Help pls

[tonyt72567]

Hey guys. I have a 2000 explorer with 5.0. The truck has been sitting for a few months. I crank her up and the water pump was leaking. I replaced the pump and thermostat now I have no heat and its trying to run hot. Any ideas? I also had to change the fuel pump and filter and strainer. As soon as I fired it up its now reading over a full tank of gas when I know it only has a quarter of a tank in it. Did I do something wrong? I'm at a loss and I need this thing running asap.

 

[MAS Tequila]

Sounds like the tstat is in upside down or the wrong one.

Check to make sure you didn't reverse the wires on the fuel level sending unit.

MT

 

[tonyt72567]

I didn't know there was an up side to a thermostat.

 

[koda2000]

I didn't know there was an up side to a thermostat.

on the 5.0L the pointy end of the thermostat goes toward the radiator.

as far as your fuel gauge, did you change just the pump or the complete assembly? the fuel gauge works off the float on the assembly. it's connected to a rheostat that varies the OHMs resistance for the gauge. if you bent the float arm or damaged the rheostat the gauge will not work correctly. unless you cut wires when replacing the fuel pump, there's no chance you wired it incorrectly. even splicing the wires wrong for the pump shouldn't effect the fuel change.

 

[tonyt72567]

What is the rheostat? I only replaced the pump. However there is a piece on the top of the tank that has a wiring connector hooked to it and it was broke. Could that be the problem?