ECT Sensor question.

[Dibly74]

I was wondering if a ECT sensor could be bad even though it is keeping the correct tempature on the dash. If so what would it cause the car to do. Run with a little faint miss? Affect transmission? Or nothing at all? If someone knows if it can be bad and still show the tempature please let me know. Its a 95 Continental.

[discountfordpart]

I was wondering if a ECT sensor could be bad even though it is keeping the correct tempature on the dash. If so what would it cause the car to do. Run with a little faint miss? Affect transmission? Or nothing at all? If someone knows if it can be bad and still show the tempature please let me know. Its a 95 Continental.

Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor
The engine coolant temperature sensor (ECT sensor) (12A648):

changes resistance in response to engine coolant temperature.
decreases in resistance as the surrounding temperature increases providing a signal to the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) that indicates the engine coolant temperature.
is located in the water bypass tube.






Electrical System
NOTE: With A/C ON, the cooling fan motors will run continuously. Cooling fan motors will not cycle ON and OFF with A/C clutch (2884).



NOTE: An exception to this is when vehicle speed is over 61 km/h (38 mph) and coolant temperature is below 100°C (212°F), and A/C head pressure is below 1.71 MPA (250 psi). The cooling fan motors will then automatically shut off.



The cooling fan motors are mounted within a fan shroud (8146) behind the radiator (8005). The constant control relay module (CCRM) actuates the cooling fan motors when:

The engine coolant reaches a specified temperature.
When the engine reaches a specified speed.
When the A/C clutch is activated.



WARNING: DISCONNECT THE COOLING FAN MOTORS PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY UNDERHOOD SERVICE SINCE THE COOLING FAN MOTORS COULD CYCLE IF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING.

The cooling fan motor is controlled during vehicle operation by the constant control relay module (CCRM) and powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650), which will energize the cooling fan motors under the following conditions:

Cooling fan motors will run at low speed if:
Engine temperature is higher than normal. Cooling fan motors start running at 102°C (216°F) and stops running at 100°C (212°F).
A/C is on and vehicle speed does not provide enough natural airflow. Cooling fan motors will stop running at speeds over 61 km/h (38 mph) if coolant temperature is below 100°C (212°F) and A/C head pressure is below 1.71 MPA (250 psi).
Cooling fan motors will run at high speed if:
NOTE: Cooling fan motors will not cycle with the A/C clutch (2884). The cooling fan motors will come on when the A/C switch is turned ON.



Engine temperature is higher than desirable and cooling fan motors have been operating at a low speed. Cooling fan motors start running at high speed when coolant temperature exceeds 109°C (228° F) and return to low speed when coolant temperature drops to 106°C (222°F).
A wide-open throttle (WOT) A/C cutout is used during hard acceleration. A signal is sent to the powertrain control module which then signals the constant control relay module (CCRM) to cut off power to the A/C clutch field coil. This keeps the engine from being overloaded.