temperature gauge failed

[farmtruckman]

On my 95 XLT, temperature gauge doesn't work. Assuming the ECT sensor might have failed. Am I looking in the right area. I have a 4.0L OHV motor and according to the Haynes manual, sensor and gauge sender are right near each other. Again, I am assuming that sender is bad since gauges usually don't go bad. Gauge seems to be in the "all of the way off" position, not even registering into the temperature field.

Any suggestions? or anyone experienced this before?

 

[96eb96]

On my 95 XLT, temperature gauge doesn't work. Assuming the ECT sensor might have failed. Am I looking in the right area. I have a 4.0L OHV motor and according to the Haynes manual, sensor and gauge sender are right near each other. Again, I am assuming that sender is bad since gauges usually don't go bad. Gauge seems to be in the "all of the way off" position, not even registering into the temperature field.

Any suggestions? or anyone experienced this before?

The ECT sensor has nothing to do with the gauge. It has a two wire harness.

Here is how you troubleshoot...

The gauge sender has a single wire on it and is above the thermostat. Remove the wire and momentarily ground it to the engine body while in run. If that pins the temp gauge on the dash the gauge is fine, and the sender or thermostat is bad.

Next see if the car actually warms up. You can either scan the computer or feel the upper hose. That tests the thermostat.

The next step is to replace the temperature sender or stat. I strongly suggest replacing the thermostat no matter what. Be sure to use a motocraft stat or one with a bleed hole. Both of these items are known to fail on that engine.