jginther1981

Okay I accidentally broke the cylinder head temperature sensor wiring on my zx. I know I can strip the wire back but the sensor is so corroded i cleaned it and i believe the corrosion was holding the wires together. Now it won't idle below 1200 and is running rich. I started blowing some soot and looks like moisture out of the tell pipe. I'm sure I could figure out how to wire another one up....but i need a new connector ( the one that actually plugs into it) and a sensor, and can't find one at autozone or oreilys. Also once a new one is installed, does the computer start re-reading everything, and adjust itself accordingly? If anyone can give me any advice im definitely in need of it. lol

NismoPick

Hit the junk yard... about 50 million Nissan's use that same sensor. It's a common weak connector, so I replaced mine w/ one from a detonation sensor on a 2002 Maxima... it's even a quick release.

jginther1981

the z store says that they have them for 48 bucks....does that sound right to you nismo? also what's a detonation sensor or what does it look like i guess and what year maxima did you pull it from and how much?

NismoPick

You don't use the Maxima det sensor, just the connector... Like I said, Nissan used that same connector for about 30 years in various models, and for various sensors, so you can hit the junk yard and find a clean, new wired one and chop it about a foot back. I'm using a CHTS from a Z31... same sensor, but newer and cleaner.

jginther1981

how much did it set you back? will all the years be compatible as far as the sensor goes? definitely need a clean one cause the one i have is so corroded i think it might just fall apart. lol hopefully some of these cars are common out in the wrecking yards here in texas

NismoPick

It was like $5, but every junk yard is different. The ones where you can pull the parts yourself are the best, as you can just look around and get what you need. I told the cashier it was a ground wire from a Honda.

Make sure you take your orig CHTS to test fit it as some of the connectors have the alignment slot in different locations.

jginther1981

cool thanks for the info nismo.....you seem to be a valuable source. lol also i'm assuming i put this back in with some pipe dope or teflon tape?

rogerz

ITS A dry hole don't need anything. just don't torque it down. it only needs to snug up to the head to get the metal temperature. if it is a wet hole you got the wrong sensor or major problem. fuel injector connector works also. Try NAPA they might call it the coolant temp sensor but look at the picture and see that it has two pins. single wire is for the actual coolant temp on an s130 but as the s30 called it a coolant temp sensor (which it was) sometimes the parts books get it confused.

jginther1981

Rogerz if that might also be called the coolant temperature sensor, then what is the one by my thermostat housing?

rogerz

the one on the thermo housing is the sensor that tells your gage in the cockpit what temp the coolant is. The confusion arises in that the S30 called it the coolant temp sensor and it told the ecu whether engine hot/cold. (another sensor operated the gage.) On the S130 they went to the chts feeling that the actual head metal temp was a more accurate reading for the ecu to use. The chts is back around the #5 spark plug.

Again. One wire is an actual temp sensor that goes to a gage.
two wires is a sensor that sends info to the ecu. download and read the fuel injection bible to get a better understanding of how the sytem operates. if you haven't downloaded the fsm from xenon now would be a good time to do that -ITS FREE.

NismoPick

I just happened to be near my car today, so I snapped a pic for ya...

omniserv

OMG,

I was using a 1979 FSM when trouble shooting my 1983. Don't do that if you are looking for info in the CHTS and Temp sensors. They are very different.

I the 79 manual they don't even mention a CHTS just the coolant sensor and the therotime switch.

WildmaN

^ Yeah the CHTS didn't come out until '81 I believe. Also the o2 sensor didn't come out until '81 either.

BlueKitsune

my 80 (late 79 by the tag plate) has a CHTS but no O2 lol

FricFrac

The injector plug is an EV1 connector. You can get them new for around $5 or less each....