IAT sensor location for e36

[proplan]

Can anyone point out to me exactly where the Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor is located in my e36 1995 bmw:eeps:

[Pirate_copy]

It is in your passenger brake duct mate, is a normally yellow plastic rectangle (if not the passenger side, then the drivers )

[Nimble]

no, not the outside temp sensor, the OP is asking (I think) where the intake temp sensor for the coolant to throttle body sensor is. And that is connected to your airbox in the back.

[Pirate_copy]

I read that twice and still got it wrong hehehe - sorry buddy

It is indeed in the airbox if you have one (i didn't)

The MAF is located between the airbox and throttle body

[nelson22]

Can anyone point out to me exactly where the Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor is located in my e36 1995 bmw:eeps:

its in the maf and it is a sealed unit
just asking you have not bought anything that says you can get more bhp out of your car have you?
you have a 318i the same as me they do not work

[E36 Phantom]

Uhhhh....I pity you Proplan. Do you *really* need it off, or are you just curious where it is? It's located, as mentioned above, in the airbox. It connects to the side of the box parallel the firewall.

Let me give you a heads up I learned the hard way about the IAT:
-It is connected using a double sided bolt. I have no flipping clue how to remove it, I ended up drilling out the plastic around it.
-There are 2 hoses that go to it. DON'T REMOVE THEM unless you have something to plug them with....they're full of coolant. I don't have the slightest clue why, but they are. I assumed they were air hoses and undid the fastener on one, and got a face full of coolant. Not fun.

[Nimble]

Uhhhh....I pity you Proplan. Do you *really* need it off, or are you just curious where it is? It's located, as mentioned above, in the airbox. It connects to the side of the box parallel the firewall.

Let me give you a heads up I learned the hard way about the IAT:
-It is connected using a double sided bolt. I have no flipping clue how to remove it, I ended up drilling out the plastic around it.
-There are 2 hoses that go to it. DON'T REMOVE THEM unless you have something to plug them with....they're full of coolant. I don't have the slightest clue why, but they are. I assumed they were air hoses and undid the fastener on one, and got a face full of coolant. Not fun.

:rofl: you did the same dang thing I did! I cursed that f'in bolt for a good 30 min before using a damn pry bar and breaking the plastic. And, like you, I was like hmm air hoses? BOOM, coolant all over the ground. :bawling: I felt so stupid hehe. So I just made a connector and connected the 2 coolant lines together and threw away that t-stat. Works great.

[proplan]

I bought This seed chip on ebay. this resistor connects to the car's ECU by replacing the Intake Airflow Temperature (IAT) Sensor. Once the resistor is installed, the ECU will read that the air coming in is 36 °F (10k resistor = 36 °F) think of it as a "default" setting on the ECU. When the ECU reads this, it modifies the air/fuel mixture, in other words it will take in more air, and then add more fuel to compensate for the extra air coming in which produces more power by advancing the timing 1 to 2 degrees Because the engine is creating more power it will need more fuel so the fuel economy will sometimes drop slightly depending on the vehicle if you are really on it although it usually stays the same.

[Pirate_copy]

Please tell me you are kidding buddy....

[E36 Phantom]

:rofl: you did the same dang thing I did! I cursed that f'in bolt for a good 30 min before using a damn pry bar and breaking the plastic. And, like you, I was like hmm air hoses? BOOM, coolant all over the ground. :bawling: I felt so stupid hehe. So I just made a connector and connected the 2 coolant lines together and threw away that t-stat. Works great.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:
Haha, someone else knows my pain! Except, my engine was still hot when I was doing that, so the coolant didn't bubble to the ground........no, it was like I removed the hose, looked at it for a second, then 1, 2, POOF this huge stream of pressurized coolant came straight at me. I walked in the entry way of the house literally DRIPPING coolant off me!


I bought This seed chip on ebay. this resistor connects to the car's ECU by replacing the Intake Airflow Temperature (IAT) Sensor. Once the resistor is installed, the ECU will read that the air coming in is 36 °F (10k resistor = 36 °F) think of it as a "default" setting on the ECU. When the ECU reads this, it modifies the air/fuel mixture, in other words it will take in more air, and then add more fuel to compensate for the extra air coming in which produces more power by advancing the timing 1 to 2 degrees Because the engine is creating more power it will need more fuel so the fuel economy will sometimes drop slightly depending on the vehicle if you are really on it although it usually stays the same.
No, no, no, no. Quick, resell it on eBay!!! Lol. Seriously, don't use that.

