Ford Ranger Temperature Warning Light is on 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

(918)

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

(918)

Temperature Warning Light is on Inspection Service

How much does a Temperature Warning Light is on Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Ford Ranger Temperature Warning Light is on Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1996 Ford RangerV6-4.0LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1998 Ford RangerV6-3.0LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2003 Ford RangerL4-2.3LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1993 Ford RangerV6-3.0LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1988 Ford RangerV6-2.9LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1984 Ford RangerL4-2.2L DieselService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1986 Ford RangerL4-2.0LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1985 Ford RangerL4-2.3LService typeTemperature Warning Light is on InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Ford Ranger Temperature Warning Light is on Inspection prices

Overheating is the most common cause of an irreparably damaged engine, so you should always take a temperature warning light seriously. The temperature warning light is on the dashboard gauge cluster and usually contains the words “temp” or “engine overheating.” Or, it may simply show a picture of a thermometer.

Most vehicles also have an engine temperature gauge that shows just how hot the engine is. When the temperature warning light illuminates, the first thing to check is this gauge, to determine the severity of the overheating issue.

How this system works:

With the exception of older, air-cooled vehicles, cars rely on a liquid called coolant (or antifreeze) to keep the engine at an optimal temperature. Coolant is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, and it circulates around the engine block and absorbs excess heat, which keeps the engine from overheating. The coolant converts that heat to air in the radiator, and then the air is emitted, at which time the coolant is ready to absorb more heat. Without coolant, the engine would quickly ruin itself with its own heat production.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Coolant is low or weak: The most common culprit when an engine overheats is low or weak coolant. If your car doesn’t have enough coolant, then it can’t absorb enough heat. While your car will naturally lose small amounts of coolant over the years, a leak is the most likely cause of low coolant levels.

The proper ratio of coolant to water can also get distorted, resulting in a problem. Too little or even too much antifreeze can dramatically lower the boiling point of the coolant. A proper ratio of antifreeze to water is 50/50 to 60/40, depending on the vehicle.

  • Broken radiator fan shroud: The radiator fan shroud directs the airflow across the radiator so the air can absorb the coolant’s heat. When the fan shroud breaks or becomes dislodged, air fails to enter the radiator, and the coolant will no longer have a place to direct the transfer of heat.

  • Broken or missing air dam: Along with the shroud, some vehicles have an air dam (or deflector) underneath the vehicle. If this is broken or missing then the air can pass underneath the vehicle but not also through the radiator, which will cause overheating. These air dams are essential in newer vehicles, as they force the air through the fan shroud.

  • Faulty coolant temperature sensor: The temperature sensor takes constant readings of the coolant temperature and sends that information to the engine control unit. Based on the temperature of the coolant, the engine control unit adjusts the ignition timing, the fuel injector pulse, and the operation of the electric cooling fan.

  • Bad water pump: The water pump is responsible for keeping the coolant cycling throughout the engine. After the coolant transfers its heat energy to the air, the water pump recirculates it around the engine so that it can absorb more heat. The most common water pump problems are a leaking pump, bad bearings, or an impeller that has rotted away due to a low coolant ratio.

  • Stuck thermostat: The thermostat acts as a dam for the coolant. When the engine first turns on, and it is still cold, the thermostat keeps the coolant from circulating, which allows the engine to warm up as quickly as possible. Once the engine has reached its operating temperature, the thermostat opens and allows the coolant to circulate. A stuck thermometer may stay permanently sealed and therefore keep the coolant from reaching the engine block.

The thermostat may also stick open. This will not usually result in overheating, but it will waste gas.

  • Broken engine cooling fan: The engine has a cooling fan that is deployed when the coolant needs some extra help. When the coolant temperature sensor notices that the coolant temperature is getting too high, the engine control unit (on newer vehicles) will initiate the cooling fan to reduce the temperature.

  • Broken thermostatic fan clutch: Older vehicles use a thermostatic fan clutch to engage the engine cooling fan, which is mounted to the fan blades. The fan clutch uses a bi-metallic spring that tightens when the temperature increases. This acts as a “high speed” option for the fan, and when engaged, it draws more air across the radiator.

  • Blown head gasket: The head gaskets sit between the engine block and the cylinder heads, and keep coolant from entering the engine’s oil and combustion chamber. When a gasket blows and coolant seeps in, the issue is not only that the engine will overheat, but also that damage may be done to the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors due to contamination from the coolant.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the cause of the temperature warning light turning on and the source of the overheating, and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How important is this service?

An overheating engine is extremely dangerous. It is not safe to drive a vehicle with an overheating engine, or you may ruin the engine completely and put yourself at risk. As soon as you notice the light come on, pull over. If there is no place to safely pull over, turn off your radio and other electrical units, and turn your heat on high (this will funnel some of the hot engine air into the cabin). As soon as you can safely pull over, do so, and then book one of our mechanics to perform an inspection.

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

(918)

Rating Summary
867
30
9
2
10
867
30
9
2
10

Todd

13 years of experience
47 reviews
Todd
13 years of experience
Ford Ranger V6-4.0L - Starter - Portland, Oregon
Excellent service whould recommend to others

Nicholas

13 years of experience
35 reviews
Nicholas
13 years of experience
Ford Ranger V6-3.0L - Check Engine Light is on - Lemon Grove, California
He is very knowledgeable a d explained exactly what he was doing so that I understood the problem.

Stephen

32 years of experience
178 reviews
Stephen
32 years of experience
Ford Ranger V6-4.0L - Electric Problems - Golden, Colorado
Professional prompt...efficient...courteous Thank You....

Cary

27 years of experience
92 reviews
Cary
27 years of experience
Ford Ranger V6-3.0L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Raleigh, North Carolina
Excellent service!

Excellent Rating

(918)

Rating Summary
867
30
9
2
10
867
30
9
2
10
Number of Ford Ranger services completed
10098+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Ford MECHANICS
1700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How to Replace Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings are parts that allow the wheels on your vehicle to spin freely and with as little friction as...
10 Best Stores to Buy Auto Parts in Modesto, California
Automotive technicians rely on auto parts stores to add and replace car parts. The best auto parts shop in Modesto is O’Reilly Auto Parts.
How to Troubleshoot and Replace a Leaking Valve Cover Gasket
Valve cover gasket leaks usually start when not much oil leaves the engine. It should be repaired before it causes serious damage and costly repairs.

Car chugs a couple of times wont start

Hello - it is possible that the engine "jumped time" because of the momentary loss of oil pressure after the oil change. (The fact that you changed to synthetic oil does not come into play here.) The timing chain tensioners...

Check engine light comes on while driving. My vehicle started jerking while driving. I was told it may be the camshaft sensor.

Hi there. When your car is jerking around, this means that the engine is having a misfire and causing the engine to stumble making the vehicle seem to jerk around. Check the camshaft position sensor for any damage and if...

heater works for about 20 mins then starts to blow cold air

Check for low coolant level and, if low, there is a possibility of air trapped in the system. Check for collapsed (or soft) hoses. Check your engine operating temperature to see if it is in the normal range of 195...

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