Temp gauge always cool
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 87
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Temp gauge always cool
The temp gauge on my '90 F250 4x w/460, auto almost always reads low... the needle doesnt ever reach 'normal'... the only time it even looks like its reading normal is when i'm towing in Arizona in the middle of summer!
I guess there is probably a few things i should check, but does anybody know of a common problem? Where should i start first so as not to spend unneccesary time and money. Thanks!
I guess there is probably a few things i should check, but does anybody know of a common problem? Where should i start first so as not to spend unneccesary time and money. Thanks!
New User
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Temp gauge always cool
I have known people with this particular situation. Also experienced it once myself.
In a couple of the situations, a new thermostat did the trick. But in my case, and some others, even mechanics could not get the gauge to go up.
One case I know of it was the gauge itself.
My 89 f-150 had good heat, but I could never get it figured out about why the gauge would not go up to normal. I was told not to worry about it. I had the truck a long time and that was the only problem with it.
So you could try to replace the thermostat, it would not cost that much. But if everything else is working ok, I wouldn't worry about it. I know the gauge should read normal, but like the guy at Ford told me, "they don't always read like they should."
In a couple of the situations, a new thermostat did the trick. But in my case, and some others, even mechanics could not get the gauge to go up.
One case I know of it was the gauge itself.
My 89 f-150 had good heat, but I could never get it figured out about why the gauge would not go up to normal. I was told not to worry about it. I had the truck a long time and that was the only problem with it.
So you could try to replace the thermostat, it would not cost that much. But if everything else is working ok, I wouldn't worry about it. I know the gauge should read normal, but like the guy at Ford told me, "they don't always read like they should."
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
Temp gauge always cool
My '91 always reads low, too, even on those 105-degree days we have here in Houston.
Well, almost always, anyway. I have heated it up to approximately the halfway point, pulling a 6,000-lb. trailer up a mountain side in 100-degree weather.
The moral of this story is: It is probably running right here it supposed to be, i.e., indicating low. If it goes off that usual mark, you're running hot.
I do agree with the post above, real guages should be supplied.
Ed
Well, almost always, anyway. I have heated it up to approximately the halfway point, pulling a 6,000-lb. trailer up a mountain side in 100-degree weather.
The moral of this story is: It is probably running right here it supposed to be, i.e., indicating low. If it goes off that usual mark, you're running hot.
I do agree with the post above, real guages should be supplied.
Ed
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
Temp gauge always cool
I have an 89 F150 w/302. I had the same problem when I first got my truck. It turned out to be a bad sender to the gauge. I replaced the sender($3.95) and cured the problem. It now reads in the normal range.
Fire23
Fire23
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 343
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Temp gauge always cool
It's the right address. Just cut and paste it without the extra garbage on the end.
Try this one.
[link:ford-trucks.com/dcforum/80_96/784.html|88 High idle]
That should work.
Randy
Try this one.
[link:ford-trucks.com/dcforum/80_96/784.html|88 High idle]
That should work.
Randy
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