Ford Explorer Sport Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(35)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(35)

Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection Service

How much does a Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Ford Explorer Sport Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection is $105 with $0 for parts and $105 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2003 Ford Explorer SportV6-4.0LService typeTemperature gauge is maxed out InspectionEstimate$124.99Shop/Dealer Price$133.39 - $139.69
2001 Ford Explorer SportV6-4.0LService typeTemperature gauge is maxed out InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$113.41 - $119.72
2002 Ford Explorer SportV6-4.0LService typeTemperature gauge is maxed out InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$113.41 - $119.72
Show example Ford Explorer Sport Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection prices

Your car’s engine needs to maintain the right operating temperature. As it runs, it creates immense amounts of heat. Coolant is circulated through the engine to absorb heat, and then it goes back to the radiator, where the radiator fan helps wick away the collected heat. Once cooled, the coolant is then sent back into the engine to do it all again. This should keep your engine in the normal operating temperature range, but if your temperature gauge is maxed out, there could be something seriously wrong.

How this system works:

The temperature gauge in your dash is connected to the car’s computer and from there to a temperature sensor on the engine block. The sensor measures the temperature of your car’s coolant (it uses resistance, but the actual resistance values can vary drastically from one automaker to another, and from one model to another).

The information read by the sensor is sent to the car’s computer, which adjusts the temperature gauge and also plays a role in the cooling system. Depending on the temperature level, the radiator fan will cycle on and off. As the temperature of your coolant rises, the needle in your temperature gauge should rise, moving from cold to normal. However, it may move all the way to hot in some cases.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Low Coolant: The first suspected cause of your temperature gauge maxing out is low coolant. If this occurs, your engine can overheat, and serious damage can result, up to and including cracking the block. However, if the engine isn’t actually hot (the temp gauge is maxed out but there’s no abnormal levels of heat from the engine), this isn’t the problem.

  • Broken Temp Gauge: If the temperature gauge is maxed out but the engine isn’t actually hot, then the problem may be a broken temperature gauge. The needle may be stuck in the hot range (this can happen after overheating the engine), or a stepper gear in the gauge may be damaged.

  • Failed Temp Sensor: If the temperature sensor on your engine block has failed, it may not send any information to the system, or it may send an erroneous signal, causing the gauge to rise without any actual overheating. It’s also possible that the sensor is shorting.

  • Failed Thermostat: If your car’s thermostat sticks in the closed position, coolant will not fully cycle through the engine, and it will begin to overheat. Your temperature gauge will rise quickly, particularly if it is very warm outside.

  • Cooling Fan Motor Failure: If the motor for your radiator cooling fan fails, it will not cycle on. This reduces the amount of airflow over the radiator, meaning that much of the heat is retained by the coolant, and it will not be able to absorb more from the engine.

  • Bad Fan Switch: Another reason your radiator fan might not be working is a bad fan switch. This switch controls the cycling of your radiator fan(s), and if it fails, it can cause overheating.

  • Air in System after Coolant Service: If you’ve recently had your engine coolant drained and refilled, it’s possible there’s air in the system. Air bubbles can form and block coolant from cycling through the engine, causing it to overheat.

What to expect:

A professionally trained mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect your car’s temperature gauge and other components. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will inspect the coolant level of your vehicle, as well as the temperature sensor and other components in order to determine the cause of the gauge maxing out. It may be necessary to test drive the vehicle and verify if the engine is actually overheating, or if the problem lies with the sensor or the gauge.

How important is this service?

If your car is actually overheating, it’s a very serious problem that could quickly lead to engine-killing damage. Even if the problem is just a malfunctioning sensor or gauge, the issue is still serious, as you will have no means of observing the actual temperature of your engine coolant. One of our professional mechanics can inspect and repair your system.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Ford mechanics

Real customer reviews from Ford owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(35)

Rating Summary
35
0
0
0
0
35
0
0
0
0

AUDIE

33 years of experience
191 reviews
AUDIE
33 years of experience
Ford Explorer Sport V6-4.0L - Check Engine Light is on - Henderson, Nevada
On time, and quickly diagnosed my vacuum leak on my ford. Nice experience 

Mitchel

24 years of experience
239 reviews
Mitchel
24 years of experience
Ford Explorer Sport V6-4.0L - Coolant is leaking - Miami, Florida
He is a great great mechanic. He really knows his stuff. This is my 4th time using him and he has come thru every single time.

Marco

29 years of experience
244 reviews
Marco
29 years of experience
Ford Explorer Sport V6-4.0L - Radiator Hose Repair - Fontana, California
Convenient and quick.

Alex

22 years of experience
112 reviews
Alex
22 years of experience
Ford Explorer Sport V6-4.0L - Car idle is rough Inspection - Apache Junction, Arizona
Alex was very knowledgeable, and equally helpful. He recognized the issue quickly, and was able to clearly explain it. It was obvious that his priority was helping me, rather than trying to cash in on my misfortune.

Excellent Rating

(35)

Rating Summary
35
0
0
0
0
35
0
0
0
0
Number of Ford Explorer Sport services completed
385+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Ford MECHANICS
1700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Drive Belt Tensioner
Common signs include grinding or squeaking noises coming from the belt, unusual belt wear, and belt-driven accessories like the alternator failing.
How Long Does a Windshield Wiper Motor Last?
With With all of the different hazards on the roadways, you will have to make sure that your car is doing all it can to keep you out of harm’s way. Without properly working windshield wipers, you will not be...
P3478 OBD-11 Trouble Code: Cylinder 10 Exhaust Valve Control Performance
What What the P3478 code means When starting your vehicle, and when the vehicle is operating under a heavy weight, the engine will work in V8 mode. But when driving conditions are light, the engine will disable 4 of the...

How do I use Trip A/B mode on the Uplevel Message Center?

In the helpful Uplevel Message Center, there is a Trip A/B mode. This mode allows you to track the time, distance, average MPG, amount of fuel used, and odometer of a particular trip. To use the Trip A/B mode. Use...

Car won't start

Check to see if the Theft Light is on or blinking while you are trying to start the vehicle. Try another key to see if the problem continues. If it does, then have the vehicle checked for fuel pressure (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement)...

Why does my car alarm not make any sound in my 2015 Toyota Corolla

Hello. The first thing I would need to know would be if this is the factory alarm or an aftermarket alarm. If it is a siren then it may be aftermarket meaning that the siren itself is bad. If this...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com