How to best install the coolant temp sensor?

artemics · 12-09-2010, 10:01 PM

Anyone out there got some advice for me on how to install the coolant temp sensor that lives at the back of the engine block?

It seems to be a real tight fit for my big hands to get into that space!

Also, is this sensor just for the dasboard guage or is it read by the ecu as well?

Cheers

sly · 14-09-2010, 02:33 PM

IIRC it's in the head rather than the block. Close to the traditional hot spot between cyls 5 & 6 that has apparently wrecked a lot of alloy heads over the years.

I assume you do mean I6, not V8 BTW?

This sensor is read by the ECU which then sends a signal to the temp gauge. The ECU uses the input (among others) to adjust fuel and timing for temperature, turn the fans on & off, do the cylinder deactivation magic, etc.

I remember it being a right bastard of a job to replace it. IIRC it goes a fair way into the head before the thread starts, so you have to be really trying to cross-thread it. Perseverance and a good spanner are your friends, maybe a friend holding a mirror might help you see what you're doing?

I've changed these twice - once in-place, the other time with the head on a bench... it was a lot easier with the head off

artemics · 14-09-2010, 10:01 PM

Thanks Mr Sly. Yep was talking about the I6.

Was hoping that there would be a real obvious MacGyver solution to make the job easy , oh well ....

I'll give it a go one weekend when i've got a lot of patience