Temp Gauge Problems

[BergundyBaby]

Hey everyone. A very quick question. Yesterday evening, after driving for about 4 hours. All of the sudden, my Explorer started to run hot. It would shoot up to a high temperature all of the sudden, and then randomly shoot back down to almost normal. Checked and the fluid in my explorer was in fine condition so far as I could tell, so do you think this sounds like a Bad Thermostat? And if so, is the thermostat on a 2000 Ford Explorer V6 hard to replace? And are there any links or places I could look to find out? Thanks alot,

Ryan Christy

 

[boominXplorer]

yeah that sounds like a sticking thermastat. From what i rememeber it shouldn't be hard to do. You might want to go to an auto parts store, buy a thermastat and while your there get a haynes manual for your truck and it will guide you right through

 

[F14CRAZY]

Was the engine getting physically hot? If not, may be a temperature sensor.

My truck seems to be doing it. When I started it and sat idle for a few minutes 2 days ago, I watched the gauge (this is a '92, mind you) go up to the last L on NORMAL. I popped open the hood, and the fan was still blowing cold air.

 

[griggs]

Sounds like a thermostat. Just changed one in a 99 SOHC V6 last week same problem. Best method to verify engine temp is with a OBD2 scanner that sends back engine temp = ECT
Cheers - Jerry