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Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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AFT
Novice
Mar 28, 2013, 8:34 PM
Post #1 of 13
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Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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Hi Folks! I have a 97 Mercury sable with only 67K miles. It with strange temp. gauge/heat/engine light problems.
Here's the deal:
1. With the car running, sometimes the temperature gauge just sits on Cold. Other times it works and goes to normal running temperature. It never overheats or bounces around.
2. When I turn on the heat, and set it to blow on the windshield, my face or my feet, the hot air quickly fades. If the temp gauge reads "normal" when I turn on the heat, it will go down to Cold soon after.
3. Regardless of where the temp. gauge is, if I set the opening to "Vent", hot air pours into the car (so the heater core etc. must be working).
4. After about one week of this, the Check Engine Soon light came on.
Please help! I did change the thermostat about three months ago. And I had the radiator vaccuum flushed about two months ago.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 29, 2013, 3:18 AM
Post #2 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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Vacuum flushed? ................ no such process
When this is happening, feel the 2 heater hoses where they go into the firewall and see if they are both too hot to continue holding.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 29, 2013, 4:51 AM
Post #3 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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Find out why the check engine light is coming on too. Have it scanned and right down the code(s) number(s).
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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AFT
Novice
Mar 29, 2013, 8:25 AM
Post #4 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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Should say the cooling system was flushed. The shop had a machine that sucked all the fluid out into a large container...?
I'm off to Pep Boys for the computer reading.
Did I note that that the gauge doesn't drop below normal when the vent is open and pumping hot air into the car? I will try to touch both hoses, but the location is awkward - hard to get your hands on while the car is running.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 29, 2013, 2:58 PM
Post #5 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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They didn't flush anything. They merely sucked out about half of the coolant.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 29, 2013, 6:38 PM
Post #6 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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That car is easy to get at the hoses. If you are having issues touching them, it might be best to take it to a shop.
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AFT
Novice
Mar 30, 2013, 8:28 AM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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Codes came out as follows: pd402-egr excessive flow
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 30, 2013, 8:39 AM
Post #8 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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The egr system shouldn't be causing the symptoms your having. More than likely the EGR pressure transducer is bad.
Which engine do you have? 3.0L OHV or DOHC?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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AFT
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Mar 30, 2013, 8:51 AM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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!2 valve.
On the code: I'm reading DPFE sensor might be the problem. Also that a lot of people think EGR valve first, but DPFE is best first bet.
On the erratic temp gauge/heat: I wonder if my other problem is this: I had put in a coolant systems cleaner before the "flush". The car was sitting for a long time after my grandmother passed away. Since it wasn't fully flushed, there might be junk floating around and sometimes blocking the thermostat?
Any thoughts are appreciated. I haven't had a chance to check the hoses, but will do so today.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 30, 2013, 8:55 AM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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It probably wouldn't be the EGR valve itself causing that because if the EGR was stuck open, the engine would be idling rough or not at all. You can test the pressure transducer if you want to confirm it is bad.
Does this have automatic climate control?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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AFT
Novice
Mar 30, 2013, 2:10 PM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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I didn't have the tools/depth to test the valve pressure sensor, so I just bought one and quickly installed it in the parking lot. After 15 minutes and several starts, the Check Engine light did not come back on. (Reset, of course, by disconnecting the battery. So far, so good. Part was $74.99 at AutoZone.
Now on to the gauge/heat flow problem. All hoses are very hot to the touch - into the core, out of the core and that bypass hose that this car has just before them.
I checked the coolant and its a dirty mess. (I'm tempted to ask the place that "flushed" it a few months ago for a refund.) I'll probably find somewhere to have it flushed at the heater core hoses and see what happens.
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AFT
Novice
Mar 30, 2013, 2:35 PM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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And, sorry, I almost forgot. I don't believe this car has automatic climate control. I assume it would be obvious? Just looks like regular old heat/AC.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 30, 2013, 2:59 PM
Post #13 of 13
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Re: Temp. Gauge/Heat/Check Engine Light Issues
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Auto climate control is when you dial in a specific temp and the blower speed and temp control are operated automatically. Manual is when you turn a temp knob that has blue and red zones and you have to select the blower speed
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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