Where does this connector go?

[90AWDTalon]

My car started idle surging realy bad yesterday. I open the hood to adjust the BISS, last time my car started idle surging adjusting this fixed the problem. It didn't work this time, I could completely bottom out the BISS and it made no difference. So I started looking around and noticed this connector, I can't find were it is supposed to connect. I don't know if its related or not but my drivers side fan doesn't kick on anymore, only the passenger side fan comes on.

 

[DrZiplok]

Looks like it belongs on the coolant temperature sensor, on the thermostat housing. You'll idle like crap if that's disconnected.

 

[90AWDTalon]

Theres already a connector on the coolant temp sensor, plus this one is keyed different. If it helps the two wires are black with green stripe and green with yellow stripe. I looked around again and cant find any connectors or wires that aren't hooked up.

I going to resent the ECU to see if it fixes the idle problem, I don't know that it will work, but I figure its so easy to do its worth a shot.

 

[PushinPsi]

so if i was throwing a code 21 coolent temp, that would mess with my idle, i was thinking it was a isc cause my car will leval out at idle when i come to a stop?

 

[90AWDTalon]

Well the ECU reset didn't work, I didn't expect it to.

I unplugged the throttle position sensor, this made the idle surge stop, but the idle was still really high. So I adjusted it down with the BISS. I took the car for a test spin, when I got back it wouldn't idle because the BISS was too low. I turned the BISS up alittle more, took it for another test spin, everything was working great. I plugged the throttle position sensor back in expecting it to go back into idle surge but it didn't. It idles perfect know. I don't know what to think about this, I still think something is messed up.

I still don't know whats up with the AC fan, when I turn the AC on it comes on but it not when the other fan does with out the AC on. Another weird thing is when the fan on the passenger side switches off the AC fan switches on for a split second and then switches off. I'm most conserned with this problem because my car isn't overheating but it is running a little hotter than normal. I thought it was my thermostat at first becuase it would go a little past the middle on my temp gauge and then go back to the middle which is where it normally is at. I thought the thermostat was starting to stick, then I noticed the AC fan wasn't comming on and it took longer for the passenger side fan to cool things back down.

I still have no idea about that connector.

 

[laserblue]

I don't know about that connector! How long are the wires [how far will it reach]? That should give you a clue as to where the plug goes... if anywhere! How long have you had the car?
My car only has one fan running [when hot] and that's normal. The other fan comes on only with the A/C running. I read in another post a while back that the 'twitch' of the A/C fan is normal... but I cannot verify that.
Change the thermostat anyway. My car started showing high temp intermittently and then one day- wamm, the needle pegged into the red. It was the old stuck thermostat.
The erratic idle could be from a defective idle control motor. It controls a valve assy that allows air to bypass the throttle plate. It's used to set the idle speed under varying loads, such as when the A/C is on.. or when you turn the steering wheel. The coils in there become intermittent so the valve moves sometimes... and other times it doesn't. The result is high idle or low idle whenever it damn well feels like it. Other idle problems come from the cold idle valve, which increases the idle rpms until the engine gets up to temp. And.... a vacuum leak [such as a cracked hose] cause the idle to increase. In general, a change of idle rpms is caused by air flow management problems. Hunt around for air 'leaking' in where it shouldn't. Also grab a manual and read how to test the idle speed motor stuff. Also read this: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=407257#post407257 ...and read my next post in that thread.
I realize that my answers are a bit vague, but I don't have my hands in your engine, nor do I know a hell of a lot about all the 100's of things that cause the mysterious misery of 'the changing idle'!!!
Let me know what you find!!!!!

 

[90AWDTalon]

I found a wire diagram from the factory services manual online. I almost positive this connector is the Engine Coolant Temperature Switch. I also found a picture of where it is supposed to go. It looks like it goes on the side of the thermostat housing, all I have there is a plug. Looks like I need to buy one. I hope there not too spending like everything else from the dealer.

