i went to install a aftermarket water temp gauge and the autometer paper said to run it to the radiator. so i did that well it turned out i was wrong. and now i lost the bolt with the 2 prongs on it. it is at the bottom of the radiator and it is a gold looking bolt that has 2 prongs sticking out of it. i have no clue what this is called or do i know where to get one. please help and also is it bad if i don't have it.

 

...the bolt is in the radiator? that can't be good, but ok.

Call up autometer, I'm sure you can buy just the bolt/sensor part from them directly as a repair piece...

EDIT: you know that almost constitues removal of the radiator to get that thing out. I'm not so sure it would have made it to the bottom of the radiator, depends on how big it is. It might be sitting on the top row of the radiator, stuck where the coolant would exit the radiator.

If it were me, I would feel alot better knowing that thing isn't in there...

 

wait how is it at the bottom of the rad? if you put it in the top there is no way it would get to the bottom. the holes are tiny. you need to get it out.

and I think you are talking about the "water temp sensor" ?? which you centainly need to make the gauge work.

 

Drain the radiator into a bucket and see if it comes out. If not, you may have to take the radiator out and try to shake the peice out. Don't run the engine like that cause if it does get pulled up into the pump, the pump impeller blades are aluminum and that gold looking thing is probably brass. No contest there.

 

the bolt isn't stuck in the radiator. i had taken it off to install the water temp gauge(aftermarket autometer) and i had just lost the bolt. not in the radiator though. i tried to draw it out in paint. but i can't draw to well in paint. but the bolt ins't in the radiator.

 

you mean you lost the factory mazda sensor that goes there? that is for the cold start up...

 

thats for the cold start assist. damn it.(bangs head severely on the table)





do you know a part number to where i could get me another one

 

most people just unplug it... the cold start up is gay.

 

so i really don't need to have it? i thought and figured that it would help for the winters here in washington state. well what size bolt would i need to fill it.

 

the hole doesn't go all the way though does it? I thought it just touched the metal. but I've never seen an S4 rad though...

 

no it doesn't go all of the way through. i guess i could try to get one from the junk yard. i need a quick fix for now if nothing is going to go wrong with my car while i am waiting.

 

if it doesn't go all the way through then you don't need anything.... if you wana hook up the cold start thing you can do it later after the car is running.

 

ok. thanks scott89t2

 

You don't need that sensor. It makes the car jump to a 3000 rpm warm-up for the first thirty seconds. Its pretty rough to rev a stone cold engine that high, and most either start their car in gear to disable it, or disconnect the switch you lost.

Don't bother repalcing the switch. You car will still retain its 1500 rpm standard warm up via the thermowax cam on the TB.

 

thanks scathcart so just plug up the hole. what should i use?

 

I can answer whether or not you need it at all (and what size plug to buy if you do need to plug it) tomorrow, around noon PST.

 

yeah that would be great thank you.

 

well called mazda today and asked them for the part to see exactaly what it is and they said that it is a thermal witch. thats what he told me. also that it cost 57.56. so if i don't need to have it i would really like to buy something else for my car then a stupid 22mm bolt sensor. thanks.

 

Nothing is required. Leave it out and forget about it.
2 hours late is better than never, right?

 

you'll have probablys passing emmissions though if you have testing. that swtich also effects the ACV.

 

so no fluid will pass through there if i just leav it out

 

All the cold startup does is make the cats start working.

 

oh then i don't need it cause i don't have cats