I've read quite a few of you second genners talking about the IAT sensor. on your cars. I've got a 97 with a 1.8l From what I've read, it should be in the factory airbox, but I know damn well its not there. Would it be integrated with the MAF perhaps?? Or would this be one of those things where Canadian models don't have one because of different emmissions laws??

 

It is a plug, that is located on the top cover of your air box. If you can't find, then I am sorry, but thats where mine was.

 

I have an interesting story to tell about the intake air temperature sensor.
I purchased a Ractive intake for my 1.5, and it came with all the grommets and stuff to mount everything EXCEPT the IAT sensor. So I rigged up a mounting grommet and adaptor to put inline behind the MAF so it could read actual air intake temperature. WELL, my milage dropped from 31-32 to 25-27MPG, and the engine ran rich. I took it out and let it hang near the battery, and everything is fine now. I guess it's not meant to have air rushing past it cooling it off too much, it made the computer think it was always cold, even in 80 degree Florida.

 

careful because these devices run on resistance. if you cut the wiring to extend it so the sensor can be mounted elsewhere (because the stock wiring is VERY tight) you should not use wirenuts and may even want to avoid tape unless your very clean at bandaging the wound. Any lack or additional resistance in the sensor will wither cause it to malfunction and deliver improper data, or in many cases sets off the check engine (mal) light with error code 419/420 (catylist system warmup time under threshold.) Don't think that error code means what many people assume (a bad or dirty o2 sensor) it could simply be a wiring problem with the mass-airflow sensor or the temp sensor, I always check those first.

note: on 1.5l's advancing the timing more than 1 degree sets off the MAL light with the same error code after a few weeks of driving, but somebody told me that could be dependant on the gasoline you use too, which made some sense...these cars have a LOT of sensors.

 

just woke up

 

Is there a better way to fix it? Mine did the same thing.

 

I know it's kind of a crappy fix, but I didn't want to cut the wires to move it to another location because it may effect the sensors readings. I just tie wrapped it out of the way so it wouldn't get broken, although I did think about maybe getting one of those plastic film containers, put a hole in the bottom, putting the sensor in it with the top of the container off (and tie wrapping the container upside down so no dirt and water can collect) to protect it a little more... but for now, it's OK.

 

O.k. I finally got a straight answer, from Kevin Godden of Dave Wood Mazda (somewhere in Toronto) about wether my car should have an IAT sensor.

Some do some don't...
early models dont. the sensor is part of the mass air flow sensor.. later models have a seperate air intake sensor in the air box like the P5.
Regards Kevin Godden .