temperature sensor

[86ranger4x4owner]

My temperature guage isent workingon my 1988 2.9l ranger the needle is all the way down where do i need to start?

 

[4.0B2]

sending unit? wiring?
take the wire and ground it- and it should max out the temp gauge. if it does- its your sending unit probably. or maybe it is working but your thermostat is stuck open and its just not warming up lol, could always put the sensor in a pan of almost boiling water and see what it does.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

sending unit? wiring?
take the wire and ground it- and it should max out the temp gauge. if it does- its your sending unit probably. or maybe it is working but your thermostat is stuck open and its just not warming up lol, could always put the sensor in a pan of almost boiling water and see what it does.

where is sending unit located?

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

sending unit? wiring?
take the wire and ground it- and it should max out the temp gauge. if it does- its your sending unit probably. or maybe it is working but your thermostat is stuck open and its just not warming up lol, could always put the sensor in a pan of almost boiling water and see what it does.

and your saying disconnect the wir going to the sending unit? and get a wire and ground it somewhere and the temp guage should go all the way up?

 

[4.0B2]

Yes. That's what im saying. and yes the sensor is below the throttle body in the thermostat area, a single wire hooked to it. looks like

And i replied to the PM also.

I'll go check on the other question to make sure what lights up. But I know my check oil light doesn't come on unless it's low of oil.

edit: i checked. when i turn my key on, all that lights up is the check engine light and battery light. then when i crank it, all the lights go out. but like i said in the mPM i may not have the bulb in the brake light area.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

Yes. That's what im saying. and yes the sensor is below the throttle body in the thermostat area, a single wire hooked to it. looks like

And i replied to the PM also.

I'll go check on the other question to make sure what lights up. But I know my check oil light doesn't come on unless it's low of oil.

edit: i checked. when i turn my key on, all that lights up is the check engine light and battery light. then when i crank it, all the lights go out. but like i said in the mPM i may not have the bulb in the brake light area.

the coolant temperature sensor shouldnt be around that area should it?

 

[4.0B2]

coolant temp sensor looks like this
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=147389_0_0_

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

coolant temp sensor looks like this
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=147389_0_0_

I think it has been taking out and i cant get into my dash so i cant trace the wire where is the wire for it?and it has a aftermarket temp guage with one wire that doesnt work thats why i was trying to hook the orginal up

 

[4.0B2]

um idk about all that now... lol

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

um idk about all that now... lol

all i got is two sensor looking things in my thermostat housing one has two electrical wires with a plugin and th other goes to my aftermarket temp guage which wont work.Can someone show me a picture of the exact place of the stock temp sending unit on a 1988 2.9l

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

i think i may have found the wire i found a little wire with a L shaped rubber boot on it and it is a little wire and i found it near the aftermarket temp sending unit

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

um idk about all that now... lol

Ok i found the right wire the guy that had the truck before me just threw out the sending unit and hooked the other guage up i got a wire and grounded it like you said and the temp guage went up so am just going to get a new sending unit.but what could be wrong with the aftermarket guage? the wire is not messed up its more like a cable and its in the spot where the stock temp guage thing is and it doesnt tell the temp?could it be the guage or the sending unit on it?

 

[dave2575]

The aftermarket gauge has a thick cable because it is actually a hose, kinda, it is filled with a fluid and if it is worn, pinched, or cut the gauge wont work. but like you said if it is not messed up then it must be the gauge . get the sending unit and hook up the stock unit for now, but I suggest getting a new aftermarket gauge when you can, they are way more accurate and reliable for sure.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

The aftermarket gauge has a thick cable because it is actually a hose, kinda, it is filled with a fluid and if it is worn, pinched, or cut the gauge wont work. but like you said if it is not messed up then it must be the gauge . get the sending unit and hook up the stock unit for now, but I suggest getting a new aftermarket gauge when you can, they are way more accurate and reliable for sure.

ok i got the stock sending unit and am going to hook it up for now am going take a good look at the wire if it is pinched can i just unpinch it and will it work?

 

[dave2575]

If it is pinched then you can try to straighten it, and then check that the cable is not cut open or crimped were it was pinched. If it is crimped or cut open then the gauge is no good, you can not replace the cable. Think of it as a garden hose under pressure, if the hose bursts open you get no pressure to the nozzle. If you have it out you can try putting the probe at the end of the cable in a pot and heat up some water to see if the needle moves. let us know what you find out and good luck.