got a drifting temp gauge... any ideas?
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New User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15
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got a drifting temp gauge... any ideas?
my 96 3.0L (with 101k) ranger is acting just a little weird. my tempeture gauge on my dash floats up and down. not in that bouncy way you see in older cars tho. it will get up as high as the top of the "little thermometer light thingy" and then just fall down to the bottom of the thermometer light, stay there for a minute, then drift back up. i'm not turning my heat off and on, and it seems to steady as i drive it. i'm not having any other problems... no smell or smoke or anything. you all know how much outside noise makes it into the cab, so it's hard, when i'm moving to tell when the fan is kicking on, but it does drop when i turn the heat on. it goes up and down with it off, too tho, so i'm stuck... any ideas? bad something somewhere in the electrical system is my guess, but i don't know much about these things...
any help will be appreciated!
thanks!
-LJ
any help will be appreciated!
thanks!
-LJ
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: King William, VA
hey yea i know what u mean my 96 ranger does the same thing. I posted something like this about a couple days ago and the general consensus was that the thermostat would need to be replaced. Here is the thread link if u want it to see what other people said.
http://www.fordtrucks.com/forums/sho...hreadid=199334
http://www.fordtrucks.com/forums/sho...hreadid=199334
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 22
From: Tucson USA
check the temp sender connector before you go to trying to replace the t-stat. I had worked on the wires or something and the sender connector was loose doing what you are seeing.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 16
From: Connecticut
Good idea to check the temp sending unit connection, and replacing the T-Stat might also be in order.
There may even be some air in the system ...you should open the radiator cap when its cold in the morning, start the engine and watch to see if the coolant level goes down at all as the engine heats up, and if so, add more coolant etc. until its bubbling over and then replace the cap. Also check to see if/when the upper radiator hose gets warm and firm during this time.
Could also be a partial blockage in the sytem...when is the last time you back-flushed the cooling system and put in new coolant?
There may even be some air in the system ...you should open the radiator cap when its cold in the morning, start the engine and watch to see if the coolant level goes down at all as the engine heats up, and if so, add more coolant etc. until its bubbling over and then replace the cap. Also check to see if/when the upper radiator hose gets warm and firm during this time.
Could also be a partial blockage in the sytem...when is the last time you back-flushed the cooling system and put in new coolant?
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