Cold Start Sensor Vs. ECT Temp Sensor

[fourdoor]

I have a 1990 Toyota Camry and in the process of doing the rear main seal, I happened to break the Cold Start Sensor-Of course-a project is never complete without breaking something! I went to Autozone to try to get a replacement and they wanted to tell me it is a temp switch, which I know it is not. But anyways they do not show a cold start injector sensor in the computer, my question will the ECT temp sensor work as they are trying to tell me it will-or is this a junkyard part/dealer part?

Thanks for any help,

Katie

[Mike Gerber]

There is what Toyota calls a "Cold Start Time Switch" on some of these earlier models. I don't remember when Toyota stopped using it. It was a separate sensor for telling the ECU the car is cold on initial cold start-up and it activates the cold start injector in the intack plenum. These cars also had an ECT (Engine coolant temperature sensor). The ECT should be under a green plastic electrical connector. The Cold Start Time Switch, if your car has one, will be under a brown plastic electrical connector. That should tell you and the parts guy what you are looking for. They should be right next to each other on a port coming out of the block on the driver's side. The ECT sensor runs about $40 aftermarket. The Cold Start Time Switch is only available at Toyota dealers and runs about $100. For your sake, I hope it's the ECT sensor.

Mike

[fourdoor]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

There is what Toyota calls a "Cold Start Time Switch" on some of these earlier models. I don't remember when Toyota stopped using it. It was a separate sensor for telling the ECU the car is cold on initial cold start-up and it activates the cold start injector in the intack plenum. These cars also had an ECT (Engine coolant temperature sensor). The ECT should be under a green plastic electrical connector. The Cold Start Time Switch, if your car has one, will be under a brown plastic electrical connector. That should tell you and the parts guy what you are looking for. They should be right next to each other on a port coming out of the block on the driver's side. The ECT sensor runs about $40 aftermarket. The Cold Start Time Switch is only available at Toyota dealers and runs about $100. For your sake, I hope it's the ECT sensor.

Mike

Its the cold start injector.....you've answered my question. To the junkyard I go.
I knew there was a reason I never listened to the AutoZone people.

Katie