How to restore engine temp on dashboard?

[onanysunday]

Hello,

I have a 2013 Taurus Interceptor with the the 3.5 EcoBoost. My coolant temp is offline on the dashboard, but my fans still come on and my operating temp remains constant as according to my Lufi Xs OBD/GPS gauges, so the car still "knows" how hot it is and reacts accordingly (but I don't know how hot it is by looking at the dashboard). How do I restore the temp gauge on the dash to start reading again? I've seen mention of "coolant temperature sensors" on earlier models and "cylinder head temperature sensors" on later models and I can't tell which of these I have (or both) and where they are located [or which one would cause the temp gauge to go offline]. It seems this/these sensor(s) are either under the intake manifold or on the right lower part of the engine behind the front right wheel liner (at least on the F150's). I did purchase a temp sensor -below- that should work to either replace the coolant temp. or cylinder head temp. sensor. If anyone has any info on this let me know. Also, why is it impossible to get a service manual for a 2013 Interceptor sedan? It doesn't seem to exist anywhere in the world. Thank you.

 

[Majestic]

Having not been in the PI version, I don't know what the dash looks like vs. a regular SHO. In the SHO you adjust what gauges show via the settings menu. I'd guess the owner's manual issue is that the PI is a Taurus and probably doesn't have a separate manual.

 

[kryptto]

Hello,

I have a 2013 Taurus Interceptor with the the 3.5 EcoBoost. My coolant temp is offline on the dashboard, but my fans still come on and my operating temp remains constant as according to my Lufi Xs OBD/GPS gauges, so the car still "knows" how hot it is and reacts accordingly (but I don't know how hot it is by looking at the dashboard). How do I restore the temp gauge on the dash to start reading again? I've seen mention of "coolant temperature sensors" on earlier models and "cylinder head temperature sensors" on later models and I can't tell which of these I have (or both) and where they are located [or which one would cause the temp gauge to go offline]. It seems this/these sensor(s) are either under the intake manifold or on the right lower part of the engine behind the front right wheel liner (at least on the F150's). I did purchase a temp sensor -below- that should work to either replace the coolant temp. or cylinder head temp. sensor. If anyone has any info on this let me know. Also, why is it impossible to get a service manual for a 2013 Interceptor sedan? It doesn't seem to exist anywhere in the world. Thank you.

You can try a subscription at ALLDATA.com unfortunately shop manuals are non existent. I agree with @Majestic - I dont know how the dash layout is defined.

I am basing this off my findings for my 2014 is under the lower intake?!?!?!

Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) Sensor - 3.5L Ti-VCT

Removal
NOTE: Removal steps in this procedure may contain installation details.

1. Remove the lower intake manifold. For 3.5L Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing) , Refer to 303-01A See: Computers and Control Systems > Description and Operation.





To install, tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).

 

[onanysunday]

Ugh. I was hoping this one had it behind the front right wheel well. I'm not too keen on removing the manifold to access it but it's good to know. I found a diagram online for the "coolant temp sensor" location of a 2013? F150 3.5 EB engine. Does anyone know whether the F150 EB engine is the same as the Taurus SHO 3.5 EB engine? The intake manifold on the Taurus seems to be similar to the Explorer, while the F150 engine "looks" different from the outside, but may not be? I was just wondering, as there's waay too much info on the F150 3.5EB engine on the internet, and not nearly enough info about the Taurus SHO 3.5EB engine. Also, just to confirm, is the 3.5EB Taurus SHO engine layout the same as the Explorer 3.5EB layout; which is different than the 3.5EB F150 layout? I believe the F150 intake manifold is different than the others which makes it confusing to follow DIY youtube instructionals that are only showing trucks and not Tauruses.

 

[Majestic]

Are you saying you want to be able to see the temp gauge next to the fuel level and tach? That is definitely in the settings menu under display. Look in your owner's manual if you have one.

 

[kryptto]

Don't forget you can use MKS/FLEX/Explorer for the 3.5 EB engine for reference. I would veer away from the F150.

 

[kryptto]

Go to the 27 min mark for the location, fun times ahead.

