I have a 2011 XLT Extended Cab with a 2.3L 4 cylinder. The truck is great. In under a year I put over 120,000 miles on it. I drive for a local courier and we really work our vehicles.

Anyway, about a month ago the temperature gauge started malfunctioning, even though the truck is NOT over heating. The gauge would increase past the "H" and then the temperature light would come on. Because the truck thinks it's overheating -- the engine goes into a "safe mode" -- and runs with no power. When I shut the motor off and turn it back on temperature gauge resets and the truck runs fine for about another 50 or 100 miles and then the temperature gauge malfunctions again.

Why is it doing this?

I took it to the dealer here in Columbus, Ohio and the mechanic installed a new thermostat and a new "control modulator" (a $700+ part -- not really sure what it is called) but still the truck is doing the same thing. The mechanic still does not know why the truck is acting like this -- has anyone else experienced this problem?

Louie Basilone
LB

 

Thats an avg of 329 miles per day if you drove it every single day of the year

 

Have you checked the engine oil level?

Mine burnt a quart when I drove 500 miles within a day, mostly highway, using the AC. Oil level went down almost to the min level, and so the temp gauge moved up and the check engine light came on when i drove up a hill, but when i went down the hill, gauge moved back to the middle and light came off. Just my .02 cents.

 

Sounds like they replaced your PCM(power control module), which would be entire ECU.

They replaced the Tstat, but didn't replace the Coolant temp sensor before going to the PCM? any drops in coolant levels? Almost sounds like you have air in the lines, but about the only thing I can comprehend that would send the temps that high and wouldn't be malfunctioning all the time.