i have a 2001 4.7l
ok yesterday when i was driving home from work i noticed that my temp stopped just before the first line on the gauge. same thing today go to and from work i noticed the same this but this time on the way home i get an engine code P1281. which means that the truck is running to cold. what would cause this ?

 

Your thermostat is likely failing, sticking open.

They don't last forever.

Get one from your dealer. There are a lot of crap parts out there nowadays. The new one should last another 14 years or so.

 

ok thanks for the info.

 

tstat should be replaced every year honestly, factory one is made by stant

 

I don't think so.

Thermostats generally last a VERY long time. There is no point in replacing it until it fails.

 

I would say every 5 years letting it go bad is never a good thing for me anyway. I understand archemedes74 as I think the same way getting ahead of your possible problems is always a better choice. if not replacing it then pulling it and inspecting it is the next best choice I did that and found an obstruction in the stat.

 

How is the heat in the cab? Little heat no heat tstat. If you have heat ECT sensor.

 

well there is enough heat getting to the heater core to warm up the cab. but is just not enough heat to get the temp gauge get it to normal temp.

 

Replacing t-stat on a 4.7 is a major pita. I will wait till mine fails. Lol. I used a napa gold or premim. Something like that.

 

Agreed. There's nothing like laying on your back with antifreeze dripping down on top of you to change the part.

Luckily the o-ring holds it in place nicely so you don't have to worry about it falling out.

Just hope the bolts don't break when changing it.