Coolant temperature sensor location for replacement?

Tiny
JFIRTH
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD F-150
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 22,200 MILES
Does my truck have a coolant temperature sensor?
Do you
have the same problem?
Yes
No
Thursday, April 12th, 2018 AT 12:53 AM

50 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning.

It is located on the driver side head at the front by the alternator under the intake manifold. Here are both location in the diagrams below it is a two wire sensor that just screws into a coolant passage. The diagrams and instructions below to show you how on your car. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+3
Thursday, April 12th, 2018 AT 3:57 AM
Tiny
BOBCAT9095
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD F-150
Where is the coolant sensor located? It is a 5.4 engine. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+5
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,553 POSTS
Hello,

The engine coolant sensor is located near the front of the engine on the drivers side. Here is a guide that will give you an idea on what you are in for when doing the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Here is the diagram (BELOW)

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+10
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JRFINDS
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD F-150
  • 4.2L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 9,798,700 MILES
I need to find the location ECT on a 2004 ford f 150 xl Heritage v6. I read on 05 and up there 2 ECT. I keep looking up ECT, all I find is V8 engines locations, I need location for the ECT 4.2L V6 and is there 2 ECT for this V6? If possible can I get a picture of the location or image. Thank you for your time.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,293 POSTS
Hello. I'm Harry. I've dug around and I think I've figured out the source of the confusion. Ford calls it a Cylinder Head Temperature Sensor while AllData goes back and forth between that name and the more generic Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. That seems to make it appear that there are 2 such sensors. What I've uncovered is that there is just the one sensor. I'm including the requested information in the attached images.

Hopefully that should shed light on what you're trying to do. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JRFINDS
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
This is for the 2004 Ford 4 Doors f-150 heritage xl 4.2l V6, The first image is 05 right and the second image I believe is the 04 right. I just wanted to Thank you for helping so fast. That's sensor is on the driver side right.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JRFINDS
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
Just check my truck. Thank you again I got it now!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,293 POSTS
Hello again. Sorry about that. Guess I clicked the wrong year and didn't catch it. Good news though it's that the information does still apply. I looked up the 2004 truck and am attaching the info in case someone else needs it and comes across this thread.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BENSTER30
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD F-150
Need to find the location of the temp sending unit. My check engine light is on due to this sender not functioning correctly. 2004 f150 new style and mine is on the front of the engine block on the bottom. Seems like mine is a 2004 1/2. Like to have never found it and they kept trying to sell me the wrong one. It is smaller than the parts house tried to sell me. It is underneath, bind radiator on front of block.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,553 POSTS
Hello,

The coolant temperature or cylinder head temperature sensor is located near the rear of the engine, Here are some diagrams (below) that will show you where they are.

This guide will help you see what you are in for when doing the job step by step.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

IMAGES OF THE SENSOR LOCATIONS CLICK BELOW. Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+14
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JORGE FUENTES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
I need the location of the temperature sensor. The truck only has one mechanical fan cooling.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
It uses the info from the main temp sensor called the Cylinder Head Temp sensor and gets the data from the PCM.

https://www.2carpros.com/images/external/111932279.gif
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THOMAS.VIGIL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 109,000 MILES
I can't find the Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) on my truck listed above. I know where the Cylinder Head Sensor (CHS) is and all the information I have found is not distinguishing the difference between the two sensors. Does this truck actually have a coolant temperature sensor or sending unit that controls the coolant temperature or is something else controlling the coolant temperature gauge?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

The cylinder head temperature sensor is for the gauge. I attached the procedure and an explanation for you of the sensor and what it controls.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-coolant-temperature-sensor-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WASHGUY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • 157,000 MILES
Computer said my coolant temperature sensor was bad. I purchased one. Have looked at many diagrams for location. I removed alternator and took out sensor behind thermostat housing and below about a foot towards center of motor. Have done small jobs before but cannot find this one. Thanks for help! The sensor I took out is much smaller in diameter at the threads than my new one.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Just make sure you got the correct sensor and am looking in the correct location. I have run into this many times with people not getting the correct sensor. This engine has a Cylinder Head Temperature sensor and a lot of stores will not look this up correctly.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
There's a whole bunch of problems here. The first one is there is no drawing that shows the location of the coolant temperature sensors. There is a cylinder head temperature sensor indicated at the bottom / center of the first drawing. They do make reference to two other coolant temperature sensors, but they aren't even shown on the electrical diagrams. At this point I can't show you were they are, but you will usually find them close to the thermostat housing at the end of the upper radiator hose. On V-type engines, you might also find them on the intake manifold. With inline engines, they might be found on the side of the block.

The next problem is there are usually two of them. One is for the dash gauge and will have just one wire connected to it. The other is for the Engine Computer and will always have two wires. Ford did have a lot of trouble with the two-wire sensors in the early to mid '90s, but other than that, temperature sensors have an extremely low failure rate because there's just one component inside them. It's much more common to find spread or corroded connector terminals that aren't making a solid connection.

The last concern is the diagnostic fault code did not say to replace the sensor or that it was bad. Fault codes never say that on any brand or model. They only indicate the circuit or system that needs further diagnosis, or the unacceptable operating condition. First we have to rule out wiring and connector terminal problems associated with that part. Also, there are many fault codes that can be set related to temperature sensors, and they mean very different things. What was the exact fault code number you're diagnosing?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
Hi KASEKENNY1. Looks like we found the same diagrams.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STINGRAY77
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD F-150
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 188,000 MILES
I can't seem to locate the ECTS on my engine. Help?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This is not uncommon on these engines. The reason is, it is called a cylinder head temp sensor so when you are searching for it under ECT sensor in any manuals it doesn't pull anything up.

Here is a guide that will help with this in general:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Below you will find the process from the manual on this. let us know if you have other questions. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 6th, 2021 AT 6:58 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links