temp lite problem

[jammert609@yahoo.com]

I pulled the ranger out of the barn today to drive it while i fix my other truck its not street legal. I was driving the ranger an noticed the tempature lite on the dash kept flickerin i tapd the gas it turnd off then went to slow down an it came back on, I have checked the fan an the water in the raditior everything is fine,if thats the problem would it hurt anything to drive about 5 miles or so. Could it be a short in the wires somewhere? the truck runs cool an thats one way i knowits not overheating but i have no clue why the light keeps doin this.sorry if dont make any sence I am in a hurry to fix if can be fixed. help will be appreciated.

 

[mn_smokeater]

so you have no gauge that gives you the temp just the warning light?

could be a short but im not sure.

 

[jammert609@yahoo.com]

justd a warning light it all it has, it might be a short..

 

[det107]

I recall a warning light instead of a gauge. I think they suck due to NOT knowing the water temperature is rising. By the time the warning light comes on, people are saying "Thar she blows"-

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

The wire for the temp sender probably fell/got knocked off and is grounding itself intermittently somewhere on or around the engine. When it grounds, this will cause the light to come on. My 84 also had idiot lights for everything until I put aftermarket gauges in. Also, my 86 LTD had only ONE idiot light that just said "Engine" for everything (temp,oil pressure, codes etc) talk about being in the dark! I didn't know the water pump had gone bad while driving one day, and the light waited till there was basically no water in it to come on! I'm surprised it didn't crack the heads or at least blow the head gaskets.

Josh

 

[RatDog8o8]

Yeah, sounds like a loose-wire short to me.

That's what I love about warning lights. They exist mainly to add insult to injury...coming on after the problem has manifested itself.

 

[Mac]

At least Ford has improved a bit. Even with full gauges, which people don't always keep track of, they have a warning light that comes on to tell you to check gages. Think the guys have given some good advice on a loose wire or bad connection. Hope it's that easy.
Dave of the Nord

 

[bilzy7]

Nothing like a nice mystery... Just grab your John handcock and plug away!!

 

[jammert609@yahoo.com]

Found the problem short in the wire from the thermostat to the check light, I am planing on selling it to fix my other truck up if anyones in need of 2.8 parts or body parts drop a meg on here, if it dont sell i am taking the money i spent on it off an selling sepretly an scraping the rest of the truck. Like i said in one of my other posts hate to see another ford going to waste but youve gotta do what you got to do