[Pirate_copy]

TAKE IT OFF....seriously mate, you dont want that within 500 miles of your ECU

[Conehead]

Uhhhh....I pity you Proplan. Do you *really* need it off, or are you just curious where it is? It's located, as mentioned above, in the airbox. It connects to the side of the box parallel the firewall.

Let me give you a heads up I learned the hard way about the IAT:
-It is connected using a double sided bolt. I have no flipping clue how to remove it, I ended up drilling out the plastic around it.
-There are 2 hoses that go to it. DON'T REMOVE THEM unless you have something to plug them with....they're full of coolant. I don't have the slightest clue why, but they are. I assumed they were air hoses and undid the fastener on one, and got a face full of coolant. Not fun.

There full of coolant as this is one of the systems that 'tells' the ECU when the car is up to normal operating temp and changes the air/fuel mixture.

Its like the automated version of the old 'choke' you used to pull out to start a cold engine pre EFI days (if you remember them, not being rude), back in the early 80's.

Cone
XXX

[Conehead]

TAKE IT OFF....seriously mate, you dont want that within 500 miles of your ECU


Just 500......try 1000 miles.......just to be safe....

Cone
XXX

[Pirate_copy]

I like your thinking!!

[E36 Phantom]

There full of coolant as this is one of the systems that 'tells' the ECU when the car is up to normal operating temp and changes the air/fuel mixture.

Its like the automated version of the old 'choke' you used to pull out to start a cold engine pre EFI days (if you remember them, not being rude), back in the early 80's.

Cone
XXX

Early 80's? I wasn't even a speck back then :rofl:
(I'm a 90's kid.......I probably shouldn't admit that though...haha, its actually a tad embarassing....)

Anyway, I'm sorry, I've heard of a choke, and I know it could somehow be necessary to start an engine, although I really don't know what exactly it did (restrict airflow?) and when you needed to use it. I'll go look it up on Wiki so you don't need to waste your time explaining how the choke works, but I still am not really sure why there would be coolant going to a sensor. How does it change things, what purpose do the coolant lines serve exactly? Are they blocked by something in that sensor? How would a sensor in the airbox do anything to read engine operating temp, wouldn't it be reading oncoming air temp?
Not being argumentative, I'm just full of questions and rather confused on this one..haha.

[Conehead]

Early 80's? I wasn't even a speck back then :rofl:
(I'm a 90's kid.......I probably shouldn't admit that though...haha, its actually a tad embarassing....)

Anyway, I'm sorry, I've heard of a choke, and I know it could somehow be necessary to start an engine, although I really don't know what exactly it did (restrict airflow?) and when you needed to use it. I'll go look it up on Wiki so you don't need to waste your time explaining how the choke works, but I still am not really sure why there would be coolant going to a sensor. How does it change things, what purpose do the coolant lines serve exactly? Are they blocked by something in that sensor? How would a sensor in the airbox do anything to read engine operating temp, wouldn't it be reading oncoming air temp?Not being argumentative, I'm just full of questions and rather confused on this one..haha.


WOW...my son was born in the 90's..LOL..

Its ok. Not wasting time.

The 'choke' used to restrict the airflow, thus producing a 'richer' mixture. This was done in the carburettor (carby for short). The carby is where the fuel and air were mixed prior to going to the engine. The richer mixture allowed a cold engine to start easier. I can remember if you forgot to push the choke in the car would splutter, fart, have crap fuel economy and blow thick black smoke.

The modern EFI system uses many sensors to get the best fuel / air mixture for the car's engine. On the modern system, they are 'tuned' to run leaner, so the car runs cleaner. This sensor measures the temp of the air thats coming into the car so the best mixture can be sent to the engine for combustion. Cold air is more dence, so less petrol needs to be mixed and visa versa for warmer air. The reason this sensor has coolant lines going to it is so it 'knows' what the cars engine temp is, thus it can tell the ECU to fine tune the mixture even better. Basicly its an emmisions thing.

Hope this has helped you.

Cone
XXX

[Pirate_copy]

Impressive write up

Best thing ANY mechanic can do, is learn on an old engine as it gives the basics for every engine ever made

I had a mini when i learned to drive and learned more about engines from that engine in 12 months than i have in the 6 years since!!

