96 ranger temp gauge moves little

[camshaft08]

i just bought a 96 ford ranger 2wd with a 2.3 5 speed and the temp gauges move alittle on the c i replaced both sensors and still nothing so i went and tried to get ohms reading from the power wire to the sensor and there is no ohms help please

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The 1 wire sender is for the guage with the key on short the wire to the sender to ground and the guage should read hot. If not you have a problem in the wire or guage. How cold is it outside and is your heater working good? You may need to put some cardboard in front of the radiator for the engine to fully warm up?

 

[camshaft08]

i have code po117 for low voltage to ect and i have replaced pcm and still nothing

 

[Spott]

i have code po117 for low voltage to ect and i have replaced pcm and still nothing

Maybe you have a low voltage to the ECT, like it says?

That might be caused by a bad wire or connector, or a bad voltage regulator supplying the sensors.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

You should have about 5 volts reference voltage to the ect from the computer if not you have a wire issue if the pcm is putting out 5 volts to the other senders

 

[Big Jim M]

The thermostat in a gasoline engine is what makes the heater hot! I would NEVER advise cardboard for added heat in a gasoline engine. If the engine doesn't get to 195* then change the thermostat and forget about cardboard!

If the heater is working as it should then you have a problem with the sender, the wiring or the gauge itself. If the heater isn't working as it should then change the thermostat!

Big Jim

 

[camshaft08]

i have no volts from the pcm to the ect

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Did you check a couple other sensers, TPS or MAF if applicable and your testing with the key on run?

 

[camshaft08]

not yet but would them make a diffrence since the main wire from the pcm goes straight to the ect

 

[camshaft08]

i have no volts on the grey with red strip wire on the tps or air valve or the ect

 

[kimcrwbr1]

sounds like a bad wire or connector at the computer. sometimes the wire will pop out of the connector at the computer take a jewelers screwdriver and push all of the wires in the computer connector I doubt two computers have the same problem.

 

[drew.hinds10]

I had the same issue with my 93 3.0l. In my case the thermostat was stuck open so it wasn't able to build heat. Try putting a new thermostat in. they are usually under $10 and they're fairly easy to diy. Mine only took 30 minutes.