quantum18

The other day when the 7 was warming up I decided to pop the hood and check on everything just to make sure it all looked good. Then I noticed a small tread of steam rising from the radiator at the fluid level sensor. At the time i didn't do anything, becasue I didn't want the thing to strip and hot coolant to cover me. So today I decided to check it out. So I took it off and turned the key to make sure that it was working (yeah that alarm had to be the most anyoning sound ever). Went back to the engine and took my 17mm (I think) wrecnch and proceded to tighten the sensor back on but as soon as it seemed to get tight it would suddenly loosen ? Anyway i did the best to get it the tightest I could before it slipped again. Now when i drive coolent bubbles out and sometimes splatters up to the hood, so it's going to make a mess pretty soon. Are the threads to the sensor striped or is it my radiator (it looks like they fixed it before because you can a large area where I think they brazed it). Let me know what you think or if you've had similar difficulties. Thanks

RacerX7fb

Its only plastic and is already old and brittle to begin with.. you must have overtightened it and broke it. Go buy another one or head for the junkyard. I got mine off a 2nd gen..theyre the same from '79 til '92. Make sure the rubber washer is in good shape too. Use a little hylomar if needed for extra sealing.
Dont drive the car until you get this done...not only will it make a mess.. the coolant may boil, evaporate then your engine could overheat.. your little rotary engine will never be the same again if that happens.

Pittdp

here is the link to buy the part if you want.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/b8.htm
I hope it fixes your problem.

syklone

Ya, just buy a new one, they are cheap. I just replaced mine, after the previous owner had used the incorect type of sensor and had sealed it down with RTV. It leaked all over the place and made a big mess that I have yet to clean up.

But I got the new one and it works fine

quantum18

Thanks a lot guys. It shouldn't be a problem to not drive it until that part gets here, cause the 7 isn't my primary car. It's just there for a weekend drive .