Question:

>Possibilities?…thermostat? water pump?

To my knowledge, I’m the only one that has had the experience of a t-stat failing in the closed position on an Explorer.  If your red engine-overheat light is not coming on, it’s not the t-stat.  Check temp sender or gauge. Regards, Bob

Response:

> My 1997 Explorer with the  V6 4.0 Liter SOHC engine  has just indicated > over heating via the dash gage. Coolent level  is ok and systems check > indicates engine temperature:ok.  Possibilities?…thermostat? water pump? > gage?. Milage: 43K.

My 95 did that about a year ago.  One second it’s OK, the next it’s pegged on "H" … but in my case the ‘check gauges’ light would also come on.  Wait another minute, and it would fall right back to normal. It never actually overheated.  Final kicker was when I got in the truck one morning and when I turned on the key, the gauge when to half-way before I’d even started the thing. I had replaced the stat, and sending unit.  Turned out to be the gauge itself.  Go figure. …Ron

Response:

Your not alone with the stuck closed t-stat.  My friends 99 Explorer experienced the same problem.  Dealer towed it in and replaced the thermostat under warranty.  Could be a common problem!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Possibilities?…thermostat? water pump? > To my knowledge, I’m the only one that has had the experience of a t-stat > failing in the closed position on an Explorer.  If your red engine-overheat > light is not coming on, it’s not the t-stat.  Check temp sender or gauge. > Regards, > Bob

Response:

Dunno about common problem….. two years ago my dealer asked me to have it towed there after they sent it out as fixed having changed the fan clutch for $275 and then it overheated and emptied itself in a car park (2 days later). Furious, I got AAA to take it back to them whereupon they insisted I pay $1400 to have the heads off and have a look for cracks. I went through it with them, one step at a time and they agreed to try the t’stat first. It fixed it. After a couple of curt letters, they refunded my $275! That’s why I got the wrenches (spanners) out after 14 years ……. all over a stuck t’stat Spider 1991 EB 4×4….156,000 miles

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Your not alone with the stuck closed t-stat.  My friends 99 Explorer > experienced the same problem.  Dealer towed it in and replaced the > thermostat under warranty.  Could be a common problem!!!! > >Possibilities?…thermostat? water pump? > To my knowledge, I’m the only one that has had the experience of a t-stat > failing in the closed position on an Explorer.  If your red > engine-overheat > light is not coming on, it’s not the t-stat.  Check temp sender or gauge. > Regards, > Bob

Response:

My 1997 Explorer with the  V6 4.0 Liter SOHC engine  has just indicated over heating via the dash gage. Coolent level  is ok and systems check indicates engine temperature:ok.  Possibilities?…thermostat? water pump? gage?. Milage: 43K.

Response:

>My 1997 Explorer with the  V6 4.0 Liter SOHC engine  has just indicated >over heating via the dash gage. Coolent level  is ok and systems check >indicates engine temperature:ok.  Possibilities?…thermostat? water pump? >gage?. Milage: 43K.

Saw the same thing happen on an Escort.  I would give the top of the dash a good wack with my hand and the gauge would return to normal. The engine was not exceedingly hot so the gauge was in error. Might be a bad sensor,  loose connection to the circuit board behind the dash or the cable to the sensor getting grounded, if the gauge still works on a ground being applied makes the temp go up. Gary

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