2.3L ('83-'97) Coolant Temp Sensor Location

[opijmee]

1988 2.3 2wd no a/c
Hello, as the title says I'd like to know where to find the coolant temp sensor on the truck.

My truck has been doing some pretty weird stuff recently (too much to explain here right now) but I brought it to a shop that a friend of mines works at. One of the guys there said that it could be the coolant temp sensor being bad and causing the engine to run rough. The only problem is that I'm really not sure where its located and their shop is too busy to take on my car. I vaguely remember where the coolant sender is located since I replaced it a few years back but I don't know where the sensor is.

Some pictures would be ideal but any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I believe it is in the intake manifold between the #1 and #2 runners kinda by the fuel rail, I'll attempt to look at my '90 tonight (has an '85 engine in it, should be the same intake)

 

[opijmee]

Thanks for the reply, I'll poke around there when I get the chance. And yeah let me know how it looks on yours.

 

[RobbieD]

Some pictures would be ideal but any help would be appreciated, thanks.

From the 1988 EVTM; I edited the circles for you:

 

[opijmee]

Very useful, thank you

 

[scotts90ranger]

I bet that's right, there's a coolant passage in the middle of the lower intake so it would make sense for the sensor to be in the middle, I haven't looked yet, should be obvious, only thing not a fuel injector with two wires in that area...

 

[scotts90ranger]

I just went and looked at my '90 and I was right on mine (between 1 and 2 runners), not to say Ford didn't move things around slightly...

 

[RobbieD]

not to say Ford didn't move things around slightly...

Mama used to say . . . that a Ford was just like a box of chocolates.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Mama used to say . . . that a Ford was just like a box of chocolates.

Yeah, something like that... they could never leave anything well enough alone... fairly extensive wiring/dash wire changes for '89, why not change the chassis wiring for '90? LOL, back when I did my 4x4 swap and didn't know much that was fun...

 

[opijmee]

Thanks for the help guys, I'll take a look this weekend and update, just in case someone else with my specific year/engine needs help with it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I finally looked at my spare '87/88 engine (don't know, has E7 on some stuff but that just means either one most likely) and the ECT is in the center of the intake just like the diagram above, apparently the Ranger and turbo manifolds are different...

 

[opijmee]

Good to know. Man with I had spare ranger engines lying around lol

 

[scotts90ranger]

It came with my '97, yes I know not nearly compatible but why the heck would I say no to a free engine with a $450 Ranger? , some day I'll build it up as a spare turbo engine...

 

[opijmee]

Just wanted to update and say that my sensor was indeed just like where the diagram pointed.