fastpitchfan
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2007
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Manual
Here’s a hard one. I have a 94 Ranger Super Cab, 5-speed, with a 4.0L engine, 120k miles. Up until two weeks ago, temp gauge always sat below the left side of the normal range. The heater/defroster was lukewarm, at best, but I thought that was normal.
Two weeks ago, I noticed the temp gauge was between the N/O and randomly would slowly rise to between the A/L, stop momentarily, then drop to N/O. During this time, the heater got warmer, so I assumed the coolant temp was higher. Here’s what happened next.
1. Took it to the shop and the thermostat was replaced and coolant flushed. Picked it up and on the way home, the gauge did the same thing and heater was warmer than normal.
2. Took it back and was told the radiator was clogged. Radiator, top/bottom hoses and thermostat (again) were replaced. Picked it up and gauge did the same thing and heater still got warmer than normal.
3. I checked online and found posts that mentioned a faulty temp sending unit. Went to dealer, bought a new temp sending unit and installed it myself. Gauge did the same thing and heater still got warmer than normal.
4. Had a friend look at it and he noticed the fan was cracked in several places between the blades where it mounts to the metal part. Took it to the shop and asked to have the fan replaced. Was told I should replace the fan clutch at the same time. I asked them to install an aftermarket temp gauge I bought at Advance Auto, while it was in the shop.
Here’s where it stands now. The standard dash temp gauge is disconnected. The new temp gauge reads about 120 degrees. The heater is back to blowing lukewarm air and that’s after driving at highway speed for 20 – 30 minutes. Here’s my questions:
Is a new fan and fan clutch all I needed? Is 120 degrees a normal operating temperature? Can I do something to get warmer air back without running in a hotter temp range? Or, should I just be happy with a cooler running engine, a new temp gauge and lukewarm heater/defroster?
Two weeks ago, I noticed the temp gauge was between the N/O and randomly would slowly rise to between the A/L, stop momentarily, then drop to N/O. During this time, the heater got warmer, so I assumed the coolant temp was higher. Here’s what happened next.
1. Took it to the shop and the thermostat was replaced and coolant flushed. Picked it up and on the way home, the gauge did the same thing and heater was warmer than normal.
2. Took it back and was told the radiator was clogged. Radiator, top/bottom hoses and thermostat (again) were replaced. Picked it up and gauge did the same thing and heater still got warmer than normal.
3. I checked online and found posts that mentioned a faulty temp sending unit. Went to dealer, bought a new temp sending unit and installed it myself. Gauge did the same thing and heater still got warmer than normal.
4. Had a friend look at it and he noticed the fan was cracked in several places between the blades where it mounts to the metal part. Took it to the shop and asked to have the fan replaced. Was told I should replace the fan clutch at the same time. I asked them to install an aftermarket temp gauge I bought at Advance Auto, while it was in the shop.
Here’s where it stands now. The standard dash temp gauge is disconnected. The new temp gauge reads about 120 degrees. The heater is back to blowing lukewarm air and that’s after driving at highway speed for 20 – 30 minutes. Here’s my questions:
Is a new fan and fan clutch all I needed? Is 120 degrees a normal operating temperature? Can I do something to get warmer air back without running in a hotter temp range? Or, should I just be happy with a cooler running engine, a new temp gauge and lukewarm heater/defroster?