My name is Tony and I drive a 2002 2.3 liter Ford ranger.
I've enjoyed the truck to date and have had no major problem.
I joined the forum to receive help on a problem I'm having with my temp gauge.

My truck has 166,000 plus miles on it and recently it just started overheating, it doesn't do it all the time just every so often. The temp gauge will "peg to red" and the check gauge lite will come on. I will slow down and the temp gauge will drop back to normal and everthing will be alright for the next couple of days.
I checked on the price of a new thermostat for my truck and it comes in a $160 for the complete unit.
Does anyone have an idea why this might be happening and do I really need to replace the thermostat? I read on the internet the wire might be fried on the thermostat.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks
Tony

160 for a thermostat or a whole water pump? I paid 5 bucks for my thermostat. It could be that your sensor is fried, but this is not a common problem that I have seen. Normally it is something mechanical. It could also be that your radiator hasn't been flushed in awhile and you have stuff floating around your cooling system that causes a blockage.

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97 Ranger - 4.0 V6 auto, 4wd, 31x10.5x15s Wild Country XTX Sport All Terrains, Warn locking hubs, Pioneer deck with iPod attachment, Snugtop Topper, K&N filter, scan gauge II, Hella 500 Lights, More parts coming, waiting for the paycheck to get bigger!

Truck built in loving memory of Norm Howard
Outcast Racing
PNW Crew!!!
Afterhours Clan!!

Welcome to FRF! Afraid I can't help you, but you've come to the right place. There's a lot of Knowledge on this site.

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02 Ranger XLT 4x4 Off Road, 4.0L SOHC, Automatic, 8.8 4.10 LS, Super-Cab, 3" Body Lift, 33x12.5x15 BFG All Terrains on 15x8 M/T Classic IIs, 5K 55w Heads, 5K 35w fogs, custom front skid plate, various other goodies.

Lol I forgot welcome to FRF from Washington and the now melting but still frozen Norther Montana

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97 Ranger - 4.0 V6 auto, 4wd, 31x10.5x15s Wild Country XTX Sport All Terrains, Warn locking hubs, Pioneer deck with iPod attachment, Snugtop Topper, K&N filter, scan gauge II, Hella 500 Lights, More parts coming, waiting for the paycheck to get bigger!

Truck built in loving memory of Norm Howard
Outcast Racing
PNW Crew!!!
Afterhours Clan!!

Welcome to FRF

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Richard,
The part is as followed: 2002 FORD RANGER 2.3L 140cid L4 FI (D) : Cooling System : Thermostat MOTORCRAFT Part # RT1157 {#1S7Z8575AG} 1S7G-8575-AG.
I had the system flushed and yes it needed it, and after being flushed it overheated again.
Still searching the web for answers.

Tony

Napa most expensive was for 160 degree thermostat and it was 8.99.

Getting your radiator flushed sounded like it was a good thing. But that doesn't mean that everything was flushed out of it. Do you know if or when your water pump was changed? Another thing to monitor was where were you driving when it happened, where you loaded, and is there anything obstructing your radiator, or for that matter are the fins of your radiator clear and not bent over which can obstruct the flow of air threw the radiator and cause an overheating condition.

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97 Ranger - 4.0 V6 auto, 4wd, 31x10.5x15s Wild Country XTX Sport All Terrains, Warn locking hubs, Pioneer deck with iPod attachment, Snugtop Topper, K&N filter, scan gauge II, Hella 500 Lights, More parts coming, waiting for the paycheck to get bigger!

Truck built in loving memory of Norm Howard
Outcast Racing
PNW Crew!!!
Afterhours Clan!!

No, I was not loaded and I was driving on the interstate when it first happened and on a four lane the next couple of times. The radiator is clean and the fins fine. The water pump seems to be good. I don't know how fast the fan on the pump is suppose to spin but to me it looks like its just "lobbing" (not as fast as should be).
As far as the price on the thermostat, can you but just the thermostat without the housing assembly?

Here is a link to the thermostat I am talking about http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...1385692k511625

Yeah you can buy just the thermostat

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97 Ranger - 4.0 V6 auto, 4wd, 31x10.5x15s Wild Country XTX Sport All Terrains, Warn locking hubs, Pioneer deck with iPod attachment, Snugtop Topper, K&N filter, scan gauge II, Hella 500 Lights, More parts coming, waiting for the paycheck to get bigger!

Truck built in loving memory of Norm Howard
Outcast Racing
PNW Crew!!!
Afterhours Clan!!

welcome to FRF, Tony!

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2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 (sold)
2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 (sold)
2007 Explorer XLT (Destroyed by Deer on highway)
2014 Explorer XLT (inherited from parents)

machine090767
What ship were you on? I was on the USS Wainwright (CG 28)

USS Vincennes (CG 49)

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2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 (sold)
2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 (sold)
2007 Explorer XLT (Destroyed by Deer on highway)
2014 Explorer XLT (inherited from parents)

welcome to FRF

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1999 ranger 4x4 supercab, 4.0L
-3 inch PA body lift
-16 inch pro comp alloys
-33x11.50 BFG all terrain
-Go Rihno roll bar with 4 KC Daylighter lights
-weston bull bar
-dual exhaust,
-air box mod, tightend throttle cable.

All,
Truck overheated three (3) times Saturday but able to get it home. Will see about thermostat but it only does it when driving around 60-70 mph. Slowing down lowers the temp, doesn't make since. any comments?