temp. gauge wont go back down

[96rangermike]

i just recently bought a 96 ranger the guy that had it before me had replaced the cluster panel out of an explorer. any way when truck is cold the temp. gauge starts out about half way up then graudally moves up as temp. rises in motor. what would make it do this? and is there anyway to fix it cause when it does get to normal temp look like it almost running hot when it really not. thanks

 

[Mark_88]

You may have a loose wire on the sending unit...find it and wiggle it around to see if the gauge drops...should be near the back on the driver's side...behind the intake or just below it...but I'm not familiar with the 96 so I'm guessing...

 

[Earl43P]

Sounds like the temp indicator needle was removed and put back on wrong.

 

[purple people eater]

ive got the same problem on my 96 ranger too, execpt my truck runs at cold all the time...even after the engines hot...since ive owned it i havent seen that gauge move from cold