Need help with ACT and ECT sensors on Cobra Intake!!

[Ostang351]

I have a 1990 hatch with a Cobra upper and lower and I am not sure where the IAT/ACT sensors and the ECT sensor are. I also have a MAC CAI. Can anyone tell me where the sensors are? I had a cold idle problem but the new IAC fixed that, but it still pops out the intake when it is cold and I about to drive the car into a lake. Thanks!

(P.S) Fuel pressure is at 40psi, 02's, plugs, cap, rotor, Mass air, and wires are all new.

 

[Ostang351]

I replaced the sensor in the lower intake ontop of the 5th runner and the sensor that is close to the thermostat by the fuel rail that has coolant in it, but I still can't find the ICT/ACT sensor. If I have a cold air intake kit do I have one? There is no spot for a sensor there or on the cobra intake. Did I miss it? Thanks.

 

[jrichker]

I replaced the sensor in the lower intake on top of the 5th runner and the sensor that is close to the thermostat by the fuel rail that has coolant in it, but I still can't find the ICT/ACT sensor. If I have a cold air intake kit do I have one? There is no spot for a sensor there or on the cobra intake. Did I miss it? Thanks.

The ACT sensor normally lives in the intake runner for #5 cylinder.

The ECT sensor lives in the water piping that connects to the heater & EGR coolant lines.

The ACT (Air Charge Temp) sensor may need to be moved. Some Cobra/GT 40 manifolds aren't drilled & tapped for it to go into the intake like the stock manifold was. There is a boss cast into the Cobra/GT 40, but a machine shop may have to drill & tap the new manifold. The best spot for the ACT is the air box if you don't do the drill and tap thing. You get to cut and splice the 2 ACT wires in order to make them long enough to reach the air box. Solder the wire extensions on the existing wires & use heat shrink tubing to cover the splices. Offset the place where you cut the wires so that you don't have a big bulge when you put heat shrink over the 2 wires to cover & protect them. The stock air box gets a hole (5/8" or so) for the ACT drilled about 1 1/4" down & 1/1/4" in on the front top side near the upper radiator hose. A brass fitting nut from Home Depot or Ace Hardware secures the ACT into the air box.

If you are very clever, you will find that the ACT connector comes apart so that you can remove the pins. A very small screwdriver releases the lock in the front of the center insert, while another small screwdriver inserted in the back pushes it out. Once the center insert is out of the connector shell, the pins come out easily. New pins are available from AutoZone in a $5 electrical pin kit for Fords. Crimping the pins on the extender wires saves you from having to splice them twice: once to put the connector on and once to extend the wires.

Materials list:
6 ft black 18 gauge wire
6 ft green 18 gauge wire
6 ft 1/4" heat shrink tubing
1 ft 3/16" heat shrink tubing

 

[Ostang351]

Thanks for the reply. I found the ECT but no luck on the ACT. If the cobra intake doesn't have it is the sensor just lying there? I don't know where to look to find it. I also don't have the stock airbox, I have a MAC cold air intake kit, so there are no holes to mount the sensor. Any ideas?

 

[jrichker]

Thanks for the reply. I found the ECT but no luck on the ACT. If the cobra intake doesn't have it is the sensor just lying there? I don't know where to look to find it. I also don't have the stock airbox, I have a MAC cold air intake kit, so there are no holes to mount the sensor. Any ideas?

Drill & tap... Your choice of places...

You can either drill & tap the #5 intake runner. UGHHH! pull the lower manifold off again?

OR

You can drill & tap the MAC cold air pipe somewhere at least 3" away from the MAF. This will keep the airflow disturbance away from the MAF element. The best place would be somewhere near the bend.

 

[Ostang351]

I found the sensor when I looked harder, I replaced it. It looked pretty bad, had burnt oil on it and was bent. Hope it fixes my lean pop....Thanks again. This is a great forum.

 

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