stratus alcohol sensor
#1
04-27-08, 05:58 PM
stratus alcohol sensor
i have an 04 stratus flex fuel, last winter i stopped using e85 because my car wouldn't start on it. I'm starting up again and so far its been running fine. Last winter i had it checked out and was told my alcohol sensor was reading 0%. Is there anyway i can check this sensor myself without a fancy diagnostic tool? Like a resistance reading or something?
#2
04-27-08, 06:06 PM
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In a word......NO..
What the sensor does id measure the percentage of alcohol in the "Useable Fuel. Resistance will vary , so unless its fully shorted or fully open...there is no "Specified" resistance.
Unless you wanna do a taste test between Budweiser and Sunoco
The actual resistance and what your PCM interprets from it, gives it a range to work in....
If you have the wiring diagram for the vehicle, you could do basic voltage and continuity checks, but as far as pinning it down to a sensor with a bad resistance value.....Not gonna happen...
What the sensor does id measure the percentage of alcohol in the "Useable Fuel. Resistance will vary , so unless its fully shorted or fully open...there is no "Specified" resistance.
Unless you wanna do a taste test between Budweiser and SunocoThe actual resistance and what your PCM interprets from it, gives it a range to work in....
If you have the wiring diagram for the vehicle, you could do basic voltage and continuity checks, but as far as pinning it down to a sensor with a bad resistance value.....Not gonna happen...
#3
04-27-08, 06:09 PM
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the alcohol content of the fuel would need to be read with a scan tool...while you might be able to measure the sensor output...it's what the PCM sees that's important. so, to me...what you are really after is accuracy. this would require a scan to see what the PCM sees as alcohol content...and then a fuel analysis to see if it's all accurate. AIF isn't difficult but requires the use of a graduated cylinder and a fuel sample from the vehicle...and some water.
#4
04-28-08, 05:11 PM
thanks, thats what I figured. My mpg is doing well on the e85 so the sensor must be working, just thought if there was an easy way to double check it that would be great.
