Hello Bricksters,
So my ECT sensor (electronic coolant temp) is going buggy, the needle is going up, down, left, right. No big deal, I already ordered one. Problem, it will not come till Thursday, and today, I officially got pissed off at it (won't turn the A/C on cause it is "overheating" and it is fricking hot in FL), I pulled the wire and the sensor stop sensing. So my Ultimate question of random Volvo knowledge: "what is the average resistance that the sensor send back to the computer so I can get my car running?" Since we all know, the car won't start with out the ECT sensor working and I figure that I can just jump it out with a resistor, which hopefully you can get me into the ball park on the value of it. I'm currently at school, radio shack closes at 8, time is not on my side...
Thanks in advance,
Blake

So I figured it out, 100 OHM on the sensor side makes the ECU + gauge read at just over normal operating temp, so the low speed fan is running (I do live in Florida). So remember to carry around an 100 OHM resistor on you in case your ECT fails on you. And you can make it home!
Blake

Be careful. Just installing a 600 resistor is nice, but you will have to make the fan work. I would try a 400/300 in your climate.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Ok, so I did some snooping around and I found this chart:
* 32F (0C)-- about 6000 ohms within a range of +/- 10%
* 68F(20C) -- about 2300 ohms
* 104F(40C) -- about 1300 ohms
* 140F(60C) -- about 600 ohms
* 176F(80C) -- about 300 ohms
* 212F -- about 190 ohms
anyone want to comment on it? I'm going to grab a friend and try to get him to get me a 600 ohms, we will see how she runs.

This is very reasonable for a thermistor type sensor which the ECT is. My Ford has an ECT that returns very similar values as you list.

I had suspicions on the ECT on my old 164E and put in a 10K ohm pot in series with a 100 ohm resistor so I could see how the perceived temp affected the running of the car. I would not do this on the modern cars with OBDII as you will likely trigger multiple codes.

If you leave the fixed resistance in the car will not start and run very well when the engine is cold (at least not up north).