No reading on temperature gauge

2002 FORD RANGER
150,000 MILES • 3.0L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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AARON SMITH4
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  • 4 POSTS
I recently rebuilt my 3.0 v6 and it is running great now. But I’m not getting a reading on my temperature gauge. I’ve replaced both sensors and checked the connections and everything looks good, no corrosion. I’m at a loss here. Thermostat is new as well as the radiator. Any ideas?
Dec 5, 2020 at 4:54 AM
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DANNY L
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Since you've replaced both sensor then it sound like you might be having trouble with the wiring or gauge in the instrument cluster. I've attached the instrument cluster wiring diagram below. I've cut the picture in half so you can view larger. Here is a tutorial showing how to test wiring:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
Images (Click to enlarge)
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Dec 5, 2020 at 11:56 AM
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AARON SMITH4
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Thank you Danny I’ll try this out!!
Dec 5, 2020 at 2:29 PM
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DANNY L
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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Hello again.

Okay, keep us updated as to what you find. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
Dec 5, 2020 at 3:15 PM
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AARON SMITH4
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So it turns out it has a temperature switch for the gauge on the down spout in front of the thermostat housing. There were two temperature sensors instead of the correct temperature sensor and temperature switch.
Dec 5, 2020 at 7:37 PM
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DANNY L
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

So did you replace the other temperature switch and that solved the problem or is the gauge still not working? Let us know and keep us updated. Thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
Dec 5, 2020 at 8:39 PM
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AARON SMITH4
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The temperature sensor is on the back side of the thermostat housing with 2 wires, the temperature switch is in the front of the thermostat housing with only 1 red wire. My problem was a temperature sensors was in both spots in stead of a temperature switch in the correct spot so when I put the correct part in it worked.
Dec 5, 2020 at 9:19 PM
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DANNY L
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Glad to hear you were able to resolve the issue. Thanks again for using 2CarPros and we hope you will use our site again in the future.

Danny-

Dec 5, 2020 at 11:17 PM