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  #1  
Old 01-17-2013, 05:12 PM
amaynard1979 amaynard1979 is offline
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Default Temp gauge running cold

I have a 1994 ranger with the 4.0. Everything was fine till 2 weeks ago water pump blew. I replaced water pump, thermostat, and radiator cap. I bled the system but now my temp gauge runs on the cold side and every now and then it will rise up to the a on the normal gauge then drop all the way to the first cold line above the C. So it looks like my thermostat is working the top hose and both heater core hoses get hot. Heat works fine. I flushed the system and burped it again but still the same. No white smoke after it warms up, but I do get some at first but it's also freezing out. So not sure, seams like it runs to good to have a blown head gasket. Thanks in advance for any advice. adam
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Old 01-17-2013, 08:17 PM
Cody93 Cody93 is offline
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I got a 93 4.0, does the same thing after replacing the water pump. Mine has the added bonus of a loud thumping while the air runs through the system.
I was told before that there is a kit to cure the problem called "coolant thumping" but it isn't available anymore.
I thought it was a head gasket, and so did the master mechanic at my local shop. So I replaced the head gasket and did all the little things that came with that. This took forever by the way! It didn't help a bit.
I have had the truck with the front end up in the air burping it for hours and it never stops bubbling. Still haven't fixed the problem! I just drive around and tell people it's just my trucks heart beat. I have spent a ton of money and time with no luck.
This probably doesn't help much, but I thought I should at least tell ya what I experienced.
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Old 01-18-2013, 09:05 AM
amaynard1979 amaynard1979 is offline
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Mine does the thumping noise to after it warms up and only when I come to a stop after I take off it goes away. But sounds very similar. I am gonna check my compression tomorrow cause it pass the other head gasket checks( no water in oil, cap off start truck none shoots out).if that's all good guess I might just have to live with it. Just don't wanna blow it up its my work vehicle. How long have u drove your like that?
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Old 01-18-2013, 11:29 AM
Cody93 Cody93 is offline
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Yeah mine passed all checks and compression is good. I have driven it for probably a year total with it going on. I swapped head gaskets in the middle of that though. I really don't see any negative affects on the performance of the truck, nor does it look like it's doing any harm over time. Just kind of annoying to know that I can't figure it out. Also mine has a new radiator on it because the mechanic thought the radiator had a blockage.
One thing I have been thinking about though, is the heater core. My heater seems to make the thumping worse and I think it could be possible that the heater core could be letting a little not of air in the system without losing a noticeable amount of coolant. Maybe the core has a hairline crack somewhere that is sealed when it's cold, but when it warms up, the crack expands. I haven't smelled any antifreeze in the air coming from the heater though, and that's a tell tale sign of a cracked heater core. See I just can't figure it out!
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Old 01-18-2013, 04:32 PM
amaynard1979 amaynard1979 is offline
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I am gonna do compression tomorrow and if it checks out I think I might just do a heater core to see if it works its not that expensive. What I'am worried about is what if my coolant passages are clogged. How could you flush those out?
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Old 01-18-2013, 04:43 PM
Cody93 Cody93 is offline
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You can flush the whole deal with an inline kit that prestone makes for cheap. Basically a tee that fits in a hose headed for the heater core that accommodates a garden hose. Turn the heater on full blast and run the engine with the garden hose hooked up and turned on. Take off the radiator cap of course and replace it with the spill tube that comes on the kit. The tee comes with a cap so when your done, just put the cap on and you don't have to remove the tee. I believe they make detergents that you can just pour in the radiator and run for a while too. Just follow up with the complete flush before putting in antifreeze.

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Keep me informed if you change the heater core, if that works I will try it.
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Old 01-18-2013, 07:16 PM
amaynard1979 amaynard1979 is offline
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Ok
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Old 01-22-2013, 08:12 PM
amaynard1979 amaynard1979 is offline
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Default Re: Temp gauge running cold

well done a compression test and no antifreeze in cylinders and compression was good. was checking over the truck and radiator was leaking so i replaced it flushed the system and now it smokes worse than ever??? i did notice that when i had the cap off there wasnt much movement on the antifreeze? thats didnt make since to me with it having a new waterpump. has anyone ever got a bad waterpump out of the box? i think i need to have a leak down test done on it and maybe lower intake gaskets cause now it has water dripping from the exhaust!!! truck still seams to run great but now its smoking more. gonna give it a bit longer and if i dont figure it out probably have to look for something else cause i would hat to do the head gasket and it still not be right?
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