Help, 8ba suddenly running hot.

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Eric H

Junior Member
My 51 ford has run at a normal temp for the first 500-600 km. Today the needle is pinned after just a few minutes of driving. Please help, I need advice.
 
The only thing I can think of is that I put the battery in backwards accidentally for about a minute yesterday. (brain fart) Could this have messed up the gauge?
 
The needle come down at times for a few seconds and then rises back up fast or slow does not seem to matter.
 
also could be low coolant level, is it up to cover the core , also their is two senders you could dissconect one at a time to see which side is the problem ,connecting the batt. backwards could damage the gauge , how do the oil and fuel gauge read
 
Stock gauge? Do you have a
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laser temp gun? Aftermarket gauge ? Install on one side and see what happens.
Ken CT's idea of a stuck thermostat is an easy item to check .
 
Thanks guys. I am going to check the thermostats and try disconnecting one censer at a time to see if I can get to the bottom of this.
 
what does the gauge say when the key is on in the morning before the engine has been run?
Basically the same question as above
 
Mechanical temp gauges would be nice if you don't mind the way they look. Remember with the two stock sensors, the one with two terminals is just a switch that opens when the engine has overheated. The single terminal sensor is the one that operates the gauge. If the double terminaled one opens, the gauge goes to "Hot" because all power id cut off from the circuit.

I'd check the thermostats and coolant level first. Easy and cheap. Good luck!!
 
Henry/Kokomo said:
Mechanical temp gauges would be nice if you don't mind the way they look. Remember with the two stock sensors, the one with two terminals is just a switch that opens when the engine has overheated. The single terminal sensor is the one that operates the gauge. If the double terminaled one opens, the gauge goes to "Hot" because all power id cut off from the circuit.

I'd check the thermostats and coolant level first. Easy and cheap. Good luck!!
Click to expand...

I did not realize that. Thanks.
 
I was just reminiscing about the small pinhole leak that I had in my rad last year. I added some bars leak type crap that stopped the leak. Maybe it has turned my rad in to a low flow model?
 
never use barrs leak it plugged up my original rad completely wish i had taken it to a repair shop to begin with...
 
Eric - My temp gauge went out last year. I got two mechanical gauges (One for each head) from NAPA. Easy to install and work great. Two problems - light is 12 volt and if you want to mount under the dash you have to drill a pretty good size hole throught the firewall.
 
I agree that you need to measure the real engine temp, but if the car is as hot as the needle says, you'll definitely feel it when you open the hood. There's a big difference between 180 degrees and 220. The engine will be saying "don't touch me or you'll get burned for sure".
 
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