Coolant Temperature Sensor
10-17-2007, 10:53 AM
#1
Coolant Temperature Sensor
So I finally got a check engine light on my car so I decided to pull codes ASAP. I keep getting a code 13. Which, IIRC is the Engine Coolant Temp Sensor. The thing is I had just replaced one out of my parts car and apparently this one is bad too? I tested it with my multimeter but I cannot get an Ohm reading on it what so ever, the screen of the Multimeter just stays the same as if nothing was done, does this mean it is stuck open?
I talked to a Nissan tech yesterday and he said the car should run great when I first start up. Well it doesn't run horrible, but when I go to start the car the rpm's shoot up like normal then drop to 400-500 and it starts to stall, then it will fix itself, go back up to 1000, then rest at 750 eventually. Another thing is, the car is running very rich and my gas mileage is horrible... from what I've read all of these things could be pointing to the ECTS. Is it weird that both sensors can't get a reading? I ordered one from Courtesy yesterday and will report back Thurs, but I'm at a loss
I talked to a Nissan tech yesterday and he said the car should run great when I first start up. Well it doesn't run horrible, but when I go to start the car the rpm's shoot up like normal then drop to 400-500 and it starts to stall, then it will fix itself, go back up to 1000, then rest at 750 eventually. Another thing is, the car is running very rich and my gas mileage is horrible... from what I've read all of these things could be pointing to the ECTS. Is it weird that both sensors can't get a reading? I ordered one from Courtesy yesterday and will report back Thurs, but I'm at a loss
10-17-2007, 11:03 AM
#4
10-17-2007, 11:16 AM
#5
Ahh!!
I think it was my maf?
I didn't replace my maf to correct this issue,the problem was my car finally quit idling all together,it would just die..I swapped out my maf on my wife vg for test purposes,and whamo! that was it..
IIRC,the idle hunting issue went away after i replaced it.
But I'm not positive about this.
I think it was my maf?
I didn't replace my maf to correct this issue,the problem was my car finally quit idling all together,it would just die..I swapped out my maf on my wife vg for test purposes,and whamo! that was it..
IIRC,the idle hunting issue went away after i replaced it.
But I'm not positive about this.
10-17-2007, 11:22 AM
#6
Ahh!!
I think it was my maf?
I didn't replace my maf to correct this issue,the problem was my car finally quit idling all together,it would just die..I swapped out my maf on my wife vg for test purposes,and whamo! that was it..
IIRC,the idle hunting issue went away after i replaced it.
But I'm not positive about this.
I think it was my maf?
I didn't replace my maf to correct this issue,the problem was my car finally quit idling all together,it would just die..I swapped out my maf on my wife vg for test purposes,and whamo! that was it..
IIRC,the idle hunting issue went away after i replaced it.
But I'm not positive about this.
edit: nevermind.... bwookannn
But I tested mine that's in the car with my multimeter and it gave a good signal... perhaps some electrical contact cleaner will help...
Last edited by Pearl93VE; 10-17-2007 at 11:31 AM.
10-17-2007, 11:31 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 702
The Temp Sensor changes resistance with temperature. You should be able to hook up a multimeter to it and read the resistance as the temp rises. I put it in a pot of water, with a thermometer and heated up the water and read the resistances.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...es.htm#hd1-1-2
Here's the test procedure. Also make sure your not looking at the temp sensor for the fan. On mine (92 SE) it's right near the coolant temp sensor.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...es.htm#hd1-1-2
Here's the test procedure. Also make sure your not looking at the temp sensor for the fan. On mine (92 SE) it's right near the coolant temp sensor.
10-17-2007, 11:34 AM
#8
The Temp Sensor changes resistance with temperature. You should be able to hook up a multimeter to it and read the resistance as the temp rises. I put it in a pot of water, with a thermometer and heated up the water and read the resistances.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...es.htm#hd1-1-2
Here's the test procedure. Also make sure your not looking at the temp sensor for the fan. On mine (92 SE) it's right near the coolant temp sensor.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...es.htm#hd1-1-2
Here's the test procedure. Also make sure your not looking at the temp sensor for the fan. On mine (92 SE) it's right near the coolant temp sensor.
10-17-2007, 11:34 AM
#9
Be reminded though,the car will not rev over approx. 2300rpm with the maf unplugged.
10-17-2007, 11:35 AM
#10
10-17-2007, 11:44 AM
#11
Well,it's dead then..
10-17-2007, 11:47 AM
#12
All maxi's will die if you unplug the maf while it's running.
10-17-2007, 12:00 PM
#14
how does the car run with the CTS disconnected?
the car has 2 temperature thingies right by each other so make sure you are replacing the one for the computer.
they are fairly cheap aftermarket BTW
the car has 2 temperature thingies right by each other so make sure you are replacing the one for the computer.
they are fairly cheap aftermarket BTW
10-17-2007, 12:14 PM
#15
Odd. http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...7&postcount=13
It's possible the ecu will not accept 2 major sensors unplugged/malfunctioning at the same time.
Yeah,the ecu will take over with a dummy cts signal when unplugged,my ve ran just as normal with my cts unplugged,the cel stays on the whole time though.
http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...7&postcount=13It's possible the ecu will not accept 2 major sensors unplugged/malfunctioning at the same time.
Yeah,the ecu will take over with a dummy cts signal when unplugged,my ve ran just as normal with my cts unplugged,the cel stays on the whole time though.
10-17-2007, 01:44 PM
#23
10-17-2007, 01:56 PM
#25
Odd. http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...7&postcount=13
It's possible the ecu will not accept 2 major sensors unplugged/malfunctioning at the same time.
Yeah,the ecu will take over with a dummy cts signal when unplugged,my ve ran just as normal with my cts unplugged,the cel stays on the whole time though.
http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...7&postcount=13It's possible the ecu will not accept 2 major sensors unplugged/malfunctioning at the same time.
Yeah,the ecu will take over with a dummy cts signal when unplugged,my ve ran just as normal with my cts unplugged,the cel stays on the whole time though.
10-17-2007, 02:03 PM
#26
I just saw this post. Everything was plugged in at the time, then I unplugged my MAF, tried to start and it would turn over and stumble then die almost immediately. Are you saying that because the CTS is not working the ECU thinks it's unplugged? Which is why the car dies...
10-17-2007, 02:42 PM
#28
10-17-2007, 03:10 PM
#29
I just went out and tried it again... I unplugged both, it stalled... restarted, and it did the same thing it did in your video. Wtf!? Then I tried it with just the CTS Plugged in, worked fine, plugged in both of them again and it did fine again...
10-18-2007, 09:45 AM
#34
Replaced my ECTS today with a brand new Courtesy Nissan one. I ran it around the block a few times and holy crap! PERRFECT sweet smooth idle, I can actually get right up to my exhaust pipe and smell the exhaust (not for too long 
) and it doesn't smell like pure fuel, (Actually it smells kind of lean) Car starts right up, no bogging down! I'm soooo effing stoked. I'll let you know if it keeps it up, but as of right now we are in BUSINESS...
) and it doesn't smell like pure fuel, (Actually it smells kind of lean) Car starts right up, no bogging down! I'm soooo effing stoked. I'll let you know if it keeps it up, but as of right now we are in BUSINESS...
03-03-2008, 09:30 PM
#38
Originally Posted by n_hall
mine is black, not red. or is there one of each?
03-04-2008, 09:07 AM
#40