Heat issues after valve cover gasket replacement

Yesterday I completed my valve cover gasket replacement. After assembly everything was put back together I started the truck, runs great sounds great, except for the temp gauge on the dash is now unresponsive. I checked the connections and pretty sure everything was put back correctly. The other weird thing is that the heat in the truck kicks in almost immediately where as it used to take a ten to 15 minutes to warm up. I am afraid to drive the truck because I do not want to over heat it. Any ideas as to what may be causing this?

 

Just replaced the thermostat and flushed the coolant, still no change in the gauge.

 

Sounds like you disconnected the wire to the temperature sender gauge or the wire broke in the process. (The computer uses its own temp sensor.)

I can't remember the location. Either near the water outlet or by the firewall side of the engine.

You have a 4 cylinder?

 

I believe there is a sensor with one wire at the front passenger side of the head right where the radiator hose connects.

 

Yup you left the temp sensor unplugged. If it's a v6 it's in the Front center.

 

Thanks all!!!. Yes, that is where its located. Its definitely plugged in. I even tested the circuit and it was fine. I just ended up taking it to the stealership. Let them fix it. I do appreciate all the feed back. The valve cover gasket redo was fun!!!!!.

 

That sensor has 2 wires, so it's probably the temp sensor that the computer uses. The sender gauge for the cluster only has 1 wire. It grounds itself through the engine.

bjd1020, you need to find the correct sender gauge, the one with 1 wire. And don't give your money to the stealership!

 

Ahh in that case it's in the back of the engine in the center near the firewall. Very easy to have been left unplugged or torn out of the connector during valve cover removal.

 

I have looked for the one in the back on the firewall that is likely the culprit. Cant seem to locate it. Is it easily visible?

 

On my 96 2.4L the sensor is where the top radiator hose attaches to the engine.

 

Yeah, I have located that one. The one in the front that wht95scort has pictured above, its definitely plugged in. From what I have read above the one that controls the dash board cluster is in the back. I have yet to locate it. I wonder it removing the plenum would help locate it.

 

Do you have a 4 or 6 cylinder?

 

should be the red arrow location

On the 6 cyl, it's a little white plug next to the heater hoses at the back of engine. It's a single blade connector. It can be hard to see with all the hoses and wires back there.

 

its a 6, awesome thanks for the photo. I will have a look tomorrow and see if that one is disconnected.

 

the temp guage wire is up front passenger side of head computer is passenger side rear of head

 

That's for 4 cylinder engines. OP has a 6 cylinder.

 

Your welcome.

 

I found the connector!!! it was right where you pointed it out and I had missed it. Connected it and boom, the gauge is working. Thanks!!! Where do I send the beer. One thing I am not too happy about......I spent 30 bucks on a Haynes manual.....while it mentions the sensor in the front of the PC, there is not mention of the dash sensor located in the back......

 

Awesome! Glad it was something simple!

 

I love a happy ending!