Thread: Can anyone tell me about ect & temp switch

I just got this car and keep getting a P0131 code. I had a shop look at this and they said it was the O2 sensor. I replaced it but that did nothing. If I get into the throttle more than half way the car dies out and has no power. If I let up on the pedal it will pick back up. The SES light will not come on unless I hold the pedal down and make the car chug for about 15 seconds. Then it will not go out until I hook up a scanner to clear it. I heard that a temp sensor can cause this. I thought I found the coolant temp sensor but it ended up being the temperature switch. Do I have both? The switch has three pins whereas the sensor has two. Thanks for your help anyone.

Is it the same code coming back after the O2 was replaced?

Sorry, I have been working and not been able to get to my computer. Anyway, I have done the plugs and wires, fuel filter, tranny filter, O2 sensor before CAT and now the Temperature switch. I was doing the temp switch and found out that it also has or has either or, a temp switch or coolant temp sensor. I originally bought the Coolant temp sensor and took it out to replace but found out that the coolant sensor has two pins for the electrical connection and the temp switch has 3 pins. I needed the 3 pin sensor. Well putting the original coolant sensor back in until I could get to the part store, I bent the pins and could not plug it back in. So I drove it that way. Of course it set a code for that but it actually ran really well with the sensor unplugged. Now perfect but better than it has. I put the right sensor in that matched my electrical connection (Temperature switch) and now it runs like crap again and sets the same P0131 code for the O2 sensor. I am at the end of my wits with this and cannot pull into traffic with any surety about getting up to speed.

Try getting a scan tool and see if you are getting a reading for temp. Maybe the car isn't going into closed loop?

Ok, I fixed it! I went and bought some MAF cleaner. I find it hard to believe that this fixed my problem but strange things happen I guess. Now it seems that it runs like a supercharged 3.8 compared to how it was running. I only wish it were a 3.8 Supercharged model. I went to Autzone and had them clear the codes and the SES light has not come back and I can push the peddle to the floor and it runs perfectly. Thanks to everyone that replied.