Everyone,

2001 F-150 4.2 V6.

Here is the problem, when the engine is started after just being shut off, the temp gauge reads cold. It does this until 3-5 minutes after then correctly reads a warm temp.

During this 3-5 minutes, when accelerating, engine pings. Pings go away after gauge reads warm.

I figure bad pad and get a replacement. Problem is, all the docs say that the gauge is mounted in the themo housing. All that I see is a "plug" in that hole. Unable to find the electrical connection either. Its like the sensor is installed somewhere totally different. From the factory.

Can anyone help? I can post any information that might help.

 

Most of the 01s use a cylinder head temperature sensor the ford service manual shows it at the back of the drivers side cylinder head there are two components mounted there the knock sensor and the cylinder head sensor. the cylinder head temperature sensor is on the lower rear corner of the back of the drivers side head. looks like it may be tough to get to???

 

So this cylinder head temp sensor is what reports the "temp" to the gauge in the dash?

Would this explain the why I don't have a sensor in the place the docs say I should?

Thank you for any help.

 

Yes even the Ford service manual is very sketchy in this area. But this is what the computer looks at and then infers a water temperature from the head temperature. The reason for this is that as an engine overheats at some point there is no more coolant in the passage and at this point the sender actually has nothing but steam to get a reading from but when it picks up the head temperature it stays accurate, this was used do to the limp mode when the engine is overheats.