I went to autozone to pick up a new Air temp. sensor (the one in the back of the plenum) but it is different than the one that has always been in there.
the one I had for six years looks like the Coolant temp sensor and is a solid brass looking color.
the new one has a plastic (not metal) protrusion that has big holes in it and I can see the thermocouple inside.
my question is that the new sensor wont hook up to my harness because the connectors are slightly different. why is this so and does anyone know which kind of sensor the intake temp is supposed to be?
should I get a replacement harness repair that hooks up to the new sensor or should I just buy another coolant temp sensor and put it in there?
It seems like they would have different temp ranges and I want the computer to read right.

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88 WS6 T/A 305 TPI--
K&N,Air foil,hypertech chip, thermostat+fanswitch
free mods, dynomax catback, urethane motor+trans mounts, PST front end poly stuff, Earl's hyperflex brake lines SSM SFCs, Bilsteins very trick homemade ramair, Accel 300+ ignition system. Ported plenum, intake and heads with 1.94I valves.
Planning: Heddman 1-5/8 longtubes, NOS 150 plate, replace the "peanut"! and Eibach Sportlines.
check it out at:
http://www.geocities.com/transam617

 

Just go back to AutoZone and ask for a coolant temp sensor. They're both exactly the same! And while you're under the hood, relocate that air temp sesor somewhere where it will get some colder air and leave the old sensor in the plenum as a plug

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1991 Z28 5.7 TPI

ZZ4 heads, ZZ4 cam, Harland Sharp roller rockers, Accel base, SLP siamesed runners, 52MM SLP Throttle Body, Hooker Headers, Flowmaster catback, MSD6A ignition, Home made ramair system, aluminum driveshaft, WC 5-speed etc

 

Yea, its the same sensor different connector, but the above post about the CTS being the same thing is right.

As for relocating it, dont bother, it wont help anything.

 

The sensor Your talking about is an LT1 type. I have the part right in front of me form autozone the one you want. Its a wells PT 1784

 

the sensor I bought looks like this and I even looked it up online a couple different places. why do they all list this as the part for the intake temp sensor if its the wrong one??

 

oh yea this is what the old one looks like.


but are we sure that both will perform the same function I mean like have the same output as a function of temp so the computer knows whats going on?
seems to me like the open one would get caked with sh*t easily.

 

the CTS and MAT sensor are the same thing, aftermarket they kinda changed the MAT sensor.

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- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

but the aftermarket one they sold me doesnt fit with the OE harness connector. i.e. it wont work. yet this is the one that all the part companies sell as the MAT sensor so does this mean that you are telling me they changed the sensor and the connector?

something isnt making sense

 

They have exactly the same resistance at the same temperatures, hence they are the same sensor. They even share the same GM part number. (The correct CTS and IAT (or MAT) anyway)

The one AutoDoo is selling you is for a V6 or a later V8, and the connector is different but the resistance of that sensor is the same as well.

Just ask AutoDoo for a CTS sensor.

[This message has been edited by madmax (edited November 12, 2001).]

 

Thank you that was what I needed to know.

 

The open style IAT that you have is the better piece, it's supposedly a faster reacting piece, and is also less prone to heat soak since it has plastic to kinda insulate it from the plenum, as opposed to being a piece of directly connected brass.
As for hooking it up, i have an LT1 airbox style MAT in my car (no threads on it.) Anyhow, the connector was different on it too. So i looked at it. Then i noticed that if you turn the connector upside down it plugs in just fine. The 'key' on the weatherpack was just on the other side. Maybe it's not quite as weathertite, but i also don't quite care that much, works just fine.

 

no the weather pack connector wont plug in no matter how I do it. I am just going to stick with the brass one.

 

I remember when we brought a CTS for my friends T\A it came with a wiring harness with it incase the stock connector was different.

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- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

well that would have been nice but I think Im gonna save the one I have and get a new harness connector so I can relocate and eliminate heat soak. but of course for now I dont think I need any more fuel until I replace my dying fuel pump so I will replace the old one in the stock location.