Questions and Answers

Mitsubishi Eclipse CTS Code Q. I have a 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS with a 2.0 liter engine. It has a 5 speed manual transmission and approximately 98,000 miles. It has fuel injection, air conditioning and cruise control, and I believe I have rack and pinion steering.

Okay, now to the annoying problem. When it is hot outside, usually above 90°, my car will drive okay for about ten minutes, then it warms up and the problems begin..

I have both my check engine light and my radiator light come on. The car starts to chug along, it hesitates, dies at idle, and there is a very strong smell of fuel. If come to a stop when this problem starts to happen, I put my e-brake on and rev the car up to about 3,000 rpm to keep it from dying, this is when I smell the fuel, and there is an excessive amount of smoke coming out the exhaust..

Then when I begin to accelerate the car jerks like it is getting fuel, then not, then getting it. Eventually the car will die and I cannot start the car back up for a while. I'm guessing it needs to cool down.

I took it to a mechanic who told me it was my catalytic converter, which I replaced, then put it on the computer which read coolant temperature sensor, which I replaced, now he is telling me it is the wires to the coolant temperature sensor. Please help me.

A. The first thing I would have done is pull the codes from the computer. The symptoms you describe are not bad catalytic converter symptoms so I wouldn't even go there.

If the code he got indicated the Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) the code specifically says "CTS circuit which may or may not mean a bad CTS. The wiring has to be checked to be sure the problem is not open or shorted wiring.

Another thing to keep in mind, that engine has both a Coolant temperature Sensor and a Coolant temperature Switch. It would be a good idea to check and see if the right one got replaced.

Coolant Temperature Sensor

The Coolant Temperature Sensor, located in the thermostat housing, is a thermistor type sensor. As engine temperature increases, sensor resistance decreases. The ECU judges engine temperature by the sensor output voltage and provides optimum fuel enrichment when the engine is cold.

Coolant Temperature Switch

The Coolant Temperature Switch, located in the thermostat housing, is a contact type switch. It is normally in the closed position allowing current flow. When the engine coolant temperature is 233 - 244° F the switch will open cutting power to the ECU, and helping to prevent engine overheating.