HI,

I've got the unsteady idling problem that a lot of people seem to have since a week or 2.

This morning the CEL came on, pulled the code and it seems to be the "Intake Air Temperature" sensor (code = 1 long blink).

However since then the engine runs perfectly again (with the CEL on)

1. Can anyone explain this?

2. Is it bad to drive with a broken Intake temp sensor?

Bart

 

2. it certainly could be, assuming it is broken - it could be that the wire contacts are dirty, or an upstream part is out of position. The intermittent nature of your problem would support a loose conenction, or simply changes in the ambient air temperatures.

The IAT is one of the many inputs the ECM uses to determine the air fuel ratio, timing, etc. If it is getting a faulty or outr of range code, it may revert to "safe" or "limp home" fixed program settings, and likely will go fuel rich rather than fuel lean. This will cause you to lose power, foul the plugs, foul the emissions components, foul the air, etc.

Get it checked and fixed is my recommendation.

 

Thanks Road Rage,

I will take it to the dealer, so it will be OK to drive it there I guess.

Bart