where's the coolant temperature sensor?
easy to change?

2000 SE btw

 

on a related note, when you pull the old sensor, is coolant going to leak out?

 

yea drain the radiator first, to limit the amount of coolant leak. I'm nowhere near the car right now, but i remember if you're standing in front of the car, the thermostat will be on your left and directly above the alternator. There's a hose leading right up to it. Pull the hose. There's 3 bolts holding the thermostat in place, remove them, and pull it out, swap in the new one, reconnect hose, refill radiator.. from 1-10 its like a 3, only because the third bolt was hard for me to find. lol. Sorry for no pics man. I dont know how to put em up.

 

If you follow the upper radiator hose from the radiator towards the engine, the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS) is located on the metal portion at the end of it (the one with the bigger harness). It is relatively easy to change once you clear the way to gain access to it. You might want to drain the radiator if you want to avoid coolant spillage.

 

That is horrifically interesting to me. It sounds as if it is in the same region and the same procedure applies as the A32, no way in hell would I recommend draining the radiator just for that little sensor. Am I missing something? It took me longer to open my hood than it did to change it..

 

^^Looks like you are missing the OP's concerns about coolant spillage. Although it is a small opening, coolant will spill if is not drained.

 

Don't worry about draining anything. You won't lose much coolant. Just screw the sensor and swap with new one as quickly as you can.

 

Jesus, mine spilled like less than a sneeze worth of snot

 

That's what I would do if I had to replace mine.

I like that phrase...

 

it's not hard to do, but definitely i would drain it, i might change the thermostat while you're at it, so it's done in one fell swoop. Just if you were to change your plugs, would you just change one or change all six at once?

 

There are not silly questions, just silly people.

 

Confirmed. I just did today an overdue replacement of the Water Control Valve and the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor without draining the coolant, and there was hardly any spill; just slightly more than "a sneeze worth of snot".... (I just wanted to put that phrase to good use.... )

 

^^^ good ish

 

Why stop there - change the engine as well or better yet - the whole car or ...