Gauge pegs, engine gets hot, A/C quits cooling

Tiny
GWELSH
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD RANGER
  • 2.3L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 111,000 MILES
After about ten minutes of run time, gauge goes from normal and the A/C blowing cold to gauge pegs, engine seems to get hot, A/C starts blowing hot. Coolant reservoir is filled to correct line. I let it sit overnight and it goes through the exact same timeline/process. When I run the truck at higher speeds and RPM the gauge pegs faster.

Steps to diagnose? I do not want to take it in and they start replacing one thing at a time until it is fixed.

Thanks in advance for your time!
Friday, June 22nd, 2018 AT 10:22 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
If you mean the temperature gauge pegs as the engine warms up, those are the symptoms of a bad head gasket or possibly a stuck closed thermostat. If the radiator hoses do not get hot as fast as the engine is then I would check for a bad thermostat. If the hoses heat up just as fast and or you see a lot of bubbles going into the reservoir I would test it for a blown head gasket.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test
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Friday, June 22nd, 2018 AT 11:08 AM

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