ok, so MONTHS ago ihad a stealership put in some gauges for me...i dont know if any of you remember but it caused LOTS of problems with how my truck ran, well everythings cool now with the truck BUT i get a CEL all the time saying my motor isnt warming up to proper temperature, ive got it checked out and have been told to replace the tstat and have done so 3 times...i turn it off with the SCT then it comes back in about a week, any ideas?

 

which stat are u putting in a 180?

 

it was a 195 Tstat the first two times, and a 180 the last

BTW the code is: P1281 "Engine is Cold Too Long"

 

You would think it would be to hot right. Every thing that I can think of would lead it to be running to hot. Not cold.

 

i know, i dont understand...it doesnt seem to be running bad..so i dont see what it could be. but it gets annoying clearing the code every week

 

Does the new intake have something to do with it? I'm stumped!

 

no, the intake has only been on a few weeks, this has been goin on since february

 

the code is a response to the pcm seeing a lower than normal operating temperature after about 5 minutes.

what does your temp gauge say ? normal 180-200 ?

you might have a cool temp, or it could be a false reading to the pcm.
you don't have one of those "performance resistors" that lies to the pcm about temp to keep a richer fuel setting do you ?
it could also be bad temp sending unit, possibly feeding a "new gauge" and not the pcm ?

 

well the Gauge i figured was hooked up incorrectly because it takes forever for the needle to move, sometimes it doenst give me a reading at all, and ive never seen it as high as 180...(they cut off the stock temp gauge to make the new one work), and as far as the performance resistor i dont have a clue what that is so i doubt i have one...

 

Try replacing the ECT sensor. A bad one of those will give the PCM bad readings, and could cause that code.

Its $21 at O'Reilly Auto Parts if you want a Lifetime Warranty. Otherwise it can probably be found cheaper elsewhere.