help with temp guage
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
help with temp guage
87 ranger 2.3
my temp guage seems to work.. kinda..
it goes from all the way down, to up to the low line line
like if your cars off, the gas guage is all the way down. if your on e, when you turn on the battery, the guage goes up to e
well this is what the temp guage does as the car heats up. only it stops at the low line.
i know im getting coolant flow, because the low hose is cool, the upper hose is hot and firm, and its not overheating..
now, there is a massive air leak in the exhaust manifold, and its blowing ALOT of air onto the motor, and this might be helping to keep it running a little cool, but i dunno about it barely registering on the meter...
i did get a new thermostat, but want to wait until i can get new hoses and clamps to replace everything at once.
any idea of where to start troubleshooting?
my temp guage seems to work.. kinda..
it goes from all the way down, to up to the low line line
like if your cars off, the gas guage is all the way down. if your on e, when you turn on the battery, the guage goes up to e
well this is what the temp guage does as the car heats up. only it stops at the low line.
i know im getting coolant flow, because the low hose is cool, the upper hose is hot and firm, and its not overheating..
now, there is a massive air leak in the exhaust manifold, and its blowing ALOT of air onto the motor, and this might be helping to keep it running a little cool, but i dunno about it barely registering on the meter...
i did get a new thermostat, but want to wait until i can get new hoses and clamps to replace everything at once.
any idea of where to start troubleshooting?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Check the reading on the sensor when it's cold then warm up the motor then put the Volt ohm meter on it see what it reads. They are only thermoresistors and they do sometimes lose their range. If it shows open on your VOM (no resistance) when its warm or doesn't change much. I would replace it!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw Ga
The sensor is located ON or NEAR the thermostat housing. Takes temp right before the Thermo. Take it out clean it. Put it back in if its still not reading. Replace sensor. If that does not work you have a short. IF you had a short in the wiring the guage would not move at all.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw Ga
for the massive air leak problem. That would not cause the temp guage to read that low. I know temps here have been 94+ for the past 3 weeks and my truck heats up quick but stays about .5 inch from the mid temp range on the guage.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw Ga
no problem the sensor does not last forever. When you locate it and if you have the funds pick one up Its worth the money. Some of theses sensors last forever but your truck is 20 years old. The sensor might have just givin up. Since you stated the guage does register some. I am thinking the sensor is just not sending out enough juice anymore. Fix that airleak in though you are loosing some valuable MPG when gas is over $2.70 a gallon.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw Ga
Oh just for reference. The sensor is usually a 9/16ths wrech if i am correct and has a 2 pin connector on it and is rite before the upper radiator house input on the thermo housing.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
BTW, when you replace you coolant, I strongly recommend that you use only RO or distilled water. The leading cause of cooling system failure is scale deposits messing up the system. If you do not have a cost effective source for purified water, use premixed antifreeze. It may seem overpriced, but it is convenient, and it is a lot cheaper than a water pump or a headjob.