 

[Jordan_R]

You can try a subscription at ALLDATA.com unfortunately shop manuals are non existent. I agree with @Majestic - I dont know how the dash layout is defined.

I am basing this off my findings for my 2014 is under the lower intake?!?!?!

Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) Sensor - 3.5L Ti-VCT

Removal
NOTE: Removal steps in this procedure may contain installation details.

1. Remove the lower intake manifold. For 3.5L Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing) , Refer to 303-01A See: Computers and Control Systems > Description and Operation.

View attachment 87347



To install, tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).

Not ecoboost engine

 

[onanysunday]

Are you saying you want to be able to see the temp gauge next to the fuel level and tach? That is definitely in the settings menu under display. Look in your owner's manual if you have one.

No, I was just saying the coolant temp in the dashboard doesn't work, no fault code is generated for it, and I am just trying to figure out the faulty part needed (and where it's located). I'm guessing the temp sensor I purchased (as an assumption of what was wrong) will work to replace both a coolant temp sensor on earlier models, as well as a cylinder temp sensor on later models like the one I have? I did purchase a full intake manifold gasket set in case this was the situation, so at least I'll be able to put fresh gaskets on if I remove everything. I was planning on a doing a walnut blast to the back of the intake valves, but my carbon build-up isn't too bad and can be addressed with chemical intake cleaning sprays. As long as I don't forget to spray my intake (maybe every 10,000 miles?) maybe the amount of carbon build-up will never turn into an issue where the manifold has to get removed for a manual deep cleaning, but if I have to remove everything to replace that sensor anyway, maybe it's not a bad idea to safely try and clean out some of the harder to reach carbon build-up while I'm in there.

Jordan_R : Are you saying the small snippet I provided in post #4 is the correct location for a coolant temperature sensor on a 2013 FPIS w/ the 3.5 EB?

 

[Texas Marauder]

The coolant temp gauge does not get a signal directly from the temp sensor. The temp sensor sends a signal to the PCM which then sends a signal thru the HS can to the IPC. You say you can see the temp in your other gauge (connected to the DLC?). I'd suspect a faulty IPC.

 

[onanysunday]

Just to be clear, this is the engine variant we're dealing with and what it looks like. This manifold layout is different than almost all other videos of 3.5 EcoBoost engines I see on youtube. Notice the throttle body on the left side of the engine, and there is no black plastic ports on top of it.

 

[Texas Marauder]

Just to be clear, this is the engine variant we're dealing with and what it looks like. This manifold layout is different than almost all other videos of 3.5 EcoBoost engines I see on youtube. Notice the throttle body on the left side of the engine, and there is no black plastic ports on top of it.

That is the engine used in the SHO, Flex, Edge, Explorer, Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility. It is completely different from the F150 engine.

 

[onanysunday]

The coolant temp gauge does not get a signal directly from the temp sensor. The temp sensor sends a signal to the PCM which then sends a signal thru the HS can to the IPC. You say you can see the temp in your other gauge (connected to the DLC?). I'd suspect a faulty IPC.

Thanks, what's an IPC? I can see temp. through the OBD port with a device (Lufi Xs) that can read the ECU and lots of engine parameters and data that are not provided in the regular (limited) dash display such as turbo pressure, IAT, battery voltage, air/fuel ratio, oil/transmission temps, pressures, etc. The engine appears to have multiple sensors (or at least more than one) that can detect temperature. Otherwise the car would've blown up by now but stays between 82-97 degrees celsius because the cooling fans still activate when they need to even though my dashboard coolant gauge is offline.

 

[onanysunday]

That is the engine used in the SHO, Flex, Edge, Explorer, Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility. It is completely different from the F150 engine.

That figures why it's SO hard to find info on. The world only cares about the F150 3.5 EcoBoost it seems. Or perhaps it's because they've probably sold millions more of those. Everyone has/wants a truck I guess. Not me though.

 

[Texas Marauder]

Thanks, what's an IPC?

Instrument Panel Cluster.

I can tell you that I monitored my fans and was surprised to see that the low speed fan runs all the time up to @ 65 mph. Never saw the high speed fan come on.

This is from 2014, 2013 should be similar.