-42 this morning. while driving ford ranger. engine light came on and no warm

#1 01-15-2009, 11:52 AM

air. water pump or thermostat? i'd been driving for 20 minutes with warm air coming out of heater. had engine heater plugged in all night

#2 01-15-2009, 11:52 AM

Sounds like the thermostat is stuck open. A very easy part to replace yourself, But I wouldn't do it today.

#3 01-15-2009, 11:52 AM

thermostat, it has a plug that connects to your computer to set a code, water pumps has no electrical it's belt driven.
good luck stay warm

#4 01-15-2009, 11:52 AM

Sounds like the thermostat is stuck open to me. A very easy DIY Job.

#5 01-15-2009, 11:54 AM

Unfortunately the block heater only heats the oil pan. That is good for when you start the vehicle, but it still needs to warm up. You probably have a coolant problem. The likely cause is not enough or the wrong mixture of antifreeze and water in the coolant system. The good news is that most mechanics now have a coolant machine that cleans the coolant, and also adjusts the mix for different temperature ranges. Definitely check the fluid level, but also consider replacing the thermostat. The thermostat allows water to go into the engine and the heater as it needs it. You might just have a bad thermostat.