So the temp indicator on my 960 jumps right to the middle when I turn the ignition on even when the car is dead cold. Assuming this was the coolant temp sensor I picked a new on up along with a thermostat. When I looked under the radiator for the drain plug I noticed this unplugged connector hanging down. It runs up into a tube with other wires (I'm assuming to the computer) but I can't seem to figure out where it's supposed to plug into.

The car is not overheating and actually seems to be heating up a little slow. It is pretty cool here but I also cant seem to get the fan to kick in. I'm guessing this unplugged connect is probably at the center of things and would like to find out before working my way towards the coolant sensor. I've attached pics here.

If anyone can clue me in on what I am looking at here, I would appreciated it. The electrical wire for the fan itself seems to run out of the other side of the fan.

 

To me, that looks like a connector with some part attached.

 

I peaked under the radiator of another 960 sitting at my mechanic's lot this morning and saw the same dead end connector. I'm guessing that it's wiring available for an option, possibly a radiator heater or something. In addition, the new thermostat I put in seems to have things functioning normally now. The temp indicator started at the bottom and warmed up to the middle like it should instead of jumping right to mid point.

Issue resolved.

 

That connector is the ambient temp sensor. It attaches somewhere around under the bumper, look for a small round hole that it should snap into.

DanR '94 964 387,000 miles (153,000 on the new engine)

 

This week I found this under the bumper of my car too. It was tied up around a washer fluid hose.

I tried to find the hole that it fits in, but no dice. There is a hole the right size, in the bumper mounting bracket. It looks like it is where a fourth stud would go if there was one. However I could not make it snap in here.

 

It should go on to the little black plastic grill work that is under the bumper but ahead of the air dam. But in the original posters pic's it appears he is missing the air dam and that small grill.

DanR

 

There are TWO of these on my S90!

One on the driver's side drives the thermometer on the dash.

One on the passenger's side goes to the engine ECU.

I'm also missing the air dam under the front bumper. This isn't expensive from the dealer so I'll buy it. In the meantime I found this drawing of the installation location for the ECU's sensor.

 

I got the air dam 9178162 today. It has holes to mount both of these temperature sensors.

Now I realize that the grey trim that goes around the bottom of the car is missing from my front bumper. The air dam is meant to fit into this and looks a bit silly without it. Will keep an eye out at the junkyard for this thing.