Yesterday, I was on my way to work, and saw the temp gauge, the temp was going up, after some time the check engine lights get on, I stop the car, and open the engine bay and the cooling fan was not working at all, so I turned off the car and wait some time, I turned on again and after some time the fan starts and temperature goes down.
Does this car have a temp sensor in some place so I can check it, or it is handled by the computer? Does any body have another idea?

thank's

Every car has a temp sensor... Its called your thermostat. Sometimes they do stick, so if this is a one time thing I wouldn't worry about it till it becomes a every once in awhile thing. You should know where the lid is to fill your radiator coolant, down in there is your thermostat. This thermostat will tell your computer when the engines coolant is too hot which then turns your fans on to cool the radiator. To check your thermostat you have to drain coolant, remove the hose from the radiator fill cap body(thermstat housing)then remove the retaining bolts that keeps the thermostat housing on. Once removed it exposes your thermostat which can then be just pulled out. (Watch out so you dont damage any gaskets.) Then you can clean it. but you have to make sure that you put it back in just the way it comes out. They call it a jiggle valve, its a small hole that needs to be up... Basically this is probably what caused your problem, but most likly it wont happen again. I do not know a way to check if it is good or bad once it is removed. You might want to call local shops in your area and they may have some ideas for checking it.


Godd luck

umm, the thermostat does not tell the computer your ECT. The thermostat is a mechanical spring that opens and closes a valve based on the temperature of your coolant. It allows coolant to flow from the radiator to the engine once the car reaches the temperature that opens the thermostat (approx 190-195 degrees). When the temperature is below operating temperature, the valve is closed so that the engine gets up to operating temperature. It has no electrical connection to it at all.

If your temperature was up and your fan did not kick on, then that could be a number of problems. 1. You could have a loose connection to your fan or to your coolant temperature sensor underneath your thermostat housing. 2. You may have a bad coolant temp sensor that turns your fan on when needed (same sensor under the thermostat housing). 3. Your engine temperature was actually fine in reality, but your sending unit for your gauge is not working properly (happened to me). The sending unit is located on the block itself below and to the right of where the coolant temp sensor is (if i remember right). 4. Your fan is craping out on you.

Matt
1995 Eclipse GS
2.0L, S16g Turbo, 8 Injectors, 26psi

1998 Eclipse GSX
2.3L Stroker, AEM EMS Converted to Speed Density, FP3065 Turbo, 35psi , and so on...

That is very good information, thank's a lot guys!