Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSFORD1985ECONOLINE E350, VAN DISPLAY EXTENDED, 5.8 GREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISENGINE PERFORMANCETESTING & DIAGNOSIS5.0L/5.8L FEEDBACK CARBURETOR TESTS W/CODESQUICK TESTSTEST E - COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR
1985 Ford Econoline E350, Van Display Extended, 5.8 G
Test E - Coolant Temperature Sensor
1985 Ford Econoline E350, Van Display Extended, 5.8 GSECTION Test E - Coolant Temperature Sensor
NOTE:
To pass this test, coolant temperature must be 50-240°F (10-116°C) for Key On-Engine Off Self-Test and 180-240°F (82-116°C) for Engine Running Self-Test.
- Code 21. Start engine and bring to normal operating temperature. Check that upper radiator hose is hot and pressurized. Perform QUICK TESTS before continuing. If code 21 appears, go to step 2 . If no code 21, service other codes. If vehicle stalls, go to TEST X - DIAGNOSIS BY SYMPTOM .
- Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Disconnect Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor and inspect connectors for damaged pins, corrosion and loose wires. Place DVOM on 20 volt scale. Turn ignition on. Measure voltage at ECT harness connector between coolant signal circuit and signal return circuit. If 4-6 volts, go to step 5 . If less than 4 volts, go to step 3 . If more than 6 volts, go to TEST C - REFERENCE VOLTAGE .
- Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. With harness disconnected at ECT sensor, disconnect 60-pin connector at ECA. Inspect for damaged pins, corrosion and loose wires. Connect breakout box and leave ECA disconnected. With DVOM on 200 ohm scale, measure resistance of ECT harness connector between coolant signal circuit and box pin 7. Then measure resistance of connector between signal return circuit and box pin 46. If both readings are less than 5 ohms, go to step 4 . If either is 5 ohms or greater, repair open circuit. Remove breakout box, reconnect ECA and ECT sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS .
- Turn ignition off and connect breakout box. Disconnect ECA and ECT sensor. With DVOM on 200K ohm scale, measure resistance between box pin 7 and pins 40 and 60. If either reading is less than 10K ohms, service short circuit. Remove breakout box, reconnect ECA and ECT sensor and repeat Quick Test. If both readings are 10K ohms or more, go to step 5 .
- Reconnect ECA and ECT sensor. Remove breakout box. Warm engine to normal operating temperature, turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Disconnect harness at ECT sensor. With DVOM on 200K ohm scale, measure resistance of ECT sensor. In KEY ON-ENGINE OFF (KOEO) SELF-TEST , reading should be 1300-7700 ohms. In Engine Running Self-Test, reading should be 1550-4550 ohms. If both are within limits, replace ECA, reconnect sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS . If not within limits, replace ECT sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS .
- Code 51 Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Reconnect 60-pin connector at ECA and remove breakout box. Disconnect ECT sensor harness and inspect for damaged pins, corrosion and loose wires. Insert jumper wire in ECT sensor harness between coolant signal circuit and signal return circuit. Run KEY ON-ENGINE OFF (KOEO) SELF-TEST . If code 61 appears, replace ECT sensor, remove jumper wire, reconnect harness and repeat QUICK TESTS . If no code 61, go to step 7 .
- Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Remove jumper. Disconnect 60-pin connector at ECA and inspect for damaged pins, corrosion and loose wires. Connect breakout box, leaving ECA disconnected. With DVOM on 200 ohm scale, measure resistance of ECT harness between coolant signal circuit and box pin 7 and signal return circuit and box pin 46. If either is 5 ohms or more, repair open in harness, remove breakout box, reconnect ECA and ECT sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS . If both are less than 5 ohms, replace ECA, remove breakout, reconnect ECA and ECT sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS .
- Code 61 Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Disconnect 60-pin connector at ECA and inspect for damaged pins, corrosion and loose wires. Perform KEY ON-ENGINE OFF (KOEO) SELF-TEST . If code 51 appears, replace ECT and repeat QUICK TESTS . If no code 51, go to step 9 .
- Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. With ECT disconnected, install breakout box and leave ECA disconnected. With DVOM on 200K ohm scale, measure resistance between box pin 7 to pins 40 and 60. If any less than 10K ohms, repair short in harness and repeat QUICK TESTS . If both 10K ohms or more, replace ECA and repeat QUICK TESTS .
- Continuous Monitor Code 21. Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Remove breakout box, reconnect ECA and ECT sensor and prepare vehicle for test drive (all test equipment removed). During test drive, try to simulate complaint and keep complaint active for at least one minute. After test drive, perform KEY ON-ENGINE OFF (KOEO) SELF-TEST . If code 21 present, ensure thermostat is operating properly. If okay, replace ECT sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS . If no code 21, unable to duplicate fault at this time. Continuous Code 21 test complete.
- Continuous Monitor Codes 51 and 61. Enter Continuous Monitor mode and observe volt/ohmmeter for fault indication while doing the following: Lightly tap on ECT sensor to simulate road shock. Wiggle sensor connector. If fault is indicated or voltage reading exceeds 5 volts, disconnect harness connectors at ECT and ECA. If connectors and terminals are okay, replace sensor and repeat QUICK TESTS . If no fault indicated, go to step 12 .
- Observe volt/ohmmeter while performing the following: Beginning at ECT, wiggle, shake or bend small sections of harness while working way to dash panel. Then repeating process from panel to ECA. If fault is indicated, isolate and repair problem and repeat QUICK TESTS . If no fault indicated, go to step 13 .
- Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds. Disconnect 60-pin connector at ECA and inspect connector and terminals for damage. If damaged, service as required and repeat QUICK TESTS . If okay, fault cannot be duplicated at this time. Continuous Code 51 and 61 testing is complete.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.