MAT sensor...WTF is that???

[dbtk2]

I read in an older thread that the sensor on the left side of the plenum is the MAT sensor.  What does that stand for and what does the sensor do?  Its turbo specific isn't it?  

Thanks,

Shawn

[no1kicker]

Manifold air temp sensor.  Don't think it's turbo specific  :?:  cause my TA also has one.

[dbtk2]

When I said turbo specific I mean 3.1 turbo specific.  I was asking where I needed to put that sensor in my 3100 plenum and everyone who had done a 3100 topend swap was like "what sensor...theres no sensor there."  I figured it must be a temperature sensor, but I wasn't sure, which is why I asked, but what does the ECM use it for?  Timing control maybe?  

Thanks,

Shawn

[god910]

Yes, it is needed for this car.  The ecm uses it's input just like the coolant temp. sensor.  Changing fuel, timing, etc. Based on the input from that sensor.  It's good to insulate it (thread tape, etc.) to make sure it doesn't get any more heat soaked than it has to.  Make sure it has a good reading, and not reading the ex. from the EGR valve  :lol:

[dbtk2]

Yes, it is needed for this car.  The ecm uses it's input just like the coolant temp. sensor.  Changing fuel, timing, etc. Based on the input from that sensor.  It's good to insulate it (thread tape, etc.) to make sure it doesn't get any more heat soaked than it has to.  Make sure it has a good reading, and not reading the ex. from the EGR valve  :lol:

EGR valve...what EGR valve?  :twisted:

Shawn

[twinturbosedan]

it's not really turbo specific.  the NA 3.1 MAT sensor is in the airbox.  the TGP does not have the MAT sensor in the airbox because the MAT sensor must be after the intercooler.

[no1kicker]

Maybe you could put it in the upper IC pipe.

[dbtk2]

Maybe you could put it in the upper IC pipe.

I ended up putting it in the hole for the brake booster line (in which, due to my powermaster, I don't need).  It threaded right in, so I extended the wiring and bolted it in.

it's not really turbo specific. the NA 3.1 MAT sensor is in the airbox. the TGP does not have the MAT sensor in the airbox because the MAT sensor must be after the intercooler.

Well yes, but its only in the PLENUM on the 3.1 turbos...which would be why nobody had any idea what i was talking about.

Shawn

[twinturbosedan]

Well yes, but its only in the PLENUM on the 3.1 turbos...which would be why nobody had any idea what i was talking about.

Shawn

i know it's in the plenum, i was just pointing out that it wasn't turbo specific but rather location specific.  anyways it sounds like you found the perfect place for the MAT senor in a 3x00 plenum.  btw, did you see a boss anywhere where you could drill & tap for a MAT sensor on your 3100 plenum?  i will be keeping vacuum brakes, so i couldn't use the brake booster location.

[dbtk2]

I didn't look really close at it, but I didn't notice any place that looked really good for tapping a hole, but before I tried the brake booster line I was thinking about just drilling in the left side of the plenum about where it was on the 3.1 plenum.  Seemed like an ok spot for it to me.

Shawn

[ScotSea]

it's not really turbo specific.  the NA 3.1 MAT sensor is in the airbox.  the TGP does not have the MAT sensor in the airbox because the MAT sensor must be after the intercooler.

I moved the air temp sensor to the output of the intercooler.  Bought a short piece of exhaust pipe the right size, and installed a bung in it for the air temp sensor.  Shortened the intercooler to throttle body pipe, and installed it there.

Don't try to do this with stock code. It won't work right.  If you move the MAT to the intercooler, it will be too heavily weighted to air temp.  You need to blend the ECT and MAT sensor values to get the right air temp density value, and you can't do that with stock TGP code.

Scot