Unfortunate Issues

Tim · #1 08-24-2008, 06:33 AM

For some time now my coolant temperature sensor has been setting off the CEL. The car would begin to idle funny and the fans would continue to kick on. When this code was being thrown the engine would not start.

The car has sat for about a week. I replaced the sensor yesterday and cleared out the computer. The car then fired right up with some blue smoke and finally went away.

The problem I have no is that there appears to be some black smoke coming out of the engine bay near the drivers side. The engine has been resealed so it doesn't make sense to be leaking oil out of the top. It smells like something is being burnt up, but it does not smell like an electrical burn.

Also, underhood temperatures feel a lot higher than they should be. The fans are not kicking on when its hot, but it will turn on when I run the AC.

Could this be a defective coolant temp sensor, or did I install it incorrectly? I just unbolted the old one, put hte new one in and plugged in the 2 pin connector and that single one pin connector again. The stored code seems to be gone, but I'm afraid to drive it down an hour to YT's until I can find out some temporary solution to avoid the risk of damaging anything.

Hocrest · #2 08-24-2008, 07:29 AM

how high does the gauge go without the fans kicking on?

Tim · #3 08-24-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hocrest

how high does the gauge go without the fans kicking on?

It only goes up to the halfway mark, and the car idled for like half an hour but the fans never kicked on. The radiator was too hot too touch along with the intake manifold, while the hood was open.

Hocrest · #4 08-24-2008, 10:33 AM

That all sounds pretty normal. Watch the gauges and if they climb over 1/2 while in traffic hit the AC to turn on the fans.

While on the highway the fans don't do anything anyway.

Tims Phone · #5 08-24-2008, 11:10 AM

I guess my main concern is currently the underhood smoking. My suspicions are a leaky steering rack but I just need to get underneath the car.

JaySVX · #6 08-24-2008, 02:10 PM

Could it be the exhaust header gaskets? smoke that isn't making it to the tailpipe perhaps? Also, any oils/debris on the engine that is burning offwhen the engine gets hot could cause that too. can you tell where the smoke is coming from, generally?

Tim · #7 08-24-2008, 02:53 PM

A few hours ago my car pulled a code 21 again. But the good news is I double checked the contacts to find the plug had some sort of white deposits and also the single pin connector. So i cleaned it out with alcohol and lightly sanded the contacts and the CEL went away.

Drove the car around for about 30 minutes and now the fans are coming on after reaching operating temp.

The smoke seems to be subsiding. I couldn't get it to smoke again, so now its going to West Creek to get looked at and my exhaust done anyway