air cleaner sensor
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 386
Likes: 13
air cleaner sensor
Any one know how a thermal air cleaner sensor is supposed to work? I recently installed one in my 81 vette - beacause it was not opening up the snorkle doors on the air cleaner and the engine was starving for air. replaced it with new old stock AC unit and it still does not open the doors on the air cleaner. checked hose routing - o.k . I removed the vac hose off the carb and capped it . then went for a ride and noticed a great difference in power, would like to have it working correctly.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The temperature controlled vacuum switch is normally separate from the air cleaner. Sometimes installed in the radiator inlet housing...sometimes elsewhere. The air cleaner diaphragm only operates when vacuum is applied/disapplied, so something else has to send the vacuum signal to the cleaner.
I was always curious about how those things actually functioned when you gave it WOT condition. Vacuum would go to nothing at WOT. Would the air intake on the air cleaner close when that happened?
I was always curious about how those things actually functioned when you gave it WOT condition. Vacuum would go to nothing at WOT. Would the air intake on the air cleaner close when that happened?
Last edited by 7T1vette; May 14, 2012 at 05:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 386
Likes: 13
Did a little investigating on this matter, looked in shop maual and it has stated that the sensor is thermaly operated , witch means controled by temperature, when I installed new sensor it had come with a new mounting clip witch is pressed on from the back of the air cleaner.and there is a gasket between the sensor and the base of the air cleaner if this gasket does not seal for any reason it draws cold air from the outside and it never reaches operating temperature. and subsequently does not function correctly. I then removed the sensor and did apply a thin coat of RTV sealant - then reinstalled clip and vacuum hoses and drove for about 7 miles . then checked for open snorkel doors- AND IT DID WORK BOTH DOORS WERE OPEN AMAZING.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Huh!! It's not very often that someone posts a question on this forum, and then answers his own question! Happens once in a while, but not often. Congrats on you for figuring it out!!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
