Okay folks I have been reading some older threads, and even in the threads I started about my wifes 92 a lot of folks say replace the Coolant sensor.

From reading the threads it seems that the coolant sensor is prone to go out on these cars.

What is the world does the sensor do, and why would it be the cause for so many issues. Is it a running joke or is there really some issues? I,m guessing that when it goes out it can cause some electrical cross reading and can confuse other sensors. Also if the coolant sensor is bad should'nt the ecu throw a code.

 

The cts measures the coolant temperature,then relays this info to the ecu so it can adjust the fuel mixture until the engine warms up,cold engine= open loop mode[rich fuel]

warmed up engine=closed loop mode..

And it also lets the ecu know when to turn on the cooling fans when the engine gets ubove a preset operating temperature.
So yeah,if it is bad,it could relay false information to the ecu,causing it to adjust other sensors/parts incorrectly...

These cars rarely throw a cel for anything,even if the part is malfuntioning.

 

My CTS went out and it threw a code.

The sensor is only about $20 and takes <5 minutes to replace.

Mine had a very erratic idle and the fans would kick on and off randomly.

 

You're one of the few..

This past summer my maf died,no code was stored at all.

 

On your VE or VG?

Just curious, because it seems like the MAFs conk out on VGs more often. When I first got on the .org, a lot of people told me they went out, so I picked one up. It has been sitting in my garage for over 3 years.

 

you have to drive your car in order for it to eventually fail

 

I did. I drove it to work one day last week.

Exactly 4 miles round trip...I let it warm up for 20 minutes when I got home to charge the battery, though. I need to start it again this week. The high temps have been in the low 30s.

 

I've got a spare in the garage now too, 4 maxs and none have needed one so far. I'm not worried about jinxing myself, the spare is in the garage.

 

The VE...I cant complain though,it made it to 300,000 miles before it died..

 

Pff I've had both MAF and CTS bad, MAF came bad with the car and wouldn't let rev past 2k rpms (thats why I got it cheap) and the CTS went out when when I recently got the car as well, damn fans wouldn't kick in and once again NO CEL.

 

I'm thinking my coolant sensor is bad. My temp sensor needle jumps sometimes while I'm driving. Its almost like its flickering but it reads almost correct when it sits still. It never goes high. Is it worth replacing? It's not tied to the throttle sensor is it? The previous owner got a code for the throttle sensor, replaced it and the code came back. I just left that code and ride with it. My speedo is correct because it matches my GPS.

 

Your info says you have a 96=4th gen..Is this the car we are talking about?

 

w/e max you have bleed your cooling system.

~Alex