Hi folks, I've learned a lot from this forum and I appreciate it.

I'm not mechanically inclined, but figure I can replace my own thermostat. Here's the issue I know I'm going to face when I rip into it.
There's a T connector located on a pair of hoses right above the top alternator bolt. The hose goes to the passenger firewall behind the glove box, so I think it goes to the heater core. That "T" and sensor/sender It's all corroded and I know when I pull the hoses to get them out of the way, I'm going to have problems. I don't know what either that sensor/sender/whatever is called, nor what to call the housing "T" that it mounts in.

Can anyone help me ID this part. I know I'll never get it put back together if I take it apart and I'm kind of hoping it's partially responsible for my "Heater not working, but not leaking either," Condition

Thanks in advance
The inexperienced Newbie.

 

Welcome to the forum

1993 Ranger heater core is not expensive and is easy to change, it is most likely clogged up if heat is not HOT, although the 4cyl Lima engines do not generate a lot of heat so if thermostat is stuck open then that could also be the problem

The ECT(engine coolant temp) sensor is on the heater hose, it should have a 2 wire connector, this is only used by the computer, it uses 5volts

The dash board temp gauge uses a SENDER, 12volt, in a 1993 it is located on drivers side toward the rear of the head, it uses 1 wire

ECT sensor should be easy to get at parts store, I would try to cleaning off the bung part that it threads into, not sure where you would get a replacement

Check local auto parts stores they may have something like this you can use:

 

Ron D, Thank you so much for the detailed reply, it is greatly appreciated. Guess I was on the right track anyway... So the heater core replacement isn't as bad as I'd imagined? I figured I'd have to rip the entire dash out to get to that heater core. (I really can't drive this thing in Pacific NW Winter Crud without a working defroster, so...) I'm really hoping that a new thermostat will do the trick, but I am really trying to pre-conceptualize all potential downfalls before I get started. With the truck T.U., I'll have no working vehicle to get me to the auto parts store and If I can't find it on Amazon, I'll be up the proverbial creek without a certified flotation device. (Not a place I ever care to be, being rather odoriffic and muddy.)

Thanks again, The Newbie

 

Up thru 1994 the heater core was easy to swap, after that it became much harder

Many run with a piece of cardboard or ?? covering part of on the radiator on the 2.3ls, in the winter months, to keep the cold air out of engine bay, this keeps temp up higher
The 2.3l Lima just doesn't generate alot of heat.
Have even seen people adding insulation around the heater hoses to keep them hotter, lol, far north though

 

Temperature sender, i believe. The sensor is on rock auto for less than 15 dollars or so. I unplugged this once while troubleshooting other problems and it wouldn't let my truck start. Havent been able to locate another tee section but have read that it's easier to make one out of hose fittings from home depot