I have an 88LXI with 279K. The check engine light came on as I was driving and flashed a code 6 on the ECU. The engine was at norm operating temp (below mid point on gauge). I stopped turned off engine and turned key back on and check engine light was out and did not come back on. Outside temps in the 40-50 degree range. This morning I went to get the car out of the garage and the check engine light would not go out during self test. As a result car would not start as the check engine light stayed on. The car had been sitting all weekend in the garage. Came home tonight and car started right up but is flashing code 6 and the check engine light is out. There are two sensors on the thermostat housing, one with a green connector and the other connector is white. Could one of these sensors be bad or out of tolerance? Thanks for your help in advance

 

You may want to check ECT sensor. I believe that is what code 6 refers. I don’t know the location on your vehicle but it can give you starting problems when it fails and can send your vehicle into full rich.

 

code 6 TW sensor issue,,,,,,,,,

TW sensor has 2 wires going to it,,,,,yellow/green and green /white

start the car let it run till fans come on,,,,,, unplug connector, chk resistance at sensor it should be 200-400 ohms . if out of range replace sensor..

every single code 6 i have ever found it has turned out to be a bad TW sensor,,,,,,but still,, you need to diagnose first ,, also make sure that wires going to sensor are ok,,

try this and let us know

 

Is the TW another name for the ECT engine temper sensor ?

 

yes Kris it is... on older cars use to be the TW sensor now they call it ECT . so you are correct when advising him to chk the ect sensor,,
But i am not sure if parts people will know what to give him if he asks for ect sensor on a 1988 year car ..

 

The engine coolant temperature sensor only sends information to the engine computer.

There a second sensor called the sending unit that controls the temperature gauge in your car.

 

I am weak in electrical and am trying to learn some more. I like how you guys post testing down in a very plain and straight forward answer.

 

I just got home and checked the ECT sensor. It showed 171 ohms and 2 minutes later it was down to 159 ohms. Good thing I bought one on the way home. Just a note, the car would start but code 6 was still flasing. I bought it at Carquest and they knew which one I needed. They asked a couple of questions just to make sure I got the correct one. Thanks to everyone how gave their feedback. It is nice to get a problem solved!