Coolant Temp Sensor
 

What symptoms does a faulty coolant temp sensor cause? Couple of people have suggested this to be the problem for my car but I just don't understand what a temp sensor has to do with how the car runs. Enlighten me if you can!

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

92 awd turbo talon

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

If the coolent temp sensor fails or the wires break the ecu defaults to cold or hot, if it defaults cold it will dump a lot of fuel because it thinks its -40deg out side.

~John

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

It's running like complete shit until it's up to complete running temp. I think it's getting shitty mileage as well.

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

Hook up a logger and see what the ECU thinks the coolent temp is, or just look at your thermostate housing, the ecu temp sensor is the 2 wire one on the bottom pointed down at an angle, the wires could be cracked/broken or the sensor could be bad. If its the wires just cut them back few inches and use spade connectors and new wire, it does not matter which one goes to what terminal on the sensor.

~John

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

If those wires weren't establishing a connection, wouldn't that not allow my temp guage to work or is that a different connection?

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

The temp gauge is the single wire sensor next to the ecu temp sensor, and the other 2 wire sensor on top is for the AC fan.

~John

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

There are three sensors on a 1g.
CTS for ECU (lower on t-stat housing, near head, by gauge sensor)
CTS for a/c system fans (higher up on the thermostat housing)
CTS for stock gauge. (1 wire)

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

lOL, great timing.

Re: Coolant Temp Sensor
 

How does that shit come off? is the plug portion of the wires somehow clipped onto the sensor? I was tuggin on it but didn't wanna rip on it. The wires are really stiff but I'd need to disconnect it and get a better look at it to see if it's broken.