Post turbo IAT(Intake Air Temp) sensor?

[Penguini66]

Over on Focaljet (thread) (http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB49&Number=754960&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) , we've been kicking around the idea and validity of adding an IAT sensor after the turbo (or supercharger). I'm still not sure about this but I imagine that the stock computer program would not be able to understand the high temperature readings. I'm thinking that the values would be out of range? Can the SCT software allow us to take advantage of the readings? Is there any real benefit to a post turbo IAT? (Especially in a non-intercooled application like mine.)

[Ed Clark]

You shouldn't need to add one, just relocate the stock one. The Fordchip guys have been doing this for a while. If the Focus's IAT is similar to the Mustang there is enough range to relocate the sensor after the blower/turbo. Then timing can be recalibrated. There are significant benefits in this.

Ed

[Penguini66]

^^^^^^ Thanks for the info! :)

But I will need to add a sensor. The Focus has a 6 wire MAF with integrated IAT. So, hopefully I just have to get an IAT and wire it up to the extra two wires on the MAF harness. Anyone know if a Mustang IAT gives simialr (or identical) feedback as my stock integrated MAF/IAT? Or is this another one of those: Just tell the software what type of sensor it is with a "value file".

[Apten]

yep, just clip the two outer wires to essentially "relocate" your stock IAT. The easy sensor to use is the lightning one, but the mustangs ones are similar. To my knowledge they all read the same and require no calibration change.

Brian

[Ed Clark]

Check with Randy Stinchcomb on this site. He'll be able to help you with determining if the senors are the same. Odds are they are. Cutting the wires and relocating a sensor from an older mustang works on stangs. I would figure the focus woudn't be much different.

[ma03v]

>yep, just clip the two outer wires to essentially "relocate" your >stock IAT.
Should work on your 01. For 03, at least on the 2.3 I heard the MAF changed and probably the wiring (still 6 wires just the IAT is no longer 1 and 6.

[justin00stang]

It seems 95 and earlier fords (at least stangs and escorts) have a threaded IAT, they are 3/8" NPT (thats a big hole, 9/16" about), they use a different connector than 96+.

96+ stangs have a push in IAT, I like to drill a 9/16" hole, pop in a grommet (I bought a bag of 100 of them) and stick a lubed IAT in the grommet, fits very tight.

The other option is the lightning IAT. It has the new style connector but is threaded. Make sure you get the threaded one, I'm not sure of the year, some of them are a push and twist lock type.

The benefit to having the IAT after the IC or compressor is that you can have more accurate timing. In 1st gear with a turbo or SC you won't be under as much load and you'll be making less boost and therefore the air is not as hot, so you can take more timing. But in 3rd or 4th you're under much more load and the air temps and boost go up, this is where you need less timing. Now the IAT can compensate and you'll have nearly optimal timing in many situations.

[SCT Guy]

You definitly want to move the ACT sensor to the discharge side of the turbo/intercooler.

One of the things that controls knock in an engine is the temp of the a/f mixture going in. Turbo's make a lot of heat and when you compress air it also makes heat. So, moving the sensor is the only way to go.

Yes, the Focui uses an internal ACT built into the MAF. You can just buy an ACT out of 96-01 Mustang and then get a connector and wire it in.

This allows the best system for power and being safety.

[Penguini66]

SCT Guy, thanks for the info and welcome back!

Sorry if this is outside of the 'software support' intent of this forum. But, can anybody give me a better description of the IAT for the 96-01 Mustangs? I looked at one from a '95 yesterday and was suprised by the ammount of metal. And I'm a little worried about heat soak. Does the 96-01 style have as much metal?

[SCT Guy]

The 1996-01 sensor is plastic and is press in. I know people worry about them blowing out, I have as well. But I have never seen one blow out if the hole was the right size.

If you want, the 99-04 Lightnings use a thread in sensor in the intake manifold that uses a 3/8" pipe fitting and works very well also.

[Penguini66]

Thanks, that was just the info I wanted!

I'm not that worried about it blowing out since I have a great location to mount it. I'm having a plate fab'd to hold the sensor that will go in my old 5th injector location. Plus, I'm not running any real high boost.

[jessman101781]

Where is the IAT sensor located..i have a 2000 ford focus SE

[justin00stang]

Where is the IAT sensor located..i have a 2000 ford focus SE

Should be in the tube going from the airbox to TB.

Now I did find one car in the junkyard that had the resistor mod :lol2: