Coolant Temp Sensor

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

The actual sensor only cost me £7.50 delivered and seems to be a standard VAG unit.

Except, now I've had the opportunity to compare the original and replacement after use I noticed that the cheap one has discoloured significantly where it's been exposed to coolant, whereas the OEM one (complete with all the Audi and VW stamps) is pretty bright.

I guess you get what you pay for, and my next one will be OEM if at all possible. The first one lasted several years, maybe 10, whereas the other lasted about as many months........

Edit. The OEM one is about £40, I bought one from my local VW dealer this morning as it's next to the station I go to regularly. If it lasts it's definitely worth it.

[HPsauce]

And tip #2 follows this...

Originally Posted by HPsauce

The tip? Tie a long piece of thin twine around the "loop" bit of the clip and add a bit of tape to stop it slipping around. Just tape it on somewhere or hold the end in your mouth.
Then, when your cramped hands lose grip, it won't disappear forever behind the engine.

Tip 2, in 3 parts!
a. Firstly, get a new clip (and O-ring) with your new sensor, just in case it disappears!

b. When extracting the clip try to attach something (sticky or string tied on) to it first as it can fly off and get lost easily (I just avoided this )

c. To reinsert more easily feed the 2 ends of the string from tip #1 through a thick, strong drinking straw and pull tight so that it sits at right angles to the end. You can then manipulate the clip into place and push it sideways with something rigid like a large flat-bladed screwdriver. Doing it this way reduced a long profanity-strewn struggle on previous attempts to about a minute of careful wiggling.

PS OEM sensor fitted and I now have a nice accurate temperature gauge and a car that starts first time.

[3.7 slp]

Good news when i had to do mine i lost one of the c clips down the back on the engine...its still there somewhere ...i had a spare so all was cool .

Great wite up thanks

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by 3.7 slp

had a spare so all was cool

I've now got 1 spare and will probably get another in the post as my eBay one was covered by a "2-year warranty" AND the seller is still active and has responded favourably to a message!

Edit. Nope, just got a replacement sensor. Not going to use it though, the OEM one works fine now. Lessons learned.

[Zip]

Aarrrgghhh

How do I get the bloody plug off?? What do I need to 'press' to release it? Down through the top of the clip? Perpendicular to it?? Gave up when my jaw cramped holding a bloody torch in it. Help!!

Zip

[HPsauce]

Hmm, can't remember exactly but I THINK you have to press IN on the catch mechanism (between the protective ridges) at the wire end, that's perpendicular to the plug/wires not in from the end.
This lifts the other end so that the retaining catch clears the little moulded ramp on the unit.
Like all these things it's bleedin' obvious once you've taken it off but you haven't a clue when you first look at it.

I think I pressed with a screwdriver while tugging on the cable and it suddenly just came off with minimal effort!

Edit: See earlier (previous page) in this thread:

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Took off plug lead which is a bit awkward to get at. This was tricky as it wasn't clear how to release the catch so liberally applied WD40 first. Basically you press in the small catch that is surrounded by a plastic rim (so lifting the latch further down) and wiggle the whole plug upwards.

[Zip]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Hmm, can't remember exactly but I THINK you have to press IN on the catch mechanism (between the protective ridges) at the wire end, that's perpendicular to the plug/wires not in from the end.
This lifts the other end so that the retaining catch clears the little moulded ramp on the unit.
Like all these things it's bleedin' obvious once you've taken it off but you haven't a clue when you first look at it.

I think I pressed with a screwdriver while tugging on the cable and it suddenly just came off with minimal effort!

Edit: See earlier (previous page) in this thread:

Cheers. I think I tried about every other combination of tweaking except that one. Try again tonight.....

Zip

[moltuae]

When you do manage to get the plug off and change the sensor, I'd recommend putting some heatshrink sleeving over it afterwards to prevent the clip working loose. Amazing how quickly you can lose all of your coolant when the sensor pops out on the motorway, as I found out recently:
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9845


Referring to my second image here (with the connector in-place) ....
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showpost....80&postcount=5

... from memory, I believe you push a small 'terminal' screwdriver into the slot on the left of the connector, then pull (being careful not to pull on the wires).


The sensor will likely seem like it's glued in too. Just keep pulling and wriggling it (don't twist) and it should eventually pop out.

[Professor Peach]

Holy thread revival.......but thanks to all who give excellent advice and guidance on what should be a simple task so that even idiots like me should be able to manage them.

Sadly, when designing something to be fool proof you should never underestimate the ingenuity of fools .... after wrestling with trying to get the little green beggar out for one and a half hours I decided it was time to put it all back together ready for work this morning.

Oh well, I'll try again next Tuesday when I have a few more hours of daylight to spare. Between then and now I just need to evolve longer yet thinner arms (ideally 4 of them) with a grip that is 5 times stronger. Eyes that can see around corners (even in the dark) and knees that bend the opposite way to make the position more comfortable whilst trying to perform the task. Shouldn't be too hard to achieve.

Thanks for listening!

[HPsauce]

Rob, at what point did you get stuck?