Temperature light intermittent

WENDY SULLIVAN

MEMBER
2014 FORD F-150
5.0L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
155,000 MILES

All gauges are normal driving down highway and all of a sudden my water temperature sensor swings all the way over to cold and my radiator fan kicks on until I turn truck off and restart it. Few miles later does it again. Showing no codes and doesn’t seem to be overheating coolant level appears to be right where it should be.
Any ideas?
Air lock? I just don’t know.

7 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

This sounds more like a sensor issue. Let's start with testing the sensors resistance when this is happening. So drive the vehicle so that it starts doing it and then measure the resistance across the terminals of the sensor. You can just unplug it and put your meter across and use the chart to find out if that is accurate. If the engine is warm then the use the temp range of 176-248. It should be in this range if it is reading accurately. Clearly if the gauge is at full cold then it will be reading with the resistance of -10 to 20 degrees.

You can clearly use the voltage measurement as well if you are more comfortable with that.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Let me know what questions you have. Thanks

Images (Click to make bigger)

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 AT 4:51 PM

WENDY SULLIVAN

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thank you I will try to check it out. I did buy the sensor hopefully that is what it is. Will try to bet back with the results.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, February 18th, 2021 AT 9:00 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sounds great. Thanks for the update. If you can let us know whenever you get to it that would be great info and will help others that may visit this page in the future. Thanks again.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, February 18th, 2021 AT 4:44 PM

WENDY SULLIVAN

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Today leaving work for lunch, started up fine, pulled out the gate and about 50 yards down the street it was acting like I was running out of gas. Eventually shut off and couldn’t get it to stay running even long enough to put in drive.
Got pulled to a shop that will install the sensor hopefully by tomorrow. I will definitely update if that was the fix for all these problems.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, February 18th, 2021 AT 9:13 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sounds great. Thanks for the update. Sorry that happened. I am curious to what this turns out to be.

Just noticed that I didn't attach the info on this sensor. Clearly you may not need it but others may that visit this site. Thanks

Images (Click to make bigger)

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, February 19th, 2021 AT 6:13 PM

WENDY SULLIVAN

MEMBER
4 POSTS

So they put the new sensor in.
I also had a bad cell in my battery they discovered. Put new one in. And all seems to be good as new at the moment.
Reset my mpg and got 17 MPG today. That’s 3 better than where I was.
Is there a way to bypass engine light for an aftermarket catalytic converter?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, February 19th, 2021 AT 6:25 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Thanks for the update. Glad it seems to be on the right path now.

As for the converter, you cannot bypass this as it is a federally monitored component. Clearly we could figure most anything out to get the vehicle to run but once it comes time for your state inspection, it will not pass.

If you need more help with this issue, let's get a new post started so that others can find that info as they won't find it under this post. Thanks again.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, February 20th, 2021 AT 5:34 PM