Hello, I don’t usually post on forums and have never done much mechanic work but got a ranger a few months ago and have been doing little stuff to it like new radio, lights, fixed tailgate. Anyway my temp gauge on the cluster will not work/ fluctuates randomly and I’m trying to replace the temp sending unit but basically all the videos online are for the 2.3L engine or for the sensor or not sender and I seriously can’t find it. Most stuff says it’s on the driver side above oil filter but my oil filter is on the passenger?? Does anyone possibly have a picture or can give me a detailed description of where it is??? Any help is very appreciated!!

 

Welcome to the forum

1996 has a 4.0l OHV engine
ECT sensor and Temp Sender are located near each other just above thermostat housing on lower intake
Follow upper radiator hose to thermostat housing, it bolted to the front of the lower intake manifold
Just above it on the top of lower intake will be the two units
The Sender, 12volt, for gauge, will have a red/white wire to dash, usually just the 1 wire, but can also have a black/white wire as a ground

ECT sensor, 5volt, will have grey/red wire and green/red wire

They look similar but not interchangeable, one is 5volt the other 12volt

If you jumper the Senders red/white wire to Ground, and then turn on the key, Temp Gauge should go to HOT, if so wire and gauge are OK

Found this pic of Explorer 4.0l, you can see the thermostat housing and the two units on either side of it: https://cdn.carcomplaints.com/compla...82b41c61dr.jpg

One on the left looks to have single "stud" terminal so would be the sender, sensors MUST always have at least 2 wires
But location doesn't matter as long as the wires reach, both are reading upper engine coolant temp

 

huh, okay so I would have to take off the intake to get to it then? Looks a lot easier than the videos with the 2.3L engines. Thank you!!

awesome I see it, thanks so much

 

No, just remove the Air Tube from air filter to intake and you will have access