Aftermarket Temperature Gauge Sender

[b05622]

I was refered to your board by our chapter vice president on Ford Truck World. I have an '03 Ranger with the 4.0L engine. I was all set to back the stock temperature sender out, put in a T fitting, and screw everything back together. I found out tonight that the sender dosen't screw in, it clips into the plastic thermostat housing with a cotter pin. With this setup in mind, where would you put the sender? I thought about the heater supply hose, but it looks like there's a vacumn operated valve on the return side that would close off the heater core and stop water flow. Can I mount it where the engine block heater would go? And where is that?

I want the aftermarket gauge because I like having real numbers to see what's going on inside the engine. I looked at a bunch of the posts, that scan gauge tool is looking good, but I already have the gauges mounted on my A-pillar.

Thanks for the help.

 

[pinellas50]

Are you sure you are looking at the sender for the guage and not the sensor for the computer. I don't know anything about the '03 but all the older stuff I am familiar with uses 2 different coolant temp sensors that are located in different areas. One is used by the guage and the other by the computer only.

If you do have a second that is for the guage only(probably located elsewhere on the intake manifold, you could hook up at that hole but you would loose function of your in dash guage.

 

[b05622]

It is the gauge sender...

The two sensors (ECU and gauge) are right next to each other. Both have the setup using the clip and collar. I have the '03 factory service manual, so i'm sure I have the correct sender. Any ideas, anyone?