i have a 1993 formula with a moroso cold air intake system. Today, i did the paperclip scan test and my computer shot out a code 23 for the IAT sensor. Everything checks out, on the volts test i did. I was jsut wondering if anyone else has had their IAT sensor go bad or trigger a code while having aftermarket CAI on their car? Do you recommend replacing it, or will it just go bad again?

 

The IAT sensor is CRITICAL to your 1993 speed-density setup.... without the correct IAT data, the PCM can not calculate the "density" part of the equations.

The temp sensors are extremely durable. There is no reason that installing a CAI should damage the sensor.

If you have an ohm meter, you can pull the sensor out and check it.

Put is in a glass of water/ice cubes. Resistance should be 9,420 ohms

Put it in a pot of boiling water. Resistance should be 177 ohms.

At room temp (say 68degF) the resistance should be 3,520 ohms.

If the sensor checks out, it is a wiring problem. When you say you did a voltage test, what did you check?

 

according to my repair manual (starting to dislike it more and more) is recommended the ohms test, but only for the room temperature and it said it should be somewhere around 2400 if i remember right. It went through to give me a volts test sequence-
(using an ohms/volts testor--my dad is an electrician--)

1. you remove the plug from the sensor... and prod test that, it should be around 5.02 or 5.01 volts at room temperature, mine was 5.12, but the book said around, so i figured, whats .1 volts on this test. am I wrong? this was just the connector plug on the wiring, not the sensor, should it be that high?

2. then it told me to check resistance accross the prongs of the sensor, with clips on each one(the prongs the plug goes on to) the resistance should be around 1.580 volts at room temperature and lower at running temperature, mine was slightly lower.

The book didn't tell me about the ohms test, I will try that, hopefully it isn't a wiring problem.

by the way, i have a "Haynes" repair manual for 1993-2000 chevrolet camaros and pontiac firebird, all models. couldn't find any other ones.

That was all the advice it gave on that code (23) it said if the resistance isn't lower at rinning temperature, replace the sensor. But mine was lower.