I'm new to this web site so please forgive if this is a redundant post.

I have a 92 Trans Am GTA (TPI).
Runs super until it gets to running temp. Then it floods and dies.
When it cools again, it will start and idle fine. After a few minutes it will idle at 1500-1800RPM and flood out again.

It snowed last night and my driveway is black just below both exhaust tips. Smells like hell also

This just began happening today.

I'm thinking it could be the Coolant Temp. Sensor, but not sure.

Where is the CTS on this vehicle?

Any help would be great.

 

Welcome Aboard!

The CTS is located at the front of the intake,in the coolant crossover. It should have a black and a yellow wire in its connector, like almost every other GM system. Rather than replace it outright, you can test teh sensor resistance at an assumed coolant temperature:



Since the problem occurs only when the engine warms to operating temperature, I would also suspect the oxygen sensor. The system operates in Open Loop Mode until the coolant is warmed, oxygen sensor is active, and a startup timer has elapsed. Once this occurs, the ECM will attempt to maintain a fuel mixture that satisfies the oxygen sensor. The problem is that as an O² sensor ages, its output signal becomes weaker. A lower voltage signal is interpreted by the ECM as a lean condition. The ECM will attempt to "correct" this by adding fuel to satisfy the sensor (increase the signal voltage). While the weak sensor may be reporting a correct value to the ECM, the reality is that it has to be excessively rich to generate that level of signal. The sensor is happy, but your nose and fuel budget are not.

If the O² is more than 30,000 miles old, it's a good idea to replace it anyway.

BTW - If you do have to replace the CTS, it's an excellent opportunity to flush the cooling system if that hasn't been done receently.

 

Vader,

Thanks for all of the info.

I couldn't check the Coolant Temp. Sensor by metering. I don't have the equipment with me to do that.

I did locate the unit and unplug it........ the car idles fine even at running temp. when it is unplugged.

In my minds eye this would narrow it down to the CTSensor, wouldn't it?

Question is.... Can I run without it plugged in? Would this cause further damage down the road?

I realize the CTS is only about $20 but I'm broke right now.

How long could I run until replacing it, OR SHOULD I RUN IT AT ALL??????

Thanks again for the quick response and great information...

Craig

 

thanks again Vader

 

Probably correct, but not neccessarily. With the CTS unplugged you're probably never getting into closed-loop operation, so there's still a chance of a bad O2.
I'd bet on the CTS though.

 

Maybe you should be honest when trying to sell a car.

 

Funny you never mention this when you tried to sell the car. Mmmmm.

 

Nothing funny about it. I told you on the phone that this was the only item I've had to replace.
HMMMMMMM

 

item was replaced and cured the issue on the same day.

Grow up yourself and STOP lying to people and BEGIN living up to your written commitments.

You give all Canadians a bad name in my book.

Go buy a car for real or get off this site ya bum

 

Okay, well. Maybe this is going nowhere...