96 Ranger – coolant gauge stuck at low

[CGordon]

Hey Everyone!

I've been searching like crazy trying to find the cause of this, but it seems like there are a lot of heat related issues with this vehicle. So I can't seem to find anything related to my problem.

Here's what's going on.

Turn the truck on, the needle on the gauge stays at low, drive for a long period of time in hot weather, the needle barely moves. It's stays just above low the entire time. In fact I can't remember when the last time I've seen the needle reach the half way mark.

I'm wondering how bad this is, if it's a problem, and if it could be causing heat related problems, and if so how do I fix it?

Any idea/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd really like to see that gauge read half way one day. Please help.

Note: I feel like the gauge not working for what ever reason could be related to some of the heat related symptoms I'm seeing in my transmission (bare and cracked wires on the internal wiring harness).

 

[CGordon]

I should probably add that I've replaced the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. This didn't fix it.

Could it be the water thermostat that needs to be replaced?

I should probably test these components before replacing another good part that I can't return.

 

[RangerX]

I just had a similar problem. I pulled out the thermostat and it was stuck open. Put a new one in and my temp gauge is back in the center of the normal range.

 

[CGordon]

Thank for the response RangerX.

Most of the posts I found talked about the thermostat, so I might just throw a new one in there...

I just wish there was a way to test things out so I knew for sure that this part was the problem. Perhaps there is a way to test it's voltage?? Or ohms or something like that?

I read you could do a boiling test?

 

[CGordon]

Hey Everyone!

Something strange happened today. Normally when I'm driving for say 30 miles (my theory) is that the engine and or tranny gets too hot, so the o/d light starts flashing, which produces the following code.

P0761 - shift solenoid C performance or stuck off (this causes a 1-2 flare on upshift and hard down **** between 1-2 when stopping)

Now I'm not positive but I'm starting to think this is heat related since it comes on only after driving for a while and seems to be triggered sooner (less miles) the hotter the weather is outside. So yeah, the o/d light flashing is a regular occurrence, except for today.

Now get this. The only thing I did differently was run my heater a full blast a few time for 10mins or so during the hour drive. And to my shock, no flashing o/d light... AKA (my theory) the tranny fluid didn't get hot enough or something. I have no idea why but something was different after having put the heat on??? what the heck?

So this happening plus the fact that my coolant gauge (which moved a little bit further today, but still only half way to the halfway point) isn't working correctly, makes me think that there's a heat issue...

So even though I've never technically had the engine overheat, could one thing (possibly the thermostat being bad) really be causing all this?

Any other ideas or advice? Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do you have an IR gun to check the temperature? Could you connect an OBD-II scanner to monitor the temperature while you're driving? Did you adjust the bands? Metal expands when it gets hot, so if the band is out of adjustment, it will make the problem worse when it gets hot.

 

[CGordon]

My reader just died trying to update the firmware. Word of warning stay away from the INNOVA readers. They won't even replace it when all I did to kill it was try to update the software as the instructions said online.. Anyways I'm pissed.

I didn't adjust the bands, I wasn't sure if I should or not since the tranny was funning great other then the 1-2 flare after driving for a while in hot weather... Happened again this morning.

Here are the IR gun readings (in fahrenheit).
upper rad hose = 155
lower rad hose = 115
Tranny pan = 181
Oil Pan = 176
intake = 126
Exhaust man = 300
Head cover = 160
Rad cap = 114

So what do you guys think? Does all those temps sounds about right?

Thanks again for all your valuable time responding. Thanks!

 

[CGordon]

I should add that those reading were right after shutting the car off after a 45-50 min drive on the hwy.

Maybe I should have left it running for a better reading?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The readings are about right.

 

[CGordon]

I took some extra reading just to compare.

This time I left the truck on while taking the readings. I traveled about 50mins on the highway prior to the readings.

Pay special attention to the temp difference between the right and left exhaust manufolds. I've been feeling what I believe to be a miss in the engine. Lack of power and the smell of unburnt fuel or at least way more exhaust smell them I'm used to.

Also after checking the codes after my o/d light started flasing again randomly I got these back

P1443 Evaporative Emission System Control Valve (low/no flow)
P0401 - Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected
The code reader had some other IM indicators which were flashing (CAT, O2, HEATER)

Here are the readings
front of rad = 89
engin pan= 192
Tranny pan = 200
upper rad hose = 155
lower rad hose = 129
upper tranny hose to rad = 134
lower tranny hose to rad = 142
rad cap = 108
head cover = 173
exhaust man right = 568
exhaust man lft = 332
Intake - 134
Cat = 376

So I'm wondering is the exhaust manufold that's twice as hot as the other side is the side that doesn't have the miss. The cool side has the miss and isn't working as hard/hot.

What do you guys think? What does this all mean...? After i clear the codes they come back after I've been driving for a bit... sooner on a hot day.

So confusing. Please help. Thanks in advance!

 

[CGordon]

I should point out that I had a miss (if looking at the engine) on the right side of the engine, I took it and had 2 of the 3 valve and seats replaced/fixed. Didn't do anything to the left side of the engine. Do you think that only doing one side was bad? Could this cause the other side to wear faster, or maybe not reach the seat fully?

I should also mention that I have a whole in the muffler. Which might explain that one code? I have no idea.

Thanks everyone!