What is this sensor and what does it do? (pics)

[TazzieST184]

Hi everyone,

Im having significant engine problems rendering the old girl undrivable (see http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30385)

It has a pod filter on it which makes a pretty loud hissing/sucking sound..

Now.. if you see the other thread you will see the engine problem im having and everything ive replaced trying to fix it.

I was looking at it and started unplugging sensors while it was running to see if i could get it to rev past the 3-4K mark without dying...

In the pics you will see the green capped sensor, which appears to be broken off (i finished the job, but i think it had been glued back together at some stage) (???)

Anyway, the second it broke for good the hissing/sucking sound stopped. If i press it back in the hissing starts immediately (def coming from air intake). Now it has broken off for good i now have a Check Engine Light on the dash (which wasnt there before)

Anyway.. can someone tell me what it is, what it does and what the effects of it being faulty would be?

Thanks, Mark.

[TazzieST184]

im not trying to be facetious but are there very few active members on this forum do you know? I kinda feel like im talking to myself most of the time lol

anyhoo.. i figured out it was a thermofan switch, but why oh why does it being broken have such a huge impact on the sound of the air intake?? im rather confused...

in summary, now its broken.. the choking sucking sound has ceased, and if i push it back together it resumes.. still have engine problem however..

[DJKOR]

Thermofan switch eh?

On my SV21 Camry that had the 3S-FE, the sensor connected to the green plug happened to be the coolant temperature sensor.

If that's the case though, I don't know how that is tying into your intake issue. When faulty, you usually find that your temperature needle will stay on cold and your fuel consumption is going to go up. When it's not plugged in altogether, a Check Engine Light would be a typical expectation, and possibly the same as mentioned with the fuel consumption and temperature on cold.