Obviously I have a bad ECT.Pleaseindulge me with this one stupid question. Will this cause a slightly rich smell and exhaust popping? Thanks.

 

A bad ECT affects the air/fuel mixture, timing, idle rpm, and emissions. Have you checked the connections for corrosion or a bad wire?

"If the ECT suddenly signals an infinite resistance as in an open, the control module ignores this input, which would otherwise drive the air/fuel ratio very rich. The FMEM switches to a fixed reisitance value for the ECT, allowing the warm engine to operate as a warm engine. At the same time the control moduel turns on the 'check engine' light. Do not expect a cold engine to start properly with a fixed warm signal for a cold engine. The FMEM is programmed to remember the ECT signal just before the failure and continue at that imput value."

This is known as a Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM).

If youre still sure you need a new ECT get a new one and see if it fixes the issues youre having.

 

Yup....among other symptoms.