Wiring or Temp sensor? 97 5.0

[Meriden]

Hi All,
Need some help. Our 97 Explorer 5.0 has been in use at our farm and recently the mice chewed through a couple of wires. It's giving me a Engine Temperature Sensor code, but it doesn't appear to be a wire to the temperature sensor. Anyone have any idea what this wire may go to? I am not finding any other loose end and the Chilton manual is not too helpful. I need to get this sorted out before I change the temperature sensor.
thanks

A wider view.

 

[J_C]

I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at because I don't have the 5.0L, but there should be two temp sensors right next to or pretty near each other, one for the ECM (aka "temp sensor") and one for the dash gauge (aka "temp sender"). The former has two wires, "maybe" light green/red and grey/red, might be in the intake manifold, and the latter temp sender, I'm guessing is the one I can see in the pic, red connector that's only supposed to have that one, red with white-stripe wire pictured.

 

[J_C]

It's a long shot, but on the pic below, I can tell that the left circled wire is severed, then does it go to (what might be) a wire in the second circle?

 

[410Fortune]

it does not go in that hole, no
the brown thing is your coolant temp sensor FOR THE DASH, it has a single wire going to it.

The wire they chewed through looks like it is headed for the other coolant temp sensor which is for the engines computer
Hence the code

Right under that coil pack you will see another coolant temp sensor

coil pack metal
"tripod" can be removed with 3ea 13mm nuts, and a 10 or 11mm nut on the side. then just pry the throttle cable bracket over
You can number the plug wires before you remove them so they go back on same positions


here you go a pic

here is 5.0 firing order/ wire locations in case you need

 

[1998Exp]

It's a long shot, but on the pic below, I can tell that the left circled wire is severed, then does it go to (what might be) a wire in the second circle?

View attachment 426909

JC is correct: the severed wires are for the ECM sensor. They should be gray/red and light green/red. The sensor itself is to the left, behind the thermostat. The orange-color sensor in the photo is the single-wire one for the gauge and its connection (red/white) appears intact.

 

[Meriden]

Thanks gentlemen. I'll be out at the farm next week and will pull the coil pack and then report back. I appreciate the insight.

m

 

[Meriden]

Quick update. Longer explanation.

Well, it looks like @410Fortune was spot on. Of course, the little buggers nesting under the hood chewed the wires flush with the connector. Small Town Auto Supply didn't have it, neither did NAPA, which is probably good, because I ordered one from the internet for $25 less. I just wait another week for it to get here. Getting the plug out was easy, just lift the "tripod" and I didn't need to remove a single nut either.

Longer explanation... I've generally turned my own wrenches since I was a teenager. A few years ago, the water pump went out and I twisted off a bolt trying to remove it. I had about 200k on the motor and needed to pull the motor to get it apart, so rather than put in an old motor I decided to put in a long block. At the time I was in the middle of an MBA and couldn't devote the time, so like an idiot I gave a local mechanic a chance to put in a rebuilt motor. After 10 days I went to pick it up and noticed the fan shroud was missing and some other parts loose. 5 days later, I come back to pick it up again and when I get it home find other parts lose on the motor. Back it went. After a couple of weeks back and forth, I took it home for good. Later I discovered they had not attached the wheel wells properly. This week I noticed they had set the "Tripod" for the coil pack on the studs but never put on the nuts. The truck runs fine most of the time, I just wish I had all of the fasteners they left off.

Any of you in Houston and looking for a repair shop, let me know and I'll tell you which one on Bissonette just inside the loop to avoid. BTW, these guys have 4.5 stars on Yelp, then again so did the local Taco Bell.

Thanks again.

m

 

[410Fortune]

Dang !!

This is exactly what I do
Shops stink which is why we diy

Glad you got it sorted out!

If you ever need 5.0
Parts just pm me

 

[Meriden]

Thanks again for the advice. With the new plug spliced in over the weekend the old girl is running like a champ. Now to keep those mice out of there.

 

[410Fortune]

there is a tape made by honda that stops them from chewing on wires

rodent tape for cars - Google Search

has peppers in it

 

[Meriden]

I'll give it a look. for $30 I'm trying a sonic device. They were also using the insulation under the hood to make a nest on top of the motor so I purchased some rodent repellant to spray on that. I may buy a roll of the tape to secure the plug I put in.

Amazon product ASIN B07LCKBGY8
Amazon product ASIN B01DTBOV06

 

[kdspapa]

If it ain't broke don't fix it! I decided to change out my thermostat and temp sensor even when they weren't broke. Now I'm getting a P0117 code and my air-conditioner blows hot air. I checked the wiring to the sensor and it shows just under 5V an the ground is good. My truck is a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer 5.0L AWD. I installed a Motorcraft sensor F7DZ-10884-AA and a new Motorcraft thermostat. Any suggestions?

 

[410Fortune]

First off why are you changing the temp sensor?

Did you know there are two? One for the dash gauge and one for the computer

The single wire unit (brown) is for the dash
The two wire sensor (grey) is for the computer

The code you are getting is for the computer one, you need to check your work and your wiring

For the thermostat the spring goes towards the engine and the weep hole points up. If you did that then you just need to burp the system, ensure the thermostat opens and that all trapped air makes its way to the overflow chamber and is replaced w coolant


The ac should not be effected by these repairs

 

[kdspapa]

First off why are you changing the temp sensor?

