Turns out my previous post was the thermostat. It throws out hot air now. But the temp guage still won't move. That it would require more diagnostic problem solving. I didn't have enough money at the time to fix that. Any ideas on why the guage won't function? Some type of sending unit? thanks, Bruce
I'll try to remember to look it up later but there are some wires going to the thermostat housing (or very nearby) that probably go to the temperature sensor. Perhaps they are damaged.
My Hayne's Manual says the Coolant Temperature Sensor is "under the throttle body" on the 4.0 V6. There's nothing about it in the index so this is what the wiring diagram says ('95, no diagram for '96): A LT GRN/RED wire goes to PIN 7 on the Control Module. The other wire is GRY/RED and it goes to pin
46 on the Control Module which seems to be a common connection. I don't see any fuses for the sensor or gauge. I'm not finding any info on troubleshooting the Temp gauge, just how to remove the instrument panel. I seem to recall a discussion about the Temp gauge at
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but it was a while back. If you can't find it you could always ask again. They have a pretty good Explorer forum.
This engine/year has two temperature senders... the temp "sensor" is for the PCM only and does have two wires... The temp "sender" is for the temperature gauge only and has one wire...
I had to change my temp gage a while back and this is how I diagnosed the problem.... Test the temperature sender unit by disconnecting the wire from the sender and grounding the wire. Then turn ignition on and watch the temp gage. If the sender is good, the temp reading will be pegged at max. If gage does not peg, then the temp gage in the instrument cluster is probably bad. If the gage pegs, then the sender is bad.
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