ECT Sensor Questions

94GTLaserRC · Aug 12, 2008

When Doing some data logging today, my ECT (came used with new engine) was reading 230's at the same time my Stock gauge was only around "0" and the autometer showed about 210. The sensor is in the back....close to driver's position... of the lower intake instead of in the front on the hard water line.

We're trying to figure out if the difference in temps is due to the location or if the ECT being old may be bad or if the location is not ideal. Reading about, I found that this part rarely goes bad, although for $20 it may be worth changing out.

Any feedback on this issue?

Thanks
RC

Bosko5.0 · Aug 12, 2008

my guess is that location, but it can't hurt to get another to make sure the current one isn't out of wack.

bayellowstang · Aug 13, 2008

If it's the same place I have mine its location. I have a aftermarket water temp gauge in that spot and it constantly reads 15-20* higher then the twEECer logs. It also takes longer for that sensor to come up to temp.

On my TrickFlow intake that spot is just a dead-end, no water flows thru it.

94GTLaserRC · Aug 13, 2008

Thanks for the replies. Since they are under $20 and I have a spot ready to move it to, I was planning on getting a new one anyway. I just put the post to see if there was ever anyone that experienced anything similar or maybe had so many problems in the past that they are now "EXPERTS" with this.

Thanks
RC

HISSIN50 · Aug 13, 2008

Rob, the rear (firewall) port on the driver's side isn't a good 'polling' location. The coolant flow back there is horrid. This location suffices for a worthless gauge (basically to keep it functional, but never interpolated).

The most accurate location is indeed the stock one. If you dont have heater lines, see if you can still get the ECT into one of the ports that originally fed the lines (be sure the sensor is in the flow of coolant, not deadheaded in a Tee fitting).

94GTLaserRC · Aug 13, 2008

HISSIN50 said:
Rob, the rear (firewall) port on the driver's side isn't a good 'polling' location. The coolant flow back there is horrid. This location suffices for a worthless gauge (basically to keep it functional, but never interpolated).

The most accurate location is indeed the stock one. If you dont have heater lines, see if you can still get the ECT into one of the ports that originally fed the lines (be sure the sensor is in the flow of coolant, not deadheaded in a Tee fitting).

Can always count on you for a good scientific answer

Right now it is hard to get back there to remove it so I will just get a new one to be sure.

PLUS...I DO have the stock location available on the hard water line. I have it plugged now. I only have the ECT sensor in the back because that is where it was when I got the engine. I extended the wires on the harness to bring it to the back. Will try to get a new one later today and slap it on tomorrow. I guess further data logging with the sensor there is futile.

Thanks
RC

YELLOW 94 · Aug 13, 2008

94GTLaserRC said:
When Doing some data logging today, my ECT (came used with new engine) was reading 230's at the same time my Stock gauge was only around "0" and the autometer showed about 210. The sensor is in the back....close to driver's position... of the lower intake instead of in the front on the hard water line.

We're trying to figure out if the difference in temps is due to the location or if the ECT being old may be bad or if the location is not ideal. Reading about, I found that this part rarely goes bad, although for $20 it may be worth changing out.

Any feedback on this issue?

Thanks
RC

I installed my sensor for the fan to come on at 160 in the original hole that the ect was in. Then I drilled and tapped a hole just behind the thermastat housing for my after market temp gauge sensor. Here are some pics.

I have one question, I do not have the factory ect installed so my temp gauge in the car does not read. Does this affect the car in any way as the computer doesnt see a temp reading.

later
Orlie

94GTLaserRC · Aug 13, 2008

YELLOW 94 said:
I installed my sensor for the fan to come on at 160 in the original hole that the ect was in. Then I drilled and tapped a hole just behind the thermastat housing for my after market temp gauge sensor. Here are some pics.

I have one question, I do not have the factory ect installed so my temp gauge in the car does not read. Does this affect the car in any way as the computer doesnt see a temp reading.

later
Orlie

Your description (or question) does not make sense). Your ECT sensor is NOT the thing that is registering on your stock gauge.. That is the Water Temp sending unit. The ECT controls EVERYTHING relating to the temperature that car is running, and is the third most important sensor in your engine in hierarchy. It would be hard to believe that your ECT is not hooked up and the car runs fine.

You could have your ECT hooked up and NOT the stock temp. gauge. Now, why did you drill in the intake (tap) and in the photo, there is a perfectly good hole on your water neck that is capped off?

RC

YELLOW 94 · Aug 13, 2008

94GTLaserRC said:
Your description (or question) does not make sense). Your ECT sensor is NOT the thing that is registering on your stock gauge.. That is the Water Temp sending unit. The ECT controls EVERYTHING relating to the temperature that car is running, and is the third most important sensor in your engine in hierarchy. It would be hard to believe that your ECT is not hooked up and the car runs fine.

