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Damnit!! Header install gone bad. HELP!

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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 12:25 PM
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Default Damnit!! Header install gone bad. HELP!

So i installed my Pacesetter LT's and ORY on sunday. Since then, on a cold start, the car fires up just fine. However, after the car gets warmed up, it doesn't want to start and will start up real rough or sometimes won't start at all. I noticed that my temperature gauge isn't functioning at all. I'm assuming that if the computer reads that the car is cold when it's in fact warm that it will put out more fuel thus causing it to start rough. But i've also been told that the temp gauge sending unit that goes into the head only controls the gauge and has nothing to do with the computer. I'm lost. Can anyone shine some light on the situation? Thanks in advance.
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 12:26 PM
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Did you remember to plug that coolant sensor thing back in? It's right in front of the first primary on the driver's side.

-J
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by lastcall190
Did you remember to plug that coolant sensor thing back in? It's right in front of the first primary on the driver's side.

-J
yes, it is plugged in. However, isn't there another sensor that goes to the computer or is this the only sensor?
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 12:30 PM
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Well right now I'm thinking back to my header install and anything that I personally unplugged that needed to get plugged back in. I know there was a thread not too long ago of a guy having the EXACT same problem (search is working pretty good this morning you might have some good luck with it), can't remember what his fix was tho. Sorry.

-J
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 01:16 PM
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i've been trying the search, but coming up with nothing.
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 01:21 PM
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If you damaged the sensor, that could be part of the problem. That sensor sends a raw voltage to the PCM so the PCM knows what the coolant temp is. I don't think the fact that the dash on '99 and up f-bodies has a dummy coolant temp guage has anything to do with whether or not that sensor works right. It needs to work right.

Something else to consider is the connections on the intake tract (MAF, IAT, IAC, TPS, and MAP) as well as the front oxygen sensors. During cold starts, the front O2's are ignored. But once the car is warm, they play a major role in fueling.

The best thing you could do to help diagnose the problem is to hook it up to a scanner. Find someone with EFILive or HPTuners and they could help you take a look at what's really going on.
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 01:26 PM
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Deff coolant sensor. Mine did the same thing for about a week untill I finally spotted that it wasnt on the whole way. Pull it off and make sure that the connections are clean and then make sure its on the whole way. If that doesnt work than you prob damaged the sensor and will need to buy a new one. Its not very easy to tell if its damaged or not except that it wont work like youre describing. Check all the other connections but I would bet money thats what it is.

EDIT: Its the sensor right by the first spark plug on the drivers side. Just incase you were checkin the wrong one.
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 01:36 PM
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definately the sensor! I broke mine, and thought it wasnt a big deal, but the car ran like garbage. ordered a new one. put it on and the car runs like a top now. It caused the car to run extremely rich
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 04:04 PM
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The PCM sends the signal to the guage in the cluster based on the readings from the coolant temperature sensor. It's definately not getting a signal. Three possibilities: the sensor is damaged/bad, the wire is not plugged properly, or the wire going to the sensor is damaged.
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Old Apr 4, 2007 | 04:15 PM
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alright thanks alot guys. I'm going to pull out the sensor and check it out. Will that particular sensor throw a code that a simple gm scanner will pick up?
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Old Apr 5, 2007 | 12:43 AM
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Mine didnt throw a code, it just didnt operate right. Anyone else know?
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Old Apr 5, 2007 | 03:39 PM
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well i found today that one of the wires going to the plug that plugs into that sensor is cut...don't exactly know how that happend, but with that sensor not functioning correctly, it will make the car run like crap correct?
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Old Apr 5, 2007 | 04:48 PM
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Yea it won't run right without that sensor. I believe it goes into an open loop, which explains your hot start problems. Get it fixed!
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Old Apr 5, 2007 | 04:52 PM
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Yes. Fix it.
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Old Apr 5, 2007 | 10:35 PM
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no doubt fix this man...do not run without it IMO...you will run super super rich and in my opinion in closed loop meaning the car will never think its warmed up and inject fuel to the point you foul the plugs and possibly damage your rings...replace that bitch! twentish dollars at your local dealer or auto parts store...
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Old Apr 5, 2007 | 11:02 PM
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Mine isnt running all that great, but I believe its due to the 02 Sensor. It'll spit and sputter while driving. Wont kill the car, but definetly runs rough
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Old Apr 6, 2007 | 12:40 PM
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i soldered the wires together and started the car up. At first, it read the temp then after like 3 seconds of the car running, it would cut out. It did this like 10 times. I got a little irritated and drank a few beers. Then I started the car and it was fine then. I don't understand that, but whatever works i guess. My check engine light also went away. Thanks for your help guys!
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