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Topic: Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!! (Read 2146 times) previous topic - next topic

Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!!

Reply #15 –
I pocketed a few extra Coolant temp sensors from the junkyard.  One came off a TBI bird and it was keyed differently from my car (88 5.0).  Try a different year? 

When i swapped my other car over to a real oil sender I made them bring about 5 different years out onto a table until i found the one that fit and was a real sender (not a  switch in a can).

Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!!

Reply #16 –
Quote from: amooset;204721
The plug is keyed backwards so it won't plug in like it is supposed to.  The coolant sensor was also backwards.  The engine that is currently installed is from an 84 mustang and none of the sensors were swapped over from my stock engine.  So that would mean the plugs were all the same from at least 84 to 87.  I honestly think the aftermarket parts manufacturers are casting the connectors incorrectly.
It took me a minute, but I think I figured out your problem.

I believe the ACT and ECT sensor harness connectors are mirror images of each other. From your description, it sounds like you have an ACT sensor in the ECT location, and an ECT sensor in the ACT location. The design of the ACT/ECT was the same from the early 80s to the mid 90s. The ACT should have an open element thermistor. The ECT should have a closed element.

ECT  (Pointy part to the right of the twin tabs)


ACT (Pointy part to the left of the twin tabs)

Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!!

Reply #17 –
Quote from: JeremyB;204947
It took me a minute, but I think I figured out your problem.

I believe the ACT and ECT sensor harness connectors are mirror images of each other. From your description, it sounds like you have an ACT sensor in the ECT location, and an ECT sensor in the ACT location. The design of the ACT/ECT was the same from the early 80s to the mid 90s. The ACT should have an open element thermistor. The ECT should have a closed element.

ECT  (Pointy part to the right of the twin tabs)


I thought that may have been the case as well, but even the ECT was keyed backwards.  I took both sensors to the parts store and the oem parts did not match the aftermarket.  The ACT has an exposed resistor, the coolant sensor does not.  There was no mistaking that.  Check out the attached picture of my orginial ACT.  It's reversed of the picture you posted.
1987 Thunderbird 3.8. Sold :(

1982 Thunderbird - Goodbye 255, Hello 302!

Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!!

Reply #18 –
That's weird.

The ACT/ECT that I linked to in my previous post are how they're supposed to look like. My '85/'87 3.8s are the same.
What color wires are running to your ACT/ECT?

Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!!

Reply #19 –
that act has a tear drop thermistor which 'should" read about 50kohms cold.  Its nothing more than a thermal couple.

I was holding one in my hand today,,, thought about this thread to.

As for the ECT, all the ECT's ive seen were not pointed.  They are just a brass cyliner shape.  I saw the pic today of the ECT pointed end and wonder about this myself.

Ill be buying both tomorrow anyway and ill find out if there are any issues with the 5.0 or not as a comparrison.

your not the only one, someone recently had problems just like you getting the correct type ECT becaues the connector was wrong.  that thread is about a month old in electrical tech i think.
 

Running like garbage, what's the deal - SOLVED!!!

Reply #20 –
I pulled my ACT last night out of a spare engine. Tab pointing up, the shoulder sticks to the left side.  So i checked the one in the car and its the same.

My advice, cut a pigtail from the junkyard.