coolant temp sensor issues

Hi guys, I'm new to this site so bare w/ me. I have a 2002 Ford Explorer sport trac . I went to get my emissions and it failed due to coolant temp sensor malfuntion, I went to a shop and had it replaced ...300.00 dollars later I took it back to get the emissions and it failed again:frown: . The repair shop i took it to said that the car has two sensors and that it would cost an additional 115.00 to replace it.My question is ...is there more than 1 coolant temp sensor in the 2002 Explorer sport trac?

Your 2002 has an Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor and possibly a Coolant Temperature Sender. I don't find a reference to the sender in the service manual, but in the past most Fords have both. The sender is used to illuminate a light in the instrument cluster and the sensor is used by the PCM for fuel mapping, engine timing, idle speed, etc. For a code to be set, it would have been related to the sensor rather than a sender.

Usually the sensor and the sender were mounted in close physical proximity to one another and without checking the wiring, it could have been easy to replace the wrong one. However, I'd be curious to understand how it cost $300 to replace it. Additionally, if you asked the shop to replace the sensor and they replaced the sender, I'd hope they'd make and attempt to make it right with you such as only ask you to pay for the price of the part and not the labor.

-Rod

Thanks ! I'll certainly call and ask about this.

I'm GUESSING it's probably the same set-up as on my 2000 exprorer XLT. The sensor and sender are within 2" of each other, right behind the thermostat upper housing. Both parts are fairly inexpensive (less than $ 20 each). It took me approx an hour to change out both together.

When you have this resolved I would suggest you might look for a new (cheaper) mechanic. Sorry you are having these problems.

Problem with looking for a new (cheaper) mechanic, is you might get just what you pay for.

300 dollars for a temp sensor? Sounds like she's already scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Wow that crazy 300 for that sensor and people scream when i charge them 40 to put that sensor in. sorry to hear that it just infurates me to know that they can charge that much and get away with it.

My thoughts entirely. I could understand $80-100 and do bot the sensor and the sender at the same time but $ 300!

>"The sensor and sender are within 2" of each other, right behind the thermostat upper housing. Both parts are fairly inexpensive (less than $ 20 each). "<

I think I have a bad sensor on my 2005 Mercury Mountaineer V6. Auto Zone doesn't stock them. Any ideas where to buy one other than a dealer?

You can definately get both the SENSOR and the SENDER at O'Reillys. I believe NAPA also has both.