YACT

[The Batt?sai]

I originally posted this at explorerforum. No one's replied yet so I thought I'd try here. I've also driven the car since monday about 170 miles, more than 3 cycles, and still no check engine light. so i guess my transmission problems were caused by the ect sensor?


ECT sensor screwed with my tranny?

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I drive a 98 Ford Explorer XLT automatic sohc 6 cylinder.

Now my car was having some transmission issues, it wasn't always going into overdrive.

Sometimes too when I went into reverse my car would just die. Sitting at lights too. I know I needed a tuneup, but hadn't got it done yet (bought the car used).

Now if I eased up on the gas, it would drop into over drive so I would get about 2, 2100 rpm's at 65 mph. otherwise it would be at 2600-2700 rpm's at 65 mph.

(on an slightly unrelated note, the mechanic said 1600 rpms was what my engine should be doing at 65mph. what is normal? my little brother's saab was doing 2000-2100 rpmh's at 65mph as well)

This pass weekend I came home for lunch, and when I went back to start the car when I was done, it wouldn't start.

My little brother came home and replaced the spark plugs. still no good. I knew it wasn't the battery cause I got a jump and it wouldn't start, just turn over.

I found a thread on here about ect' sensors and intermittent starting so he replaced that and now my car starts good again always.

I've also noticed the engine braking I had (rpm's would flare as I slowed from 20 to 5 mph a little bit, didn't do this before) is gone.

Tonight coming home my overdrive gear was working properly.

And the codes I had at autozone on monday that I had cleared, the check engine light hasn't come back on.

Could the ect sensor have messed with my tranny somehow?

 

[The Batt?sai]

anyone?

 

[hoorah]

Originally posted by: The Battosai
anyone?

I'd say its possible.

If the ECU thinks that the car is cold, then I think it defaults to a richer mixture to warm up the engine (not sure specifically about Ford, but thats the way that most work). An overly rich mixture would cause stalling at idle/going into gear and poor fuel economy.

As for the transmission, it might, but I really don't know. If the car hasn't warmed up yet, and you're towing something like a boat, you would think that the ECU would want to stay out of overdrive at least until the car warms up. If it never thinks that the car warms up, then it won't ever get out of that mode.

You really can't compare RPM@speed between two different cars, especially a car and a truck.

Another likely scenario is that when you disconnected the battery to install the ECT sensor, the computer was reset and whatever got it all in a huffy in the first place was cleared out by coincidence.

Either way, check your fuel economy to be sure. If the ECU thinks you're running cold, you'll be getting crap for fuel economy (not that you aren't already....jk)

 

[The Batt?sai]

Originally posted by: hoorah

Originally posted by: The Battosai
anyone?

I'd say its possible.

If the ECU thinks that the car is cold, then I think it defaults to a richer mixture to warm up the engine (not sure specifically about Ford, but thats the way that most work). An overly rich mixture would cause stalling at idle/going into gear and poor fuel economy.

As for the transmission, it might, but I really don't know. If the car hasn't warmed up yet, and you're towing something like a boat, you would think that the ECU would want to stay out of overdrive at least until the car warms up. If it never thinks that the car warms up, then it won't ever get out of that mode.

You really can't compare RPM@speed between two different cars, especially a car and a truck.

Another likely scenario is that when you disconnected the battery to install the ECT sensor, the computer was reset and whatever got it all in a huffy in the first place was cleared out by coincidence.

Either way, check your fuel economy to be sure. If the ECU thinks you're running cold, you'll be getting crap for fuel economy (not that you aren't already....jk)

it was ect. i never disconnected the battery but i did have the codes cleared in the computer. but i haven't noticed any check engine light since monday. so perhaps i am in the clear. i only hope *knocks on wood