The Temp gauge is showing really hot(not red) the check gauge light is coming on. but the motor is not very hot? in fact it seams normal, the radiator is cool enough to touch? the gauge does move up and down as I drive, but its staying close to 12 o'clock close to red? It usually is running in the middle of the temp gauge. 1999 ford explorer 2 wheel drive SOCH 4.0

When temp light come on the engine is overheating

have the alternator checked for out put. have a pressure test done on the cooling system to check for leaks The fluctuating temp gauge may be the boiling water gushing past the sender bulb .

If the temp gauge shows normal, you would not expect the fan to be on much. It is controlled by the coolant temp sensor. If the fan will not come on when the car gets really hot, it is possible this sensor has failed.

It is normal for both AC and cooling fans to be on when you turn on AC to cool setting.

Wher is the location from Cooler Sensor?

From what i know of these trucks, its a "common problem". There is a tsb on this and the gauges arent really accurate. The tow light is blinking due to heating(not really), its trying to tell you to stop towing. Ive read that some guys gauge is reading 250 which if it really were, the truck would be running. Water boils at 220(im sure u know that). Suggestions ive come across is adding aftermarket gauges that give "accurate" readings unlike factory ones that are controlled by computer. Aftermarket will give you independent readouts.Heres a temp check you can try on your truck, im not sure if it will work for your model.




This is for the regular dash, like in XLT.
key off
push trip button in and hold
turn key on
"test" will appear in message display. Release button.
Gauges will sweep
then just push the button each time to scroll thru various modes.
Mostly junk info, but eventually you will come to temp, it is in Celcius so you have to convert to Farenheight(temp x 1.8 + 32)
Normal temp for mine at idle is 88, so 88x1.8=158.4,+ 32=190.4F
You can also view digital tach. All these modes are real time, and will remain on until you cycle the key on/off.

Please do not drive your car until you can check a few things.

To answer your question...your car is hot while sitting at a light, but not when driving because of air movement. Think of it like like this...if you are standing in front of a fan, you feel cooler. If you step away from the fan, it will be warmer.

Back to your car troubles...you most likely are low on antifreeze. Please check the radiator for how much antifreeze you have. You will want to fill the radiator to the cap. If it has been this way for a while, you will have air in the line. After running the car for a while (after the fans turn on) add more antifreeze. It will most likely will show a lower amount.

Hope this helps.

It sounds like the cooling fan is not working, with the motor off look in front of the motor and there is a fan or 2, check the wiring and plugs, some times they corrode and can be cleaned with alloy wheel cleaner then water then spray oil in them otherwise the fuses and the thermo switch need checking.

replace the temp sending unit on the engine first

Its definitly a bad reading, you would know if your vehicle is overheating, you can usually smell it right away.I would say its your temperature gauge sending unit is defective, check the wires to see if they are well connected or broken. ask a backyard mechanic for assistance.

When you say "red hot" do you mean actually glowing? If so, you'd have serious trouble. If you mean only hot to the touch, that's normal - these engines run pretty warm. And yes, the gauge in the center is normal - the OEM temp gauge is a dummy gauge, only meant to show you that it's either cold, overheated, or mainly OK. Use your oil temp gauge as your main indicator - at least it's graded numerically and you can actually see the oil temp.