Tempeture guage has stopped working

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Chris Hauk

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Where about should I start chasing an non working engine temperature gauge. It was intermittent for a while before it stopped working. 2004 with a 5.4L

Chris
 

1955moose

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I'd start with the fuse, then the temp sensor, and move my way towards the gauge.

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Hamfisted

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You can pull the alternator out of the way and replace the temp sensor. That's the most likely culprit. It's a pretty common part. You can find one at any NAPA store.

Here's a YouTube video on the temp sensor replacement job....


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Sgt Darkness

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Where about should I start chasing an non working engine temperature gauge. It was intermittent for a while before it stopped working. 2004 with a 5.4L

Chris

Yea bet a hundred bucks it’s the temp sending unit. Thanks to Hamfisted for putting up a vid....
 

1955moose

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The easiest way to know your gauge is not the culprit, or the wire going to sensor, is to pull the wire off sensor, ground it for a second with key on. Gauge should swing all the way to hot if all is good. If it does, then replace sender. Same goes for gas gauge. Single wire switches are easy. It probably is sender unit, but as always take a minute and be sure.

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TomB985

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The easiest way to know your gauge is not the culprit, or the wire going to sensor, is to pull the wire off sensor, ground it for a second with key on. Gauge should swing all the way to hot if all is good. If it does, then replace sender. Same goes for gas gauge. Single wire switches are easy. It probably is sender unit, but as always take a minute and be sure.

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They used to be the easy way to do it, but the temperature sensor feeds into the PCM which commands the gauge needle electronically. So the gauge needle is going to react as the PCM is programmed to, so that may or may not work.

2004 Workshop Manual said:
The PCM receives the engine coolant temperature status through hardwired circuitry to the engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor. The instrument cluster receives the engine coolant temperature data from the PCM through the SCP communication network. The instrument cluster microprocessor monitors the engine coolant temperature data received from the PCM and commands the temperature gauge indication with a corresponding movement of the pointer.

The easiest thing is to use a scan tool to determine what the PCM sees for engine temperature. Does the OP know somebody or have access to a scan tool capable of reading live sensor data? Even an inexpensive $20 Bluetooth adapter paired to an android phone or tablet would be great for this.
 

1955moose

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I hadn't thought of that part, but your probably right. Question is would it do any damage my way?

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TomB985

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I hadn't thought of that part, but your probably right. Question is would it do any damage my way?

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I really doubt it. Short circuits are some of the most common electrical gremlins to have, and they don't often cause damage. Worst case usually involves a blown fuse, as the computers are designed to be able to handle them without cooking themselves.
 

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