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My dad has an 03 F250 with a 5.4. When he lets it idle (like in a fast food drive thru) the temp guage will climb, dash light will come on, and it will start shutting down cylinders (just like it is supposed to when it gets hot). BUT, it's not hot. If he shuts it off, and immediately starts it back up, it is fine.
He took it to the local Ford dealer, and they put a new temp. sender (the one in the head) and a new wiring pigtail, but that didn't fix it. After calling the dealership back, the mechanic acted like he didn't know what else it could be.