Need a little help with codes.

fost9508

New Member
Aug 28, 2004
131
0
0
I pulled the codes today for my 88 gt mustang see below

21 - Cooling temp sensor out of specified range or ECT out of range.//// I guess this means the temp sensor could be bad, but what is ECT???

34 - There are like 4 of these in th book so I don't know which to use.

44 - Thermactor air system fault/// don't know what the heck that is about?

94 - Converter clutch control circuit failuer///once again don't have a clue.

Any information would be appreciated...thanks again
 
ECT is the sensor that tells the puter what temps your motor/coolant is at. pretty important. it is NOT the sender for the gauge. the ECT is on the pass side.
 
HISSIN50 said:
ECT is the sensor that tells the puter what temps your motor/coolant is at. pretty important. it is NOT the sender for the gauge. the ECT is on the pass side.

So that shouldn't be a tough fix....You got any info for the other codes....???

Thanks
 
oh yeah, Jrichker has great posts on all three codes. the last one has to do with the EGR and its sensor and wiring. search his posts and you will get some great info.

good luck.
 
it is no biggie - i did not mean it like you took it. i know Joe has posted all those codes before, and i could have found them and linked ya to them, but i thought that was kind of uncouth (i did not want to offend Joe; i post enough links to his posts :) ).

thing is, he says it all much better than i could, so i figure might as well have ya go right to the good stuff.

good luck.
 
Code 21 – ECT sensor out of range. Broken or damaged wiring, bad ECT sensor. Note that that if the outside air temp is below 50 degrees F that the test for the ECT can be in error.

The ACT & ECT have the same thermistor, so the table values are the same

ACT & ECT test data:

Use Pin 46 on the computer for ground for both ECT & ACT to get most accurate readings.

Pin 7 on the computer - ECT signal in. at 176 degrees F it should be .80 volts

Pin 25 on the computer - ACT signal in. at 50 degrees F it should be 3.5 volts. It is a good number if the ACT is mounted in the inlet airbox. If it is mounted in the lower intake manifold, the voltage readings will be lower because of the heat transfer.

Voltages may be measured across the ECT/ACT by probing the connector from the rear. Use care in doing it so that you don't damage the wiring or connector.

Here's the table :

68 degrees F = 3.02 v
86 degrees F = 2.62 v
104 degrees F = 2.16 v
122 degrees F = 1.72 v
140 degrees F = 1.35 v
158 degrees F = 1.04 v
176 degrees F = .80 v
194 degrees F = .61

Note that all resistance tests must be done with power off. Measuring resistance with a circuit powered on will give false readings and possibly damage the meter.

Ohms measures at the computer with the computer disconnected, or at the sensor with the sensor disconnected.
50 degrees F = 58.75 K ohms
68 degrees F = 37.30 K ohms
86 degrees F = 27.27 K ohms
104 degrees F = 16.15 K ohms
122 degrees F = 10.97 K ohms
140 degrees F = 7.60 K ohms
158 degrees F = 5.37 K ohms
176 degrees F = 3.84 K ohms
194 degrees F = 2.80 K ohms

Code 34 EGR voltage above closed limit - Failed sensor, carbon between EGR pintle valve and seat holding the valve off its seat. Remove the EGR valve and clean it with carbon remover. Prior to re-installing see if you can blow air through the flange side of the EGR by mouth. If it leaks, there is carbon stuck on the pintle valve seat, replace the EGR valve ($85-$95).

If the blow by test passes, and you have replaced the sensor, then you have electrical ground problems. Check the resistance between the black/white wire on the MAP/BARO sensor and then the black/white wire on the EGR and the same wire on the TPS. It should be less than 1 ohm. Next check the resistance between the black/white wire and the negative battery post. It should be less than 1 ohm.

Note that all resistance tests must be done with power off. Measuring resistance with a circuit powered on will give false readings and possibly damage the meter.

This will affect idle quality by diluting the intake air charge

Codes 94 & 44 - Check vacuum lines for leaks, & cracks. Disconnect the big hose from smog pump: with the engine running you should feel air output. Reconnect the smog pump hose & apply vacuum to the first vacuum controlled valve: Its purpose is to either dump the pump's output to the atmosphere or pass it to the next valve. The next vacuum controlled valve directs the air to either the cylinder heads when the engine is cold or to the catalytic converter when the engine is warm. Disconnect the big hoses from the back side of the vacuum controlled valve and start the engine. Apply vacuum to the valve and see if the airflow changes from one hose to the next.
The two electrical controlled vacuum valves mounted on the rear of the passenger side wheelwell turn the vacuum on & off under computer control. Check to see that both valves have +12 volts on the red wire. Then ground the white/red wire and the first solenoid should open and pass vacuum. Do the same thing to the light green/black wire on the second solenoid and it should open and pass vacuum.

Remember that the computer does not source power for any actuator or relay, but provides the ground necessary to complete the circuit. That means one side of the circuit will always be hot, and the other side will go to ground or below 1 volt as the computer switches on that circuit.

See the following website for some help from Tmoss (diagram designer) & Stang&2Birds (website host)

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/fuel-alt-links-ign-ac.gif

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/88-91eecPinout.gif
 
jrichker or anybody
I am trouble shooting for codes 44 and 94 like you suggested. I have ruled out the air pump and vaccum valve. To test the swtichs that turn the vaccum on or off can you recommend a way to do it. I have a multimeter, but without cutting into the insulation I can't figure out how to check the voltage while the wire are plugged in.

Thanks again.
 
fost9508 said:
jrichker or anybody
I am trouble shooting for codes 44 and 94 like you suggested. I have ruled out the air pump and vaccum valve. To test the swtichs that turn the vaccum on or off can you recommend a way to do it. I have a multimeter, but without cutting into the insulation I can't figure out how to check the voltage while the wire are plugged in.

Thanks again.

Use a safety pin and probe from the backside. If you put the computer in test mode and start the engine, it will cycle all the actuators, including the air injector solenoid valves. The computer turns them on and off, as part of the test.
 
Jrichker,

What exactly do you mean buy backside? Do you mean the underside of the wire or something else. Also, would just ground the switch like you suggested work. I was thinking about jumpering the switch with the plug with some wire and alligator clips.

Thanks again.
 
Probe the wire side of the connector rather than the front or connector pin side. That will allow you to see the computer switch on and off. The red wire connector is alaways at 12 volts anytime the ignition switch is on. The computer provides a ground to complete the circuit.
 
Jrichker,

I have gone through the procedure for codes 44 and 94. I couldn't get a reading probing the wires so I just let my scanner test the car and felt for vacuum on each line during the test. The vacuum turned on and off for all the valves. I checked all the valves also and they open and close with vacuum. So it appears the air system is working. What is next, clear the 44 and 94 code or do I need to do some more looking around? Thanks for the help.