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Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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joezapp
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Jun 14, 2017, 4:45 AM
Post #1 of 11
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Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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Hello everyone! I've got a 1996 Ford Escort 1.9 with a coolant gauge that's gone quirky. Upon start, the needle starts all the way at the very top of the hot range. As the car gets hot, the needle does drift to a more appropriate area on the gauge, but I'm trying to determine what part needs changing to get it back to functioning normally. Everything is connected, so it's likely a failed part. Some people have told me it's the coolant sensor, and some have told me it's the coolant sender. Is there a way to know which is the likely culprit? Or is it something else? Thanks for your help.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 14, 2017, 4:47 AM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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How did this start? Was anything changed?
Have you verified that the coolant is full with no air pockets?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 14, 2017, 5:03 AM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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Just a question as well: Is this upon a start shortly after running or long term without running - a true cold start?
Reason= Just a short few minutes after shutting down a warmed up engine it's hotter as heat rises with no fan or coolant circulation,
T
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joezapp
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Jun 14, 2017, 5:21 AM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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Hi Tom. It's a true cold start.
Hi Hammer Time. Nothing has been changed. Coolant is full. No reason to think there are air pockets.
It started a month ago, and it's been consistent.
(This post was edited by joezapp on Jun 14, 2017, 5:22 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 14, 2017, 6:13 AM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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Before we think up some monster of an issue check the plug(s) closest to the coolant temperature gauge sender. It may or may not be coupled for fans such that dirt, moisture has become a source for grounding if just slightly thru dirt or corrosion.
Shouldn't matter but think around this model year these were actually a Mazda 100% except for the name and appliques on it saying FORD. It also begins model year for OBDII and changes would be expected so what the engine is telling powertrain controls should be effected. Get codes read and post #s can help.
BTW - If checking plugs for dirt and damage do that with engine off, keys not near it or it would set a code to confuse why this does this,
T
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 14, 2017, 7:29 AM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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No guessing about air in the system especially if you don't have a pressure cap on the radiator but think you do? All kinds of funky things happen with air in a cooling system so all bets off till that is rules out for sure, no guessing,
T
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Sidom
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Jun 14, 2017, 11:03 AM
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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With the key on engine off disconnect the connector for the gauge coolant temp sensor, the gauge should read full cold....with the KOEO ground the wire, the gauge should go to full hot.....If it does.....wiring and gauge are good.....and you have a bad sensor or other problem.......If the problem is still there, the problem is in the wiring or gauge....
I don't have a wiring diagram handy for this one right now.....If it's a dual wire connector,,,just jump the wires with a kotter pin or something similar
(This post was edited by Sidom on Jun 14, 2017, 11:05 AM)
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Hammer Time
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Jun 14, 2017, 11:08 AM
Post #9 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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It's a single wire sensor (BK/O)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Sidom
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Jun 14, 2017, 11:09 AM
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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Tks Desi........knew you had that lying around somewhere.......
Ok...its the connector with a black wire & Orange tracer
(This post was edited by Sidom on Jun 14, 2017, 11:10 AM)
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joezapp
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Jun 14, 2017, 3:13 PM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: Coolant gauge needle starts on hot side upon start
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Thanks so much, guys! I appreciate the troubleshooting tips as well as the diagram. I'll report back with what I find.
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