Can anyone help me out? I have a 96 F150 5.0 auto, and the temp gauge was intermittent for a while but now appears to be gone forever. I've changed the small sensor on the intake ( the one with the threaded stud out the top ) but the gauge still doesn't work. Was the sensor I changed the one for the gauge or for the idiot light? I noticed there is another sensor above the thermostat housing with a plastic two wire connector on it, is that the one for the gauge? Can the factory gauge in the dash be fixed or is that a calling for a new instrument cluster? Please help!!

 

IF the guage needs replacing, only the temp gauge will need to be replaced. Not the whole instrument cluster.

 

I think you changed the wrong sending unit / sensor ? The temp gauge wire should be a single wire connector & the sending unit threaded into one of the heads ( I think ) ? Its been awhile since Ive replaced one , Im sure one of the others can tell you exactly where its located .

 

>Can anyone help me out?
>I have a 96 F150
>5.0 auto, and the temp
>gauge was intermittent for a
>while but now appears to
>be gone forever. I've
>changed the small sensor on
>the intake ( the one
>with the threaded stud out
>the top ) but the
>gauge still doesn't work.
>Was the sensor I changed
>the one for the gauge
>or for the idiot light?
> I noticed there is
>another sensor above the thermostat
>housing with a plastic two
>wire connector on it, is
>that the one for the
>gauge? Can the factory
>gauge in the dash be
>fixed or is that a
>calling for a new instrument
>cluster? Please help!!

The sensor/sender you changed was for the temperature gauge. The other one you mentioned is the ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) sensor and has nothing to do with the temperature gauge. The ECT feeds the coolant temp to the computer so the computer knows when the engine is warmed up and adjusts the fuel rate accordingly. There could be a break in the temperature gauge wiring somewhere making the gauge read zero. I disconnected my temp gauge wire from the sender when I added an aftermarket temp gauge and now the factory temp gauge reads zero all the time. Don't worry about any drivability problems being related to the temp gauge- the computer has nothing to do with it. You might want to consider installing an aftermarket temp gauge (either mechanical or electrical) because the factory gauges aren't all that accurate anyways.

Dustin Siebert
mrlaserboy(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
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Thanks for all the help about this gauge. I think I'll check with my buddy at the local dealer's parts counter and ask about a replacement gauge for the instrument cluster OR just go buy an aftermarket gauge.