Hi all !

Just got here, and i've been reading this forum for a bit. You guys know your stuff.

So I'll submit a weird problem to you guys. My 92 Protege (Se 1.8 L DOHC, 218 000 km, stock) has a check engine light that comes on only when the car gets to normal temp. It stays on or blinks for a few minutes and then stays off.

Not that unusual, right ? Well maybe the fact that I feel a roughly 20 % gain in power at the time the light is on is unusual... And only when the light is on.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it very much, but that can't be good for the engine right ?
And if you know what it is, can I trigger it in some way ? That much passing power...

Sears Auto Center says it's my water pump sensor that sticks.

Thanks for reading !

 

there are 2 sensors on the motor and 1 on the radiator eh. Post a pic and I will show you. I believe, 1 is a thermo sensor, the other is a engine temperature sensor. the 3rd on the radiator is a water level sensor . The only sensor that shows a check engine light when disconnected is the thermosensor. That part is ~$18-34US . Are you also having a problem starting eh?

 

Sometimes, eh. But only when it's real wet outside. Then the engine turns for maybe 15 seconds before firing up to a very rough idle (for a few seconds). Then all is good, and I get the bizarre "turbo" mode as usual.

A pic of what, eh ? It's kinda wintery out here, don't feel like breaking out the camera in the freezing rain / snowstorm...

Sears hooked it up to the computer to determine it was the "water pump" sensor (or thermosensor, wich makes sense). I don't doubt what they are saying, I'm just baffled by the power surge...

 

i'm totally convinced it's the thermosensor.