Changing the plugs and wires are a major PITA on the Aerostar. But you knew that. I want to replace the temp gauge sending unit & the PCV valve but I can't locate them. Any help would be appreciated.

 

welcome mike



which engine 3L or 4L?
PCV valve will be at rear of driver side valve cover. access thru passenger compartment dog hatch between driver/pass. on firewall floor

dash temp gauge sending unit is located on front center left of engine next to thermostat housing and top radiator hose exit. single wire sending unit. they are not accurate, as long as they are in NORMAL range, OK.
if reading cold, probably your thermostat is stuck open, kills gas mileage.

the double wire sending unit is only used by the PCM for engine control based upon engine temp.

cheap mechanics gloves or any cloth gloves saves blood donation while working under the hood of an Aero.

Autozone site under service section has good free diagrams and info on the Aero. have to sign up
lots of good threads on PCV and worthless heat gauge.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/search.php

 

Oh damn sorry, forgot there are two engines. It's the 4.0. 1994 XL automatic. I just got it. 241,000 miles It's the sender I'm hunting, not the sensor. The temp gauge isn't reading anything. The needle sits in the corner and never moves at all. I figure the sender is bad or unplugged. T-stat is tested good.
Did the plugs and wires today. Well, 5 of them anyway. Game was called due to cold and dark lol. The job took a little more time than I allowed for. I think I saved the worst for last. Rearmost drivers side. I'll get it tomorrow.
I need to find that PCV valve. I figured it would be on a valve cover but if I have to move stuff to get to it I want to be working on the right side. Now I know thanks. The replacement valve has two vac fittings with a plug for the smaller fitting. Does the engine use both vac lines or just one?
I need to get the van inspected. I'm in Houston. Tough emissions testing here. Figured a tuneup wouldn't hurt. I already gave blood but that's nothing new. I've owned two 300zx's, two 280zx's, and a 240z over the past 15 years and I did all the wrenching and modifications on them. Lost a lot of blood to the 300zx's. Owned several other DD's I maintained too.
Thanks for the welcome and the help.

 

The sender is located on the thermostat housing on the front of the engine. There will be two senders. One will be larger than the other and will have a nice solid connector, the other will have just a single wire with a l shaped boot and will pull right off. The smaller one is the gauge sender.