[Conehead]

Impressive write up

Best thing ANY mechanic can do, is learn on an old engine as it gives the basics for every engine ever made

I had a mini when i learned to drive and learned more about engines from that engine in 12 months than i have in the 6 years since!!

Hope your refering to my write up cause coming from you this means somethings.....heheheheh..........:thumbup:


Cone
XXX

[Pirate_copy]

Of course it was yours mate

Summed it up perfectly

[Conehead]

Of course it was yours mate

Summed it up perfectly

Why thank you good sir..

Cone
XXX

[E36 Phantom]

WOW...my son was born in the 90's..LOL..

Its ok. Not wasting time.

The 'choke' used to restrict the airflow, thus producing a 'richer' mixture. This was done in the carburettor (carby for short). The carby is where the fuel and air were mixed prior to going to the engine. The richer mixture allowed a cold engine to start easier. I can remember if you forgot to push the choke in the car would splutter, fart, have crap fuel economy and blow thick black smoke.

The modern EFI system uses many sensors to get the best fuel / air mixture for the car's engine. On the modern system, they are 'tuned' to run leaner, so the car runs cleaner. This sensor measures the temp of the air thats coming into the car so the best mixture can be sent to the engine for combustion. Cold air is more dence, so less petrol needs to be mixed and visa versa for warmer air. The reason this sensor has coolant lines going to it is so it 'knows' what the cars engine temp is, thus it can tell the ECU to fine tune the mixture even better. Basicly its an emmisions thing.

Hope this has helped you.

Cone
XXX

Cool, thanks for the info Cone. Great as always!

So, the coolant lines going to it are simply and information thing, and the sensor doesn't control any flow, and the coolant doesn't change anything about the sensor? It just provides more info to the sensor to relay back to the DME? I think I got it now....Only one last question, where are the wires going to the DME? I only see the 2 coolant lines..

Oh, and ATM til I get a get a chance to work on the baby a bit more, my sensor is hanging out in the open in the engine bay, where its reading a much higher temp than the air that's really getting pulled in. This would cause my car to run richer, correct? So, lesser fuel economy, but a bit better performance? Or am I all wrong?

[Conehead]

Cool, thanks for the info Cone. Great as always!

So, the coolant lines going to it are simply and information thing, and the sensor doesn't control any flow, and the coolant doesn't change anything about the sensor? It just provides more info to the sensor to relay back to the DME? I think I got it now....Only one last question, where are the wires going to the DME? I only see the 2 coolant lines..

Oh, and ATM til I get a get a chance to work on the baby a bit more, my sensor is hanging out in the open in the engine bay, where its reading a much higher temp than the air that's really getting pulled in. This would cause my car to run richer, correct? So, lesser fuel economy, but a bit better performance? Or am I all wrong?


Awwwww mate, Im blushing now.!!!

Those 2 lines would go to the sensor. They 'tell' the sensor the information. The sensor would then 'talk' to the ecu for the best possible mixture.

Its possible that ist sending the wrong info to the ECU as its outside its cover but in theory, you may be right.

Cone
XXX

[E36 Phantom]

Awwwww mate, Im blushing now.!!!

Those 2 lines would go to the sensor. They 'tell' the sensor the information. The sensor would then 'talk' to the ecu for the best possible mixture.


Its possible that ist sending the wrong info to the ECU as its outside its cover but in theory, you may be right.

Cone
XXX

But how would it talk to the ECU? I don't actually see any sort of wires at all, just 2 coolant hoses. I'll look again tomorrow but I sure don't remember anything else. If its detecting warmer air than the car is taking in, do you think it would make my car run richer or leaner, and have a positive or negative effect on performance? More just a temporary question as I plan to fix it right ASAP, just thought I'd ask.

[Conehead]

But how would it talk to the ECU? I don't actually see any sort of wires at all, just 2 coolant hoses. I'll look again tomorrow but I sure don't remember anything else. If its detecting warmer air than the car is taking in, do you think it would make my car run richer or leaner, and have a positive or negative effect on performance? More just a temporary question as I plan to fix it right ASAP, just thought I'd ask.

Ok....from memory..the coolant hoses are connected to the sensor, and the sensor would be somehow connected to the wiring system. If its not connected to anything (sensor) I suggest that you get it looked at.

In relation to the performance issue, I dont know. There are many factors to the ECU mixture controls. If a sensor gives out a dodgy reading the others may compensate.

IF there was a performance increase, I believe it would be minimal.

Cone
XXX