You could have your ECT hooked up and NOT the stock temp. gauge. Now, why did you drill in the intake (tap) and in the photo, there is a perfectly good hole on your water neck that is capped off?

RC

My fault on the ECT had a brain fart. The reason i tapped that hole was because I wanted both the temp sensor and the fan sensor to be behind the thermastat. Anyway sorry about the confusion.

later
Orlie

blksn955.o · Aug 13, 2008

FWIW my ECT and coolant temp (autometer sender/guage in stock location) are about dead even.

My Logs have been in the 192-195 range and my autometer guage reads right about that.

When it comes time to log and your comparing to a guage in the stock location they should be really close from what I am seeing.

Zero Signal · Aug 13, 2008

Yellow only said that he didn't have the factory ECT installed, meaning he used an aftermarket one. I don't think he was saying he doesn't have one at all.

Nonetheless, I think Hissin has a good idea about keeping it in the flow. Otherwise the water will stagnate in one spot and just soak up the heat from the manifold.

94GTLaserRC · Aug 13, 2008

Zero Signal said:
Yellow only said that he didn't have the factory ECT installed, meaning he used an aftermarket one. I don't think he was saying he doesn't have one at all.

Nonetheless, I think Hissin has a good idea about keeping it in the flow. Otherwise the water will stagnate in one spot and just soak up the heat from the manifold.

Ive never heard of an aftermarket ECT Sensor.

I think everybody is confused between a WT Sending unit and an ECT sensor.

The ECT sensor tells the computer the temps so the computer knows "what's going on". The STOCK WT sending unit is what goes to the stock WT gauge in the car to "DISPLAY" temp. ALthough what they read should be close, they are sending the results to different places. WHen somebody says they replaced the ECT with an aftermarket one, Ill be 99.9% chance they are referring to the gauge in the car that "SHOWS" the driver the temp..

Hope this clears things up.
RC

HISSIN50 · Aug 13, 2008

blksn955.o said:
FWIW my ECT and coolant temp (autometer sender/guage in stock location) are about dead even.

My Logs have been in the 192-195 range and my autometer guage reads right about that.

When it comes time to log and your comparing to a guage in the stock location they should be really close from what I am seeing.

I've noticed the same thing. The greatest difference I've seen was less than 5*F, and that lasted about 20 seconds. Otherwise, they're 1-2*F apart. I was surprised how close they were.

94GTLaserRC · Aug 13, 2008

HISSIN50 said:
I've noticed the same thing. The greatest difference I've seen was less than 5*F, and that lasted about 20 seconds. Otherwise, they're 1-2*F apart. I was surprised how close they were.

I bought a new one today only to rule that it's bad....for $20. I will just leave the other one in the back port, and put the new on the hard water lines.

RC

bayellowstang · Aug 13, 2008

Zero Signal said:
Nonetheless, I think Hissin has a good idea about keeping it in the flow. Otherwise the water will stagnate in one spot and just soak up the heat from the manifold.

Speaks the truth

I watch this happen with my temp gauge. If I go to the store, when I come out the one in the back will read 200+ even though my tweecer says its 185.

You can see in yellow's second pic the ECT sensor is where it's supposed to be.

94GTLaserRC · Aug 14, 2008

bayellowstang said:
Speaks the truth

I watch this happen with my temp gauge. If I go to the store, when I come out the one in the back will read 200+ even though my tweecer says its 185.

You can see in yellow's second pic the ECT sensor is where it's supposed to be.

His second pic is NOT The ECT sensor...that is a Water Temp Sending unit.

RC

YELLOW 94 · Aug 14, 2008

bayellowstang said:
Speaks the truth

I watch this happen with my temp gauge. If I go to the store, when I come out the one in the back will read 200+ even though my tweecer says its 185.

You can see in yellow's second pic the ECT sensor is where it's supposed to be.

The ect is in the second pic just left of my after market water temp sensor for my after market gauge. I did not realize there was two temp sensors sending info to two locations.

94GTLaserRC

Why is your ect not located in the stock location.

later
Orlie

94GTLaserRC · Aug 14, 2008

YELLOW 94 said:
The ect is in the second pic just left of my after market water temp sensor for my after market gauge. I did not realize there was two temp sensors sending info to two locations.

94GTLaserRC

Why is your ect not located in the stock location.

later
Orlie

LOL...my eyes focused RIGHT on the sending unit without even seeing that

The guy I bought the car from for the engine deleted the heater core and did not have the hard line hose to put it in. He had located it in a port on the back pass side. WHen dropped THAT engine into my car, I reinstalled the hard line hose but just plugged up the stock opening and left the ECT where it was. Right now as I type Im just waiting for a duct-cleaning Co. to finish in my house so I can go back out. I just put in new sensor in the stock location and I just need to move the wiring.

Thanks
RC

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