Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting temperature slightly in the red, is that normal?

Just changed the thermostat and temperature gauge sender on my 97 Zetec. The temperature gauge goes just a little bit into the red (maybe a milimeter).

Does it take a while for a new thermostat to 'settle in'? Or could I have put the wrong kind in there? (I went to pep-boys, looked up the model/year in a book and picked one off their rack).

Is it normal for the needle to go that high?

Any input is appreciated!

thanks,
Tom

From what I've read on other posts, different cars (different gauges perhaps) read different. I'd be concerned about anything in the red, though. What was it reading before you did the swap?

I had put in a new aftermarket thermostat,and the temp gauge was still high. I got a Ford OEM and installed it, and now my temp inicator reads at the 'N' mark.I drained the system from the rad, however,and refilled slowly. I had not done this on the initial install of the aftermarket.
I have the V6, and had changed the themostat since I was in there changing the waterpump.

My temperature gauge sender was faulty, so prior to me replacing the sender and the thermostat the gauge was always at LOW. I can't remember where it was normally before it died...

I'll try to get a Ford OEM thermostat and see if that helps, thanks.

Tom

Is your gauge consistently at one location in the red, or does it vary with driving conditions, outside temperature, etc? My contour is consistently at the R-M, while my mystique runs at R-M when on the highway, and A-L while in town or slow driving.

When I drove it yesterday it stayed right below RED. My g/f drove it to work today (highway) and she said it was just into the RED (by a millimeter or so, not much).

when you say your contour is at the R-M is it in the red?

thanks,
Tom

No, it is between the R and the M in normal. I.E. about the middle of the gauge.

Gotcha Dammit looks like I am replacing the thermostat again, what a pain in the #$#$

Well, since you also replaced the temperature gauge sender, that could possibly be the culprit. I think there may be a way to use an OBDII diagnostic unit to see what the temperature is, but I suppose the information from the diagnostic would be based on what the temp gauge is sending. I'm only speculating here.....don't know. Maybe someone else can chime in here with some advice.

OBD-II reads from a different sender than the dash gauge. Hooking up a scan tool and taking a drive would be a good way to see what the temperature ranges are for that engine. Especially note Fan on and Fan off temperature, as well as max temperature recorded.