as things change.

-B

old plug:
http://home.comcast.net/~bradite/images/oldplug.jpg
new sender:
http://home.comcast.net/~bradite/images/wrongsw.jpg

 

It appears that you have the ECT sender for the engine management system and not the temperature gauge sender. The tipoff is the two wire connect on the ECT; the temp gauge sender has one wire.

 

Depending on the brand, it may have a small notch in the plate, instead of the small valve. As long as you're sure you've got the right thermostat for your year/engine, just make sure the notch or valve is oriented toward the top.
I've changed my thermostat in my 2000 4.0L Ranger once already for low heat output and constantly oscillating between normal and borderline low temp on the gauge.
It's showing that same behavior again this fall.

 

Thanks. Yes, I've gone ahead and changed out the themostat. The problem is fixed. The heater is putting out hotter air than ever. It's one happy truck.

 

WVRanger, good to hear the new thermostat seems to have put things right for your ride.

BTW is the temp guage settled down & reading normally now????

Did you settle on a thermostst with a air vent at the top & did it help in getting the air out of the cooling system when you refilled it????

Pawpaw was born a "Mountaineer down in McDowell county. Loved that state motto,"Mountaineers shall ALWAYS be free men"!!!!welllll at least until we became smitten with our RANGER that is!!!! LOL

 

LOL, yep there's nothing better than a Ranger when it's 100% healthy(at least on 4 wheels.)
Yes, the gauge is reading normal and is very steady now. And as for the thermostat itself, I still have the one from Advance Auto in. I was going to change it out, but the heater is working so well now, I can live with the little "thump" it puts out. Maybe after I get a little use out of it, I put the Ford therm in.

 

WVRanger, good to hear the temp gauge has stopped it's wanderings & you now have plenty of heat.

The thumping noise you describe is disconcerting though, as it means you still have air in the system or you don't have good enough coolant circulation & hot spots are causing the coolant to boil & cavitate.

This cavitation isn't good for the water jackets & if left unattended could eat through the engines water jacket. It will also cause the coolant additives to break down much sooner & cause cooling system corrosion,

So don't let this problem linger, for the lack of the proper thermostat & a good system air burping.

 

Thanks for the info. Ok, the next half-decent day, I'll change it out.