I bought a .Water Level Sensor, 15-610B-8553, for my 1987 Base. There is only one problem, it doesn't have a overflow tube like the stock one does. Can I just order a new o-ring from mazdatrix and convert to teh 1986 style with the overflpw tube on the radiator cap?

 

Does your car have more than 1 pressure cap? Some have a pressure cap on the radiator and another on the thermostat housing. Either way, you need an overflow tube. They have them on that page you linked to. Its 15-17YA-N326 Thats the pressure cap and the part that the cap screws into with a nipple for the overflow tube.

 

WTF? The water level sensor is just that, a sensor in the top of the radoator. It's got nothing to do with the neck for the radiator cap, which has the overflow tube attached to it.

 

Early Series 4's have an integrated level sensor/overflow tube... mine ALSO has one on the filler neck just for added confusion..

Goes a bit like this, level sensor/overflow tube flows through a hose into the front bumper section of the car, theres a rad cap there, from there the overflow goes right over to the otherside of the car near the fuse box..


At least thats how _mine_ came from the factory as

 

This I gotta see...

 

I think I know what he is talking about, but the sensor is not part of the water neck on my radiator,I will see if I can post a pic.

 

This is what I have.http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/445368/3

 

You ask and you shall recieve.... Heres a real dodgy pic taken about 1.5 years ago.. Ps, the overflow _bottle_ isn't supposed to be in that location.. long storey behind that one.. wont bore you with the info though..



As you can see in the middle of the rad there is a tube, the wire for the level sensor connects to this.

I've seen another '85-86 series4 with the same setup.. they either changed it in 87 or 88... I think 88.... could be wrong.

Edit: Just saw the other guys, they must've changed in '87..

 

theres a sevice bullitin/recall coolant kit that put the water level sensor with the hose into it and a pressure cap on the over flow

 

I'm starting to think this might be the retrofit kit Mazda installed on some of the early cars after they started coming with front mounted overflow tanks.

I know my early '86 (october '85 build) is NOT like that. It has a single overflow tube at the thermostat neck that runs straight to the overflow tank by the driver's side strut tower. The level sensor is just a sensor that screws into the radiator.

From what I am getting from this thread, you need to convert your system to a real early-86 system or a real late S4 system.

 

Well, I already have the littel black piece that has the rad cap/overflow tube, so I will just get a new gasket for that and bolt it on.