Urgent diagnostics help please

[KMud]

My monaro has just started intermittently coughing and stting itself, running rough and sometimes stalling. Based on logs (yay EFI Live), it is commanding pig rich, based on the ECT suddenly reading ~-35'C. I have recently changed the ECT sensor, so it's an obvious candidate, but then I have also recently had to piss around with the battery (not yet relocated, but has gone in and out a few times). Could a bad connection to the battery cause the ECT to misread? I lightly sanded the terminals when the new battery went in, so hopefully that's ok.

Any other likely culprits? What happens if I unplug the ECT sensor? Suppose I can go and find out...

[SturdyHSV]

Any codes thrown? Just in case you hadn't thought to check, hope it is something simple

Do you still have the old ECT sensor to try? Wouldn't imagine battery shenanigans would cause a problem, unless it's low voltage?

[KMud]

Yeah, I've still got the old sensor (though I've not made it home yet...)...it worked, but the plastic bit was melted. I assume someone used some heat on my header bolts and went astray.

Heading out for more diags...

[KMud]

Well that was easy. p0102, p0103 (duh). However, touching the ECT sensor causes the low ECT reading and tries to/does kill the engine, so culprit identified.

[KMud]

So, is dielectric grease on the ECT sensor contacts a bad idea?

[SturdyHSV]

KMud said:

So, is dielectric grease on the ECT sensor contacts a bad idea?

[KMud]

Cheers Sturdy

Not sure about the dielectric grease - I don't think you're meant to use it on low-voltage sensors, but my socket looks a little corroded, so I would like to treat it a little.

I gently bent the pins on my ECT sensor and managed to get home without further issue. Now, leaning on the sensor no longer kills the engine, although given the scare it would be nice to take remedial action to put confidence back in the car (whether that be specious confidence or not...).

All hail EFI Live for a speedy resolution. I will admit I was already considering replacement engine options whilst stting myself that the engine was eating itself...

[SturdyHSV]

http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/crate-engines...

[KMud]

Was thinking LS3 or LSX454...not sure about an R, that would empty the garage fund