Car shows very slow warm-up on gauge, removed thermostat and tested in a boiling pot, seemed to operate OK,
replaced anyway, same result

Suspect sensor because I'm getting sufficient cabin heat.

Anyone know a source for finding the sensor among all the gizmos the engine has?
I have no shop manual...

Thanks, Joe

 

The gauge on your dash is controlled by the engine computer (aka PCM). The PCM gets the coolant temperature from 2 different coolant temperature sensors. I'm not sure which sensor (or both) feeds into your gauge.

Is there any chance you live in a cold climate and have the heat turned on full blast when first starting the car? Your inside heat acts as a radiator and my be cooling the coolant to heat the cabin of your car.

 

Generally, the PCM uses ECT Sensor 2 for the gauge control output. ECT Sensor 2 is on the engine.

 

Thanks Red Bull, is it the one I see on the passenger side of the head, mounted vertically?
It has a two lead supply.

I thought a two lead is on/off only and one lead is resistor type for gauges???

Thanks, Joe

 

The one-wire senders were for the gauge, up until 2003 or somewhere around there. Sometimes we see statements like that, strictly true only for the year/model being discussed in that thread. Honda has had maybe 4 or 5 different configurations of sensors over how many years has the Accord existed...

 

I had a typo in my initial post, it is ECT Sensor 1, not Sensor 2 (Sensor 2 is at the bottom of the radiator).

On a 4 cylinder, ECT sensor 1 should be on the driver's side.

The harness connector to ECT Sensor 1 has two wires (One is pink, the other Gray).

 

After removing the two plastic shrouds, I see what looks to be a sensor on the cast water manifold
housing for all the water inlet/outlets, I'm assuming that's it.

Not going to be fun removing but that's the norm on these cars now!!

So I can go to Honda and ask for the ECT sensor 1 and they won't look at me like I'm a dolt??

Thanks, Joe

 

Well, I found the sensor on "Hondapartscheap" for $41 shipped.
Coming from Cal. so probably a week before I see it, I'll update on the success....or not!

Joe