I have a 1995 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0. Does anyone know what the OHM reading should be when cold; I.E. ambient temp of 75-85 degrees F? My gauge pegs to hot when ignition is turned on even if motor is dead cold. Installed new sensor. This is the gauge sensor.

 

Sender, not sensor, different animals
People use the names interchangeably, like solenoid and relay, but they are different

If you go to an auto parts store and ask for a 1995 Ford Ranger temp sender, you WILL get a temp sensor, the wrong part, every time, you have to stress the word SENDER, they will find it, but never on the first try

Sender and temp gauge run on 12volts
Sensor runs on 5volts

SENDER(not sensor)
Cold = 75 ohms
Hot = 10 ohms

Just found this info here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/sohc-2...ystery-139897/

also the temp gauge will have an INTERNAL 100 ohm resistor or external 100ohm resistor, so your gauge with the external 92 ohm resistor would be normal

 

I am getting a reading on the sender of 30ohm cold. So even though it is a new one, that leads me to believe it is out of specs.
Thanks for the info. on sender/sensor. Makes perfect sense.

 

30 ohms should show about 1/2-3/4 on the gauge, so odd that it shows HOT

 

Are you sure that you are taking the measurement at the right place?

ECT sender (gauge), single wire connector (case ground), red wire/white stripe
Roughly 75 ohms at 75F

ECT sensor (PCM input), two wire connector, grey/red and light green/red wires
Roughly 30 kohms at 75F (30 kohm = 30,000 ohms)

 

Reinstalled the old sender unit. The one wire sender. Gauge still jumps to hot. Could the Teflon tape be preventing it to from grounding properly?

Have meter set to 2k OHM. Old sender is reading .206ohm. New sender is reading .186ohm.

 

Switched meters. Tried 200ohm setting. Getting 60 ohm on both senders grounded uninstalled and room temp.

 

Just ordered a new temp gauge off of Amazon. I give up trying to get the OEM cluster gauge to work. Thanks to everyone for their assistance.