Coolant Temperature Sensor Problem - With picture.

450HP · Apr 27, 2011

Hello, First of all, I own a 98 Eclipse GSX with a few mods, but here is the main issue:

When i try to start my car, especially when it's in the garage (Cold), (but when the motor is hot, it will start, but automatically rough idles 1000-1300 rpm) it would crank up for a few seconds, then finally start for another 2 seconds, then just completely shut off. (RPM goes to 0 - even if i press the gas pedal) Actually, when i press the gas pedal, it shuts down faster. Oh, and when it does start, it rough idles around 1000-1300 RPM and then shuts off (When its cold im assuming).

I was looking around the engine and noticed the coolant temperature sensor missing it's 2 wires that are suppose to be connected to it (Picture below).

Could this be the main problem? And also, where would i find those 2 wires? What can i do from here, or what part can i get to fix this problem?

Also, I'm not sure if anything else could be related to this problem. Alternator and battery seem to be fine, Im not too sure about the spark plugs though.

Thanks and help would be appreciated. Here is the picture:

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MY1GDSM · Apr 27, 2011

Either, take apart the connector an resolder the wires or get a new one an solder the wires back together it doesn't really matter which one is connected on what side as it's not a polarized...

And yes that could very well be part of your problem with out the CTS working the ECU thinks that its something like -40* outside all the time...

street_flight · Apr 27, 2011

True Dat. I had the same problem but mine one of my wires were broken. My car experienced some of the same symptoms that you explained above. I got a new one from Autozone and it seems to be working well so far.

450HP · Apr 27, 2011

Okay. I can try to resolder the wires and attach some new wires to it, but the other problem is, where do those wires go to? I'm guessing one is ground and the other is ECU? If it's ECU, where on the ECU? Thanks

donniekak · Apr 27, 2011

That's not the coolant temp sensor. It's the temperature sensor for the a/c shutoff. The coolant sensor is below it, before the thermostat in the housing.

97gst_spyder · Apr 27, 2011

They are black with a yellow or white stripe.

450HP · Apr 27, 2011

Oh, so in the above picture, the coolant temperature sensor Is the plug with the one with black and the white stripe? (That's attached?) I unplugged that one last night and plugged it back in, but the actual plug has 3 inputs (like a electrical plug) and the actual sensor thing has 2 plugs. How is this possible? Also, the plug looks like it's filled with "stuff" inside, most likely dirty.

Here are two more pictures. Im not sure what the "Sensor" I marked with red is. Also, I'm not sure about that "Plug" either, because it has like 4 sockets. To clarify, the coolant temperature sensor is the one with the 2 outgoing "metals" right?

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Can anyone help me out with this issue? Is the red circle that i highlighted the coolant temperature sensor? (That has nothing attached to it)

Update: I replaced the battery and the spark plugs/(and wires), and still the same. So the problem is definitely one of those sensors...Im not sure which one though...

Slim420a · Dec 28, 2011

did you ever find out what this was?

dsm44130 · Dec 28, 2011

the single wired one with nothing on it is for the actual gauge on the dash ,the wires your your looking for seem to be in the pic you first showed ,broken and laying low if i see correctly. clean that other connection good or put a new pigtail on it and it looks like your dripping coolant onto those pigtails , you may have already shorted out the injection driver chip in the ecu if they have been leaked onto for a while.fix your wire ends and make sure thats all good , if you still have the problem disconnect your maf sensor then start the car, it should run a little rough but wont die , let it warm up to temp , make sure the fan kicks on and those broken wires should be for the fan if im not mistaken( im a 8x 1g owner, so i dont know on yours) once its warmed up plug back in your maf , and if the car runs fine after that.. it only will till the next time you cold start. get all those wires on there right and clean and hope its good. :laser:

CrawlinZX14 · Dec 28, 2011

I know my 1g has a BI metallic valve in that location. which is for the evap system and is actually vac lines. Your temp gauge as stated is the single wire. In your first picture you look to have a yellow and red wire that is electrical taped at a connector. Those are likely what go in place of your broken pigtail. I believe the pig tail in your hand in that picture is for your AC. Def fix that coolant leak though.

shava_cis · Dec 6, 2013

one of the questions he ask is where do i get those wires? im having that same issue but the difference is that i dont even have the ires they both are cutten, so where do i get them from? i know one its comming from the ecu(black/white) but what about the solid black? where do i get that one from? ground?

DSM1G90 · Dec 6, 2013

Coolant Temp Sensor had the two blades at right angles to each other. It's below the AC temp sensor. IT can act up and not throw a CEL, which causes major starting issues. Takes an 18mm socket to unscrew from the T-stat housing. Use Teflon tape when putting on a new one.

DSMDONNIE1L · Aug 15, 2015

im having the same issues I think I may have to give this a shot. I removed and deleted almost everything so this has to be it . witch is the snsoe for the ecu on a 1gb

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Coolant Temperature Sensor Problem - With picture.

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450HP

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