MY 2.3L ranger has an issue with the temp gauge. The truck runs fine but now the temp gauge stays at cold. Sometime it might move up slightly but go back to cold.

If it is the thermostat, pep boys sold me a small one that wont fit.

 

also, anyone have a diagram so i can replace the temp sensor if necessary?

 

I am having the same issue, or very similar. The needle in my emp gauge stays at about a 1/4, not down at cold though. It will bounce every so often.

At first I thought I had a coolant problem, I checked the levels and my reserve jug was bone dry and the radiator took a half a bottle of the 50/50 stuff. Started her up and no change, so I thought maybe a thermostat issue and was about to replace it. Then my Bro-In-Law stopped by and found a coolant leak in the valve between the heater coil and the radiator. Fixed that and still the darn gauge is showing at 1/4 and still bounces about every 30 seconds.

This worries me on my truck, since it is 10 years old (95 XLT), I hit 100K last week and just cannot afford it to go belly up on me right now.

Hopefully someone can help with some advise...

 

ANYONE?

 

BUMP

 

If the temp guage stays at "cold" and only moves up when sitting at a light or standing, then it sounds like a thermostat to me. Take the one you got from the parts store and get the right thermostat.

 

THANKS mullet. Does anyone know where i can buy a factory thermostat besides the dealer. Cause pepboys and autozone sell a universal thermostat which is too small.

 

Just get one at the Dealership. It is only a few bucks more and guaranteed to fit

 

How about this: I took out my thermostat and the gauge still does the same thing as when i had the thermostat in. The gauge stays at cold and sometimes will move above cold for a few minutes.
Is there a temperature sensor inside the thermostat/ thermostat housing that may have gone bad?

 

A missing thermostat is the same as one that is "stuck open" and it will act the same. Just change the damn thing already