Coolant Temp Sensor

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

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!

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

92 awd turbo talon

[Pushit2.0]

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

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

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

[Pushit2.0]

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

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

Originally Posted by Pushit2.0

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

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

[Pushit2.0]

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

[niterydr]

Originally Posted by Pimpin Dsmstyle

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

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)

[niterydr]

Originally Posted by Pushit2.0

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

lOL, great timing.

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

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.