Temperature gauge stopped working

Tiny
JAEDAV12
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 76,455 MILES
So my coolant temperature gauge worked before then stopped. I replaced the coolant temperature sensor still nothing, but when I put a test light to the connector the gauge jumps to hot, so I know the gauge is working and the wires are sending power. What else could cause it not to read when connected to the sensor?
Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 4:03 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Do you have a volt meter? Let's check what the voltage is on this connector when you are jumping the terminals to make the temp gauge go to hot.

Next can you get me the part number of the temp sensor that you put in the vehicle? Clearly I am in agreement that this sounds like a sensor issue so we need to do these couple checks first before we say that the sensor you replaced is failed as well.

Let me know what you have and we can go from there. Thanks
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JAEDAV12
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  • 46 POSTS
You mean as in a multi-meter? Part No. WT3058
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 4:31 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Correct a multi-meter so we can see what the actual voltage is. That appears to be the correct sensor for the vehicle so we may have just gotten a faulty one if the voltage checks out. Thanks
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
JAEDAV12
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Okay and so I just check the voltage at the connector?
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Correct. Just do both wires. So test one wire when your black lead on ground and tell me that voltage and then the other wire with the black lead on ground. You should have a GY/R wire and a Y/G wire. Let me know what the voltage is on each one.
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Thursday, May 14th, 2020 AT 6:38 PM
Tiny
JAEDAV12
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Voltage read around 1.69 volts and I tested the sensor for resistance and got nothing back from it. So my guess is bad sensor?
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:22 AM
Tiny
JAEDAV12
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Turns out it was a faulty sensor.
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 4:10 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Great job checking resistance on the sensor. Thanks for updating us with what the solution was. Unfortunately new parts are not always good parts. Thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Saturday, May 16th, 2020 AT 5:46 PM

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