DIY Coolant Temperature Sensor change (PICS)
#257
Lexus Test Driver
i do have the ELM 327 wifi adaptor, i intended to use it if the idle gets screwy again but just wanted to see if this was a known thing to happen with a faulty ECT sensor
#259
Can someone please confirm that i am getting the correct part for my 98 LS400.
Lexus 89422-30030, Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
https://www.amazon.com/Lexus-89422-3...us+89422-30030
thanks
Lexus 89422-30030, Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
https://www.amazon.com/Lexus-89422-3...us+89422-30030
thanks
#263
it's easy.....i did it on my 98. just took the throttle body off.
after replacement it seemed to help with cold starts sometimes
after replacement it seemed to help with cold starts sometimes
#265
Driver School Candidate
I'll start by saying BIG PROBLEM for me.I hope someone will respond afterward.I recently had my '95 LS400 repainted.Somehow my ambient temp. sensor plug that's in front of the radiator and mounted to the bumper got unplugged and just hung just below the front bumper.I was going to get it plugged back in.But before I could,the body man apparently cut the plug off from the wiring and wrapped the harness wire around something to keep it from hanging. He made a $2,152.00 mistake just like that.I called Butler Lexus in Macon,Ga. and that's the price for a new one with the harness.Question is,is the plug that's wired to the harness a Female plug?I have a new bumper mounting plug with the two terminals inside the plug(part# 5S5837)(bar code 80044 80762)from RockAuto.com and it snaps onto a medal brace that has a small hole in it to mount it to.It seems to me that the sensor plug that is wired to the harness would have to be female.But I want to make sure.No way I'd go to the dealership for this part.I'll probably wind up trying to find one at a junk yard.BTW,my outside temp reading next to the clock shows -22.Not good as the temp control unit on the dash will not work properly nor will the A/C because of that plug being cut off.Thanks in advance for any help.Al
#266
Driver School Candidate
BTW,the $2152.00 that the dealership wants for the new part,the whole car ain't worth that much.So they are out of their stupid mind.So it's off to a junk yard.Al
#269
I'll start by saying BIG PROBLEM for me.I hope someone will respond afterward.I recently had my '95 LS400 repainted.Somehow my ambient temp. sensor plug that's in front of the radiator and mounted to the bumper got unplugged and just hung just below the front bumper.I was going to get it plugged back in.But before I could,the body man apparently cut the plug off from the wiring and wrapped the harness wire around something to keep it from hanging. He made a $2,152.00 mistake just like that.I called Butler Lexus in Macon,Ga. and that's the price for a new one with the harness.Question is,is the plug that's wired to the harness a Female plug?I have a new bumper mounting plug with the two terminals inside the plug(part# 5S5837)(bar code 80044 80762)from RockAuto.com and it snaps onto a medal brace that has a small hole in it to mount it to.It seems to me that the sensor plug that is wired to the harness would have to be female.But I want to make sure.No way I'd go to the dealership for this part.I'll probably wind up trying to find one at a junk yard.BTW,my outside temp reading next to the clock shows -22.Not good as the temp control unit on the dash will not work properly nor will the A/C because of that plug being cut off.Thanks in advance for any help.Al
#270
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: CA`
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello to anyone with a rough Idle/low power Issue. I want to report my experience of changing the water temperature sender/sensor. It does make a difference.
My car has 129xxx miles on it. When cold starting the motor, it used to idle high for over 10 minutes.The temperature gauge climbed very slowly, and I never thought anything of it.
Because the temperature was not climbing fast enough, the computer added fuel to the mixture to compensate for an incorrect reading of the temperature sender/sensor. Its programmed to raise the idle when the motor is cold. This resulted in a warm motor being fed too much fuel, and it also made a good stink. I never experienced smoke, and eventually the idle would go down.
Even though the idle went down to the normal range of about 640 RPM after about 10 minutes, replacing the sensor has caused the engine to run much better throughout the RPM range.
I suspect that with the new sensor in place, the computer is receiving a more accurate reading of the water temperature.
Thanks for the advise, for now the problem seems to be fixed.
TIP: Use a 3/4 inch deep socket, with a 6'' or longer extension. If you do this, you may not have to remove the spark plug wires, or the plastic bridge that holds them in place on the front side of the motor. You can push them aside very gently, and remove the sensor.
I bought an OEM duplicate for $22.00 + 9% Tax. It was the same color as the original, and seemed to be well built. The original sensor was 25 years old. The wire connection base on the plug itself was quite LOOSE.
After doing this, I will begin to replace a few more sensors If I have the time and extra money. Being that Lexus has such quality standards, all of them are most likely 25 years old.
Thanks again, Joseph
My car has 129xxx miles on it. When cold starting the motor, it used to idle high for over 10 minutes.The temperature gauge climbed very slowly, and I never thought anything of it.
Because the temperature was not climbing fast enough, the computer added fuel to the mixture to compensate for an incorrect reading of the temperature sender/sensor. Its programmed to raise the idle when the motor is cold. This resulted in a warm motor being fed too much fuel, and it also made a good stink. I never experienced smoke, and eventually the idle would go down.
Even though the idle went down to the normal range of about 640 RPM after about 10 minutes, replacing the sensor has caused the engine to run much better throughout the RPM range.
I suspect that with the new sensor in place, the computer is receiving a more accurate reading of the water temperature.
Thanks for the advise, for now the problem seems to be fixed.
TIP: Use a 3/4 inch deep socket, with a 6'' or longer extension. If you do this, you may not have to remove the spark plug wires, or the plastic bridge that holds them in place on the front side of the motor. You can push them aside very gently, and remove the sensor.
I bought an OEM duplicate for $22.00 + 9% Tax. It was the same color as the original, and seemed to be well built. The original sensor was 25 years old. The wire connection base on the plug itself was quite LOOSE.
After doing this, I will begin to replace a few more sensors If I have the time and extra money. Being that Lexus has such quality standards, all of them are most likely 25 years old.
Thanks again, Joseph