Temp gauge not working

[blueescortzx2]

what do I need to replace to get the temp gauge to work. Where can I get it? how much will it cost?

Link to autozone or napa would be great.

[Buster]

It's probably just the coolant temp sensor, not the gauge. It's located on the bottom of the thermostat housing. It's right on top of the engine (right hand side) and easy to get to.

Does the needle go all the way up immediately or just sit at the bottom?

[blueescortzx2]

It sits on the bottom. Yea, I replace the sensor on the top think that was the temp sensor.

[blueescortzx2]

what is the name of the sensor that the bottom of the thermostat housing, so I make sure i get the right part?

[Connal]

what is the name of the sensor that the bottom of the thermostat housing, so I make sure i get the right part?

ECT?

[ZX2Fast]

I put the answer to this issue in the 'Common Problems' post stuck at the top of this section, just for you.

[blueescortzx2]

thanks.

at autozone there two of them. withone is the correct one $31.99 (http://www.autozone.com/R,APP260088/vehicleId,2537901/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,2684/partType,00135/shopping/partProductDetail.htm) or $6.99 (http://www.autozone.com/R,APP259865/vehicleId,2537901/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,2684/partType,00135/shopping/partProductDetail.htm)

[J_Mob]

There are two sensors for the temperature. The top one gives the reading to the gauge, the bottom is for the ecm I think. I broke the bottom one while reinstalling the tranny, and FYI the ones at auto zone will not work-they are the wrong thread/size. At least they were for my 2000 ATX. (I got both, and neither would fit in the housing at either hole so go figure.....got one at the scrapyard)

edit-And the 31.99 one you have listed is for a focus.....they are pop in sensors and definitely will not work.

EDit edit-these are the p/n from autozone i tried: TU241 and SU284. Like I said though, they wouldn't work in my car..

[mechtech]

Top is coolant reading, bottom is gauge sensor.
We use pop in sensors in the thermostat housing.

[Fordboy]

the one on top is for the ecu the one on the bottom is for the guage, trust me mine went out too
the top is called a coolant temperature sensor
and the bottom is called a coolan temperature switch i do believe
go to autosone and ask for the switch and they will give you a sensor looking item that looks similar to the top one

[blueescortzx2]

mechtech do you think it is the 31.99 part?

I when to napa and this is the part (http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=MPE&PartNumber=TS4047SB&Description=Coolant+Temperature+Switch)they cam up with

[J_Mob]

UMMM...the pop ins are for focus engines not zetec.

[J_Mob]

And the part numbers I listed were for the sensor and switch, as listed for a 2000 ZX2 with 2.0L ATX via Autozone's part finder.... when they didn't fit, I checked years 98-02 with both trans and even focus and escort. Only difference was Focus took the pop in type. NONE of the ones they had would fit my car.

[UnleashedZX2]

check the wiring also! they might be corroded under the shilelding, i had that issue

[mechtech]

Mine pop in with a clip.
Can you take the part with you to the store? Or take it off and take a picture for the parts lemming to see?

[J_Mob]

Mine pop in with a clip.
Can you take the part with you to the store? Or take it off and take a picture for the parts lemming to see?

weird. Who knows though-I'm not trying to argue really, I just had to change them on mine so thought I would share what I found. This is the first "little" ford I've owned. The others all had v8's except the xploder which has the SOHC V6.....which IMO rocks.

[ZX2Fast]

The later models had a clip, the early models used threads. Being a 99, you could have either one.

You already know you have to take it out. So go ahead and remove the bottom switch and take it to the store with you.

[blueescortzx2]

It's an early 99.

[ZX2Fast]

Temperature switch, Auto Zone part number TU241.

[blueescortzx2]

thanks, it only the 6.99 part

[J_Mob]

The later models had a clip, the early models used threads. Being a 99, you could have either one.

I have a 2000, and it had threaded sensors for both......and the thread was a smaller diameter and different pitch then the ones they had at autozone. Did somebody swap parts on my ride or what.......I bought it used, and have had issues since (like the tranny went out 5 days later, the frame and crossmember bolts suporting the engine/tranny were mostly cross threaded or broken, etc..)

[ZX2Fast]

Ford did odd things with this car. It could be a factory mix-up of parts or not the original engine.

[J_Mob]

Yeah I was thinking they may have swapped the engine before I bought it.....showed all stars in the ecm for the engine vin when we checked it with a scan tool. It's still a VCT engine, and it lines up with the wiring harness.....so who knows.

[blueescortzx2]

update: I finally got around to fixing this and Auto Zone part number TU241 (http://www.autozone.com/R,1701028/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,2684/partType,00135/shopping/partProductDetail.htm)isn't not correct. Mine looks like pic1 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii111/Blue05MustangGT/DSCN0804.jpg), pic2 (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii111/Blue05MustangGT/DSCN0806.jpg).

any ideas?

[J_Mob]

Ha. Yeah, those look kinda like the one I had. The thread is smaller then the replacement. I ended up going to the scrapyard.......there's gotta be a source for new ones somewhere though.

[J_Mob]

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?catalog=321&partnum=2132771&a=FR321-2132771

[iceracer]

Top one is the sensor for the ECM. The bottom one is the sender for the gauge.
The base Ford No. is 10884. The sensor is 12A648. Hope that helps.

[ZX2Fast]

If you can't find the parts at the local retailer, why not call Ford and get it?