MaxxECU GEN2 have software selectable pullup on most inputs, see MaxxECU GEN2 pinout.
If nothing is connected to an ECU pin, the input is "floating" (not pulled to GND or pulled to VCC).
To prevent the above this "unknown state", a pull-up or pull-down resistor will ensure that the input pin is either high or low.
In some cases, you want to wire an temperature sensor into a regular 0-5V input, then an external pull-up resistor must be wired from the +5V power supply to the AIN (0-5V) input wire.

Example wiring for external pullup resistor to +5V power supply.