ECT, ACT??????? HELP

[MikeROD16]

hey guys, my car is sputtering, kicking and running way rich. I know, i posted similar threads, but i was wondering, i saw a coolant temp. sensor in autozone for my car. It had kinda like a 2 pin harness. The one i have right now in on my lower intake and looks like a screw thread on top. Why is this? Is that even the ECT? or do i have the wrong one? Cuz they sell the connector in autozone too. Im not sure what to do. and i was searching, and ran into something called Air Charge Sensor. Idk what that is and if my car has it, cause maybe is a MAF thing and i have speed density. Im pretty lost right now.

This is the one i saw at AZ
http://www.autozone.com/R,APP223129...partType,00113/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

This is the one i have.
http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=ACD&MfrPartNumber=F1855&PartType=290&PTSet=A


Im going to replace my O2 Sensors, and see if that helps but in the meanwhile, can u guys help me with this?? Thanks in advance!

 

[HISSIN50]

The gauge's temp sender is in the driver's side front of the lower intake. It has the threaded top. This has nothing to do with anything except the gauge.

The ECT is a sensor on the passenger side. This is what the EEC looks at.

The ACT (aka IAT) is in the intake.

What exactly is your car doing and what have you done to diagnose it? If you have a DMM and want to spend some time, diagnostics will save you money.

Good luck.

 

[MikeROD16]

how can i diagnose it? anythin with money cant happen at the moment.

 

[stykthyn]

you can buy a code reader for less than $20

 

[MikeROD16]

ok, i bought one. any specific things i should do cuz its a mustang of just go with what the book says?

 

[67coupe]

The one pictured in the autozone link is the ECT (Engine Coolant Temp). This sensor feeds the coolant temp to the ECU. A bad one will affect the way the engine runs.

The one pictured in the parts america link is the sending unit for the temp gauge in the cluster. This will not cause any issues with the way the engines runs. It's for the temp gauge only.

If you have a multimeter, you can measure the voltage output of the ECT as the engine warms up. Do a search and you will find the table for this sensor. Once you find the table, you can verify if the sensor is sending the ECU realistic values.

Probe the two wire leading out of the ECT. Hook them to a multimeter. Start the car with the engine cold. The coolant temp should be very close to atmospheric conditions. Let the car idle and watch the multimeter as the engine warms up, write down the voltage values every minute. Once the car warms up and the thermostat opens, the peak reading from the sensor should be just above the opening temp for your thermostat. Using the table, find the temp value corresponding to your recorded voltage readings. If everything looks reasonable, it's probably not the ECT.

I have done this before with these two sensor and many others. Saves money, rules out potential problems, and you learn alot.

BTW, you can also do this with the ACT.

 

[MikeROD16]

oh ok, well, im gonna buy it and try it on and if it doesnt help out, return it. the guy at AZ says its ok to do so lol. and i cant find the ACT

 

[MikeROD16]

The gauge's temp sender is in the driver's side front of the lower intake. It has the threaded top. This has nothing to do with anything except the gauge.

The ECT is a sensor on the passenger side. This is what the EEC looks at.

The ACT (aka IAT) is in the intake.

What exactly is your car doing and what have you done to diagnose it? If you have a DMM and want to spend some time, diagnostics will save you money.

Good luck.

btw, what my car is doing is running rich and sputtring. fouls my plugs fairly quick.

 

[67coupe]

Is your car still speed density? Might want to look at the MAP sensor, too. Better yet, it's probably best if you pull the codes.

Heres a pic of the ACT location. Ignore my terrible paint skills.

 

[MikeROD16]

yeah, i found it, and i just tried the new ECT and no improvements. next is the ACT and then MAP. my dad is saying to just take ti to a mechanic and let him run the codes.

 

[cenok is family]

check your tps. my car used to run WWAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY rich and surge really bad and i could never figure out why. turns out my tps was broke as chit

 

[HISSIN50]

Did you run codes yet? Your CEL doesnt work so you need to check codes periodically.

Again, a paperclip, DMM and some time can save you huge amounts of money.

Good luck.

 

[MikeROD16]

thnx HISSIN5.0

and cenok, i'll try that first, cuz i tried moving it around and nothinngggg. lets see. ill probably go buy it tomm.