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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

Temp sensor between the T/B and M/A meter.

  • Thread starter Thread starter gcomfx.com
  • Start date Start date Aug 22, 2007

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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56
Republic, MO
Aug 22, 2007
#1
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #1
Can I move it in front of the M/A meter? And do I need to index the sensor for a good reading?

The reason I ask. I'll know 100% for sure tonight on a test run. But I think all my transmission problems are due to this damn sensor. With the C&L pipe on the car. It pressed the sensor up against the Strut Tower. It busted the whole connector.

I just happened to find it when adding the 4" elbow to put my air filter in the fender. So I put a zip tie on it to help make it hold. Low and behold that trip to the drag strip the crazy transmission held in third for the first time. Then it stopped working correctly again. Sure enough the plug on this temp sensor had wiggled back again. I've put a second zip tie on it. And it's holding fine for now. Once I confirm the transmission holds at WOT in third. I need to move the sensor location.

I have a new connector to solder on, just want to make sure I move it to a place that will still work. The easiest place will be into the 4" elbow behind the air filter.

If this turns out to me all my transmission problems. I'll be really pissed and happy at the same time.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Aug 22, 2007
#2
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #2
so problems with that sensor are related to tranny problems?

holy crap i have a similar problem with that sensor. it would be amazing if that was my problem all along. i'd be pissed and happy at the same time too!

exactly what are the symptoms of your tranny problems?

yes it should indexed.
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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Republic, MO
Aug 22, 2007
#3
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #3
Apparently when that sensor fails/disconnects it screws with the tranny fluid pressure. When the computer thinks the tranny fluid pressure is jacked up. It defaults to second gear. Which would explain my situation.

At WOT in third my car would hold just fine.... pull to 5,000 rpms and then act like it went in to neutral. Apparently it was going back to second gear, it's just at that speed it might as well have been neutral.

I'll know more tonight. I have to wait until it's late where I live to get a WOT top of third gear run in.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Aug 22, 2007
#4
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #4
wow i'm gonna have to fix that tonight if i can. my problem is that the connector on the harness side disappeared after it was removed (it was extended to the #5 runner for the kb) and now i can't find it so the wires are just stuck in there with the hope they will stay

it should be indexed like this:

_________________________
___________|_____________

know what i mean?
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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0
56
Republic, MO
Aug 22, 2007
#5
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #5
I mean indexed with the loop facing the air flow, or the open side of the loop with actual red sensor in the air flow?

I've heard either or as being better from different people.
 

juiced_94gt

Active Member
Mar 30, 2005
1,143
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36
Southern California
Aug 22, 2007
#6
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #6
Hey man you can just tap the fenderwell and put that sensor facing the inside of the fender like a cold air kit would, thats where mine is and that is also where steve at powertrain dynamics told me it could be put since i have the fox C&L inlet with no bung for the sensor, all it does is read ambient air.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Aug 22, 2007
#7
  • Aug 22, 2007
  • #7
it is supposed to be indexed so that the air flow is through the loop and over the red thing in the middle

btw, i found my harness thingy tonight. sheer luck i doubt it will fix my problems tho
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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56
Republic, MO
Aug 23, 2007
#8
  • Aug 23, 2007
  • #8
juiced_94gt said:
Hey man you can just tap the fenderwell and put that sensor facing the inside of the fender like a cold air kit would, thats where mine is and that is also where steve at powertrain dynamics told me it could be put since i have the fox C&L inlet with no bung for the sensor, all it does is read ambient air.
Click to expand...

Seriously? Yours is just reading the air in the fender? Even if it works, I don't think I could force myself to do that.

It does tell me that tapping the elbow in front of the M/A meter should work fine.

I assumed the closer you can get to the intake the better. The temp of the air will rise as you get closer to the engine. IE the intake will be hotter than the fender well.

BTW - C&L pipes get freakin' hot. We used one of those infared thermometers. The C&L was the hottest part of the whole system. Including the black upper intake.
 

juiced_94gt

Active Member
Mar 30, 2005
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36
Southern California
Aug 23, 2007
#9
  • Aug 23, 2007
  • #9
gcomfx.com said:
Seriously? Yours is just reading the air in the fender? Even if it works, I don't think I could force myself to do that.

It does tell me that tapping the elbow in front of the M/A meter should work fine.

I assumed the closer you can get to the intake the better. The temp of the air will rise as you get closer to the engine. IE the intake will be hotter than the fender well.

BTW - C&L pipes get freakin' hot. We used one of those infared thermometers. The C&L was the hottest part of the whole system. Including the black upper intake.
Click to expand...

During my dyno tune today the intake temp went to 130* on the sensor, we threw it in the fender instead and it stopped getting lean, and gained 22 HP...put it in the fender!!!!
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
3,690
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56
Republic, MO
Aug 24, 2007
#10
  • Aug 24, 2007
  • #10
I'll wait to hear back from Don. He's the one doing the tune on my car. If I have a problem going lean.... he just raises the pulse on the 42lb injectors.
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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56
Republic, MO
Aug 27, 2007
#11
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #11
Well, it's official. All my tranny issues were due to this stupid sensor.

Time to move it and replace that harness connector. Ugh, what a great but frustrating find.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Aug 27, 2007
#12
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #12
good news. lucky you.

my problems were not the sensor it appears that shift solenoid 1 is never coming on in my case.
 

95cobraguy

Member
Dec 23, 2005
637
11
19
Concord, NC by way of LI, NY
Aug 27, 2007
#13
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #13
that sensor really should be between the maf sensor and the throttle body, it plays a big part in controlling the timing, especially in supercharged cars where the air being discharged from the blower can get real hot.
 

Blackened302

Active Member
Jul 21, 2005
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36
South TX
Aug 27, 2007
#14
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #14
i agree--while i don't know too much about it, i will safely assume that Ford put it in that specific location for a reason.
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
3,690
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56
Republic, MO
Aug 27, 2007
#15
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #15
95cobraguy said:
that sensor really should be between the maf sensor and the throttle body, it plays a big part in controlling the timing, especially in supercharged cars where the air being discharged from the blower can get real hot.
Click to expand...


Finally the other side shows up. I knew I wasn't crazy.

I just don't see why car manufacturers would go to the cost of putting it in the air intake setup if it would work better in the fender.

I also have no experience behind this, nor the education. I just don't want to screw something up, or drill a hole where I wasn't suppose to.
 

95cobraguy

Member
Dec 23, 2005
637
11
19
Concord, NC by way of LI, NY
Aug 27, 2007
#16
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #16
i used to have it down in the fenderwell, right after the maf sensor. after doing a bunch of research i decided to move it to the discharge tube coming off the blower. i drilled a hole, used a 3/8 npt tap, and it screwed right in. i didn't even have to lengthen the wires. you can see in this pic where i put mine.

 

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gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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Republic, MO
Aug 27, 2007
#17
  • Aug 27, 2007
  • #17
Mine is setup similar to what I have in the picture. You can see where the sensor hits the Strut Tower.



I now have a plastic 90* elbow in place of the 45* chrome elbow in the picture. I thought about moving it there, but that's in front of the M/A meter. I really don't want to drill any more holes in the C&L pipe. I'm not really sure how much longer I'll be keeping it.
 

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gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
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56
Republic, MO
Sep 4, 2007
#18
  • Sep 4, 2007
  • #18
Moved the sensor to the elbow. Soldered on the new harness plug. The car now hot starts MUCH better. First 5 or so runs past 5,000 rpm it held just great. Then the next day. Same old BS... the tranny kicking out of third. I'm about to pull my grey hair out. AAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Next step is to replace the wiring harness.
 
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