Did you know there are two? One for the dash gauge and one for the computer

The single wire unit (brown) is for the dash
The two wire sensor (grey) is for the computer

The code you are getting is for the computer one, you need to check your work and your wiring

For the thermostat the spring goes towards the engine and the weep hole points up. If you did that then you just need to burp the system, ensure the thermostat opens and that all trapped air makes its way to the overflow chamber and is replaced w coolant


The ac should not be effected by these repairs

Thanks for your input 410Fortune. I'm working on the correct temp sensor, back from the thermostat below the coil pack, but I did not know about the thermostat weep hole needed to be pointing up. I'll have to recheck the thermostat position. When I look up the correct temp sensor on the Ford Parts website, it shows two different sensors for the computer side. (9F7DZ-10884-AA) and (3F1Z12A648A). I am wondering if I'm installing the correct part or if it matters which one. I'll recheck my work. BTW, when I first bought this truck, I started changing out a lot of the sensors because I don't want a problem when I out in the back woods here in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks again.

 

[kdspapa]

Thanks for your input 410Fortune. I'm working on the correct temp sensor, back from the thermostat below the coil pack, but I did not know about the thermostat weep hole needed to be pointing up. I'll have to recheck the thermostat position. When I look up the correct temp sensor on the Ford Parts website, it shows two different sensors for the computer side. (9F7DZ-10884-AA) and (3F1Z12A648A). I am wondering if I'm installing the correct part or if it matters which one. I'll recheck my work. BTW, when I first bought this truck, I started changing out a lot of the sensors because I don't want a problem when I out in the back woods here in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks again.

I just reinstalled the thermostat and discovered that I had installed it with the weep hole straight up. Dumb luck! Refilled the radiator and burped it but still getting the P0117 code. I'll have to recheck the temp sensor installation and look for bad connections.

 

[kdspapa]

I just reinstalled the thermostat and discovered that I had installed it with the weep hole straight up. Dumb luck! Refilled the radiator and burped it but still getting the P0117 code. I'll have to recheck the temp sensor installation and look for bad connections.

Verified I installed the correct water temperature sensor (F7DZ-10884-AA) through Ford.

 

[410Fortune]

Ect circuit
Low Voltage detected

This is a very odd code, I mean you remove the wiring, Remove the old ect and install the new, plug in the wiring…. Now code

You must do a Visual inspection of the wiring and wiring plug you were just working with.
Since ford said you installed the correct sensor for your pcm something either went south when you did the install (pinched a wire, cut a wire, or pin backed out of connector) otherwise I would ohm the old ect and the new one and compare…..

After that check continuity from ect to the pcm connector

Let’s see what you find

 

[kdspapa]

Ect circuit
Low Voltage detected

This is a very odd code, I mean you remove the wiring, Remove the old ect and install the new, plug in the wiring…. Now code

You must do a Visual inspection of the wiring and wiring plug you were just working with.
Since ford said you installed the correct sensor for your pcm something either went south when you did the install (pinched a wire, cut a wire, or pin backed out of connector) otherwise I would ohm the old ect and the new one and compare…..

After that check continuity from ect to the pcm connector

Let’s see what you find

I purchased a new connector cable from Crimp Supply via Walmart for $12.00 but it won't arrive for a few days. I probably damaged the old connector when I tried to reinstall it. I didn't remove the coils or bracket and just tried to change the temp sensor by forcing my hand, and by using tools, in between the coil bracket and cross over tube. It was a bear. From then on I removed the one coil to get access. Live and learn.

 

[kdspapa]

I purchased a new connector cable from Crimp Supply via Walmart for $12.00 but it won't arrive for a few days. I probably damaged the old connector when I tried to reinstall it. I didn't remove the coils or bracket and just tried to change the temp sensor by forcing my hand, and by using tools, in between the coil bracket and cross over tube. It was a bear. From then on I removed the one coil to get access. Live and learn.

Damn! I stopped by another Ford Dealer Parts Department while I was in another town and the parts person told me the opposite part number (3F1Z12A648A) was the correct part. He told me he couldn't go back far enough to determine where the part gets installed. Looks like I really screwed up this time. In my neighborhood, tools aren't safe to leave out, not even for a minute, and while installing the sensor, I became hypoglycemic and scrambled to put all my tools away. I don't remember where I put the old part to compare it. If I can't find it, I'll have to buy the other part (3F1Z12A648A). My Bad.

 

[kdspapa]

Damn! I stopped by another Ford Dealer Parts Department while I was in another town and the parts person told me the opposite part number (3F1Z12A648A) was the correct part. He told me he couldn't go back far enough to determine where the part gets installed. Looks like I really screwed up this time. In my neighborhood, tools aren't safe to leave out, not even for a minute, and while installing the sensor, I became hypoglycemic and scrambled to put all my tools away. I don't remember where I put the old part to compare it. If I can't find it, I'll have to buy the other part (3F1Z12A648A). My Bad.

Apparently, because my VIN# has the P in it, it uses part #(3F1Z12A648A).