2.3L ('83-'97) Heat guage

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Ok. So. Your problem is overheating. Does the temperature gage just go to hot, or are there other symptoms?

Have you tried anything or done any specific things that seemed to make an improvement?

 

[Jojo5769]

Gauge goes close to hot! I've changed the thermostat, coolant sensor, temp sending unit, flushed everything, now a fan clutch in which I didn't need. Runs ok but gauge goes to hot. Nothing has helped

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Ok.

Just trying to understand better.


If there's no other symptoms, then is it actually overheating?

You say you have a dash wiring issue as well?

 

[Jojo5769]

Has once. Blew the heater core valve and replaced that too. Just goes to hot even idling in a drive thru. Yes my positive to my lighter keeps sparking when I connect it and blows fuse

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Ok.

So.

This is sounding more and more like a dash or sensor wiring issue.

Do you have signs of rodents in your truck?

 

[Jojo5769]

No rodents. Wiring issue will make the gauge hot?

 

[Jojo5769]

Changed the dash already. It's not that.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

In all likelihood, it is.

But, please see my signature.









I'll give ya tree fiddly for it.

 

[Jojo5769]

See your signature? Ty. I'll start tracing wires

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Good on.

If i had to guess, your truck is not overheating. You dont seem to have any other symptoms like boil over, oil and coolant mixture, etc. To me, that suggests problem is with the gage in the cab, and that cooling system is fine.


Your dash temp sensor is likely a one wire sensor. An interruption in grounding between the engine, frame, battery, and chassis will disrupt the readings.

Grounding issues are common on rangers.

However, a fuse blows when something causes an overload condition.

So, my best guess is something qith witing or charging system. Wouldn't be a bad idea to test grounds.

Don't buy parts yet. Let's do some diagnostics.

 

[Jojo5769]

I put a new temp sending unit on for the dash that connects to 1 wire. I'll tighten grounds first and see if that helps. Overload by using the same wire for other things or positive is sending too much power?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

This is where having someone like @adsm08 or @RonD helps. Theyre better at this than I am. I'll do the best I can.

So. Describe what leads up to the sparking cigarette lighter? Nothing plugged into it and sparks when connected? Or is disconnected and just blows fuses when you hook it up?

Hows your battery terminals looking? Battery and alternator health?

Blowing a fuse is a sign of a short. Almost sounds like you have a few things power wise shorting to ground.

Background noise in radio? Any other weird electrical stuff going on?







Sounding like you have gremlins.

Gremlins suck.

 

[Jojo5769]

Yeah it Sparks and blows the fuse. Nothing else is hooked up. Also battery and alternator are good.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Have you checked resistance across grounds?

Stuff like this requires a lot of time with a meter looking for anomalies, unfortunately.

 

[Jojo5769]

I know. I'll check on my day off