Just about every trip i take my temp gauge pegs and dinger goes off and check gauges lights up in the message center. It eventually will go back to normal or if i shut key off and restart truck it goes to normal. im guessing it is the temperature sensor for the gauge but not sure?? If it is, where is the gauge sensor located?? Any ideas are greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

 

You need to fully identify your vehicle.

 

i have a 2006 f-250 with a 5.4 engine.

 

Is the check engine light (CEL) coming on? If it is take it to a parts shop,Auto zone, Advance Auto, and have them read the codes. If it was the temp sensor itself the problem would most likely not clear on a restart.

 

i could see how a restart would clear it if the sensors got a short inside of it...

usually the sensors these days are placed near the t-stats... either next to them or behind them... but have seen some placed on the driverside radiator still...

but i agree with shorebird... if your SES lights coming on id have the code pulled to see if its really saying its a fault in the temp sensor...

 

The 5.4 doesn't have a coolant temp sensor. It uses a cylinder head temp (CHT) sensor and then infers coolant temp from that.

If your gauge is pegging, you have reached the first level of the fail-safe cooling system. If the instrument cluster sees a high CHT signal (via the communication network,) it will peg the gauge and light the warning indicator to get your attention. If the CHT continues to climb past a set point, then the PCM will start shutting down cylinders.

In your case, a scan tool that can monitor sensors would be helpful. You might have a bad CHT sensor, an overheating issue, or a problem in the harness. If you have an infrared thermometer you can check the coolant temp at the thermostat housing when it's acting up. Coolant above 220 or so would indicate a problem.


Jay

 

I'm not entirely sure this is for the Superduty. I know the F150 and other 5.4's infer CHT from the coolant temp sensor.

I remember going through this a while back and looking through the 2006 service manual for the 5.4 and finding it did have a CHT and a regular coolant temp sensor. I think.

 

Thanks for all of the info everyone!

After doing quite some research on this topic i also came across this in another forum..

FORD: 2005-2007 F-53 Motorhome Chassis, F-Super Duty

ISSUE:
Some 2005-2007 F-Super Duty and F-53 Motorhome chassis vehicles equipped with a 5.4L or 6.8L 3-valve engine may exhibit an engine temperature gauge indicating an overheating condition with the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1285 and P1299.

ACTION:
Performing normal engine cooling system diagnostics in Workshop Manual, Section 303-03, if it is determined that the engine is not physically overheating (coolant expulsion), install a new thermostat and crossover pipe. They have been revised for improved cooling system flow characteristics.


PART NUMBER PART NAME
7L3Z-8575-A Thermostat - 5.4L
7C3Z-8575-A Thermostat - 6.8L
3L3Z-8C368-A Crossover Pipe - 5.4L
3L3Z-8C368-B Crossover Pipe - 6.8L

WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage
Note: Normal would be from 190 to about 220. The actual boiling point of the system is about 262. 212 water+5 for coolant +15x3 for cap pressure =262.

 

Can someone tell me what they are refering to when they say "Crossover Pipe"? i have tried searching it and the part number with no success.

 

Each cylinder head is tied together by a coolant crossover pipe. It is the same piece that contains the thermostat housing where the upper radiator hose connects. It is behind/under the alternator.

Jay

 

I have a 2005 f250 with a 5.4. I am finding something fairly similar. My temp gauge on the instrument cluster spikes randomly, if you shut the vehicle down for 10sec and restart, it resets to normal operating temperature. I am told there is a sensor for this and a separate one that actually throws the code and starts to safe mode the truck, and if it was actually overheating it would trigger both things. Also, my understanding is that the sensor for the instrument panel is underneath the intake and u have to remOve the intake in order to change this, can anyone verify????


Thanks,
Tyson

 

Hello Sirs,

This is my first post.
I have a 2006 F250SD purchased brand new and it has 16,600 miles on it. Always garaged and cared for. Sorry to start off my relationship with a question, but I am really flustered with this issue.

I found this old thread to be identical to the problem I am having. Has it been resolved to the point where everyone here is confident that replacing the crossover tube and thermostat will correct the problem?
I am confused by the "reset to normal" condition when I turn off the truck and restart. Can someone please explain it to me?

Thanks for your help.

Best, Bret.

 

TTT.

Thanks,

Bret.

 

In trying to separate sensor issues from actual high temperature conditions, has anyone experienced this gauge-spike condition upon cold startup or shortly thereafter?

Thanks, Bret.

 

TTT.

Thanks, Bret.