Engine Coolant Temp ECT sensor

[kelbizzle]

I was just curious. My check engine light recently came on and I did the whole jumping the service connector. Only to find out it was the ECT sensor or circuit. I was just curious if this was something I should replace and repair immediately or could it wait until next week.

I was also curious what symptoms would a bad sensor show? I read in the manual that is says be careful with the sensor because it controls the fuel injection system.

 

[Taco15]

you will back fire, smell fuel,get horrible gas mileage,idle will be sky high. ALl because you are running rich as hades! Change the little bastard before it get worse. Its under the VTS and cost about $25. I had the same problem.

what happens is. That sensor tells the comp how hot your or cold the car is running. When its cold its sends alittle more fuel to get it going for a while. It lvels off when the car hits operating temp.When it goes bad the majority of the time it tells the ecu its cold when the car has reached operating temp and therefore dumps mad fuel.

 

[kelbizzle]

Anything else I need to know before changing out the sensor?

 

[lsvteccrx]

be careful not to burn youself with the hot coolant thats going to pour out of the hole that you are gonna unscrew the sensor from. also make sure that the wires on the ECT sensor
are not corroded or broken before you replace it. ive seen old broken wires on ECT sensors before. good luck

 

[kelbizzle]

If the wires are broken...Could I get wires ordered or would I have to cut them out of another integra.

 

[Taco15]

you mrean broken from the harness plug? If thats the case yeah go find it in a junker integra. you should be good.
1. drain coolant
2 change plug
3 plug it back

easy!

 

[YouKnowWhoIBee]

i had the same problem.. i drove on it for 6 months. Then the car wouldnt start when it was warm. So i finally changed it. Drain the coolant before you remove the sensor

 

[reikoshea]

sooo...uh....if one's ECT is bad, would their engine make a gargling sound, the temp guage read hot, even thought the block and the head both read 165F (infared guage)...and would the backfirey misfirey gargly sound make the knock sensor throw a code?

 

[kelbizzle]

Quoted post[/post]]
sooo...uh....if one's ECT is bad, would their engine make a gargling sound, the temp guage read hot, even thought the block and the head both read 165F (infared guage)...and would the backfirey misfirey gargly sound make the knock sensor throw a code?

I dont believe so. Mine is bad. It only throws error code 6 and I beleive it's only when I startup and drive away without letting it warm. mine backfires a lil and gargles a bit. But that could be because my cat is disconnected from the resonator :-D hehe

 

[Taco15]

Quoted post[/post]]
sooo...uh....if one's ECT is bad, would their engine make a gargling sound, the temp guage read hot, even thought the block and the head both read 165F (infared guage)...and would the backfirey misfirey gargly sound make the knock sensor throw a code?

that happened to me on my old GAGT. I drove it less than a mile and the gauge said it was burning up. When i got out the freaking motor was still frezzing ass cold(winter). It was the headgasket. Also when the knock sensor kicks in doesnt that mean it had to retard the timing due to KNOCKING? ssooooooo i think you out to have the block checked out Well then again it could just be your thermostat or you have an air bubble. just throwing ideas.

 

[reikoshea]

Well before i could just turn off the engine and then turn it to II and it would show normal again. that thing is crazy. i had the head off a few weeks ago, and the gasket is new. it was fine, but i went ahead and replaced it anyway. I wanted to check the rings on it...still 200 or better on the compression test after the fact.

 

[Teggy_1.8b18b]

Ok Im two steps from using dynamite to fix my car!!!! My car has had almost a complete overhaul on everything. Could my Engine Coolant Temp Sensor Cause my car to rev up to almost 2600/3000 Rpm Sitting Idle in 1st Gear waiting to turn. I believe my Radiator Fans arent kicking on either... I turned the car heater on in this godforsaken heat and the over revving stopped. It sounded like the car was full throttle when I was not on the gas at all. Help please I am at witts end!

 

[dilbeckskate]

This thread is 11 years old