 

[laserblue]

So I ask again... How long have you owned the car? Give me some history. I say this because I just looked under my hood and found the connector with the color wires that you described. It goes to a sensor on the thermo housing. Your pix looks as if the housing is different. Maybe it was replaced.
I'll try to get you a pix from my $28.00 digi-camera!! It's dark out there now...... Here I go!!

 

[Laser-man]

yeah that plug plugs some where near the cap to fill the coolent, it goes to the front side i think just below the radiator hose.

 

[Omega]

I have a 2G so it could be different. That looks like the O2 sensor plug. Mine is in that general area. Does the car idle like crap only when the car is warm, or does it do it consistantly?

 

[90AWDTalon]

Originally posted by laserblue
So I ask again... How long have you owned the car? Give me some history. I say this because I just looked under my hood and found the connector with the color wires that you described. It goes to a sensor on the thermo housing. Your pix looks as if the housing is different. Maybe it was replaced.
I'll try to get you a pix from my $28.00 digi-camera!! It's dark out there now...... Here I go!!

I was going to reply to your other post after the one I did with the picture of the wirering diagram, but this site has been sucking for me the last couple of days and I got frustrated and quit trying to post.

I've had the car about two months. I'm sure that connector goes to the Engine Coolant Tempurature Switch. My housing is different then yours but, where your Engine Coolant Temp Switch is I have a plug. I think the previous owner replaced the housing for some reason and never installed the switch. I took my car to the self serve carwash and washed the engine the weekend before last. I think I must of blew that connector out of were ever it was hideing with the water.

The car is idleing perfectly right now, I don't know what I did to fix it, I just hope it stays this way.

I'm pretty sure that until recently both fans would come on, I'll get a new thermostat for now to see if it fixes the running hot problem.

 

[laserblue]

Did your idle problems start before or after you 'water-logged'.. I mean 'washed' the engine? It could be that water got into the old wiring and caused your weird stuff, then ... all got happy once the engine dried out. I once had an old Reliant!!!! [yeah, tell me about it!!] and after I hosed down the engine, the damn car wouldn't run at all for 3 days!

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I am almost positive thats your O2 sensor plug man.

 

[90AWDTalon]

Originally posted by RoasT BeeF
I am almost positive thats your O2 sensor plug man.

I'm 110% sure its not. For starters the O2 sensor plug has four wires the plug I'm talking about has two. The O2 sensor wires come out of the same loom but goes around the front of the engine, this one stops by the thermostat housing. The wires match the wire diagram I posted above and that says it the Engine Coolant Temperature Switch.

Thanks for trying to help though. I do appreciate the effort.

 

[90AWDTalon]

Originally posted by laserblue
Did your idle problems start before or after you 'water-logged'.. I mean 'washed' the engine? It could be that water got into the old wiring and caused your weird stuff, then ... all got happy once the engine dried out. I once had an old Reliant!!!! [yeah, tell me about it!!] and after I hosed down the engine, the damn car wouldn't run at all for 3 days!

The idle problem started about a week after "water-logging". Its still idleing fine, I guess I'll weight and see if its stays good or messes up again.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Originally posted by 90AWDTalon


I'm 110% sure its not. For starters the O2 sensor plug has four wires the plug I'm talking about has two. The O2 sensor wires come out of the same loom but goes around the front of the engine, this one stops by the thermostat housing. The wires match the wire diagram I posted above and that says it the Engine Coolant Temperature Switch.

Thanks for trying to help though. I do appreciate the effort.

Yea the O2 wire runs around the front of the engine and goes back by the side where it plugs into another peice. Did you follow the wire comming off your O2 and see if its connected to anything? Just wonderin. The more I think about it now though, I think you're probably right. O2 was the first thing I thought when I saw the plug though. I dont even know what the thermostat one looks like so.... Anyway good luck, I'll keep checkin up on this to see if you figure it out or what.

Brent

 

[laserblue]

Look guys.... I posted a pix. It shows the connector. It has 2 wires. The wires are the right colors. It's in the right area of the engine. It goes to the sensor on the thermo housing. 90AWDTalon doesn't have that sensor. It was explained in Post 11 just why. As of the last post, the car is running well!!
Let's move on and help other posters [unless this car craps out again!!!]