Temperature Gauge

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Dec 27, 2004 | 01:41 PM

taneum

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From: Black Hawk,SD

Temperature Gauge

I own a 1979 F250 Ranger 4x4. The temperature gauge goes up to the "L" on normal after the engine warms up and the needle just sits there in that position until I shut it off. No overheating out of the radiator cap is occuring. It does this in the summer and winter. The radiator is full of new fluid. Why does this happen?

Taneum

Dec 27, 2004 | 01:51 PM

73Custom

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From: SD

Do all the guages read high, or only the temp?

The guage works on a resistance through the sending unit. You could have a bad sending unit. Faulty wiring/poor connections. Or bad ground from engine to battery. Get a thermometer (or have a mechanic shop test it for a couple bucks) and see if the engine is in fact hot, or just the guage is off.

Marty

Dec 27, 2004 | 01:52 PM

taneum

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From: Black Hawk,SD

My other gauges look to be reading the way they should be. The temperature gauge is the only one that just reads high all the time once the engine warms up.

Dec 27, 2004 | 01:56 PM

SwOkcOffRoader

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From: okc

when i first got my truck,it had a 360 in it, it did that to me because the valve in the heater hose wasnt opening, normally that shouldnt cause any problems..but on mine it did, and when i removed the valve and replaced it with a flush tee...i had no problems after that.........

Dec 27, 2004 | 05:47 PM

Mil1ion

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The gauge needle getting to the L is normal for a 195* Thermostat.
Unless it goes over the normal range mark,don't worry about it.

You can watch for a very minute' movement in the needles as well