you could clear all the engine code first and start the car and drive for a while... and check it again, and see the light is on or not.... if the light still on, replace it....

i did mine in that way.... actually it feel smooth and more power after i replace it....

 

Does any of the well known tuner/shop/builders like: KD Rotary, Rotary Performance, M2, Pettit, PFS, Pineapple Racing, Atkins Rotary, Ray Racing, Alamo Racing, Gotham Racing, Don Marvel, XS Engineering, RE Amemiya, Knight Sport.....etc. recomends this modification???
Not to rain on anyones parade, but I'll take my chances keeping it where Mazda Engineers place the sensor.
I think all the people above know better than anyone or all of us put together.
If it makes you feel good/safe, then by all means do it, but don't try to make it sound as a MUST DO to prevent engines from blowing.
My .02

 

Thanks for all the info and help guys but i decided to buy a new sensor bc it seems to be pluged in alright but still sometimes flickers on and off. Hopfully it will solve my problem. Where would be the best place to find a new one from the guys who had this done? thanks for ur help again
-Kevin

 

Malloy Mazda, best prices + FREE, QUICK shipping.
Search for the #, can't remember.

 

Well I guess we should just take a back seat to all of the "well known tuners." I'd wager in Vegas that Mazda left the sensor there more for it's proximity to the ECU harness rather than creating an extension harness to just for that one sensor - mass production and all.

BTW: A full-on tuner with the money to back it up is going to be using a MoTec system will fully custom intake and exhaust manifolds and different piping to boot. Completely redone and custom wiring harnesses and aftermarket sensors as well. At that point there is no "stock location" anymore.

Do a search on the subject and you will see that it has been done before by people more knowledgable than I - this is in no way an original idea. But if you place some *logical* thought into it you will see exactly how a fuel mixture can be slid to the lean end of the scale due to inaccurate sensor readings.

 

clane, I do understand the logic in the matter and I read the original post on the subject long time ago.
It just does not make sense what you say about Mazda not extending the harness for one sensor..... and if it was really that important/critical/significant/necessary I bet you, it would have been done.
They have sooo much more to loose than gain by leaving it where it is, if it played a roll.
I ask you, what would an aftermarket stand alone ECU in comparison to the stock ECU would change if the reading temperature from the stock location is the same.
You make it sound, like it would do something different/special.
As far as I know Rotary Performance, Don Marvel and Gotham Racing (all good reputationhere in TX) don't do anything for the IAT sensor.
Even Mazda engineers with the many years of developing this engine would have figured that out, if it would have made the engine more reliable.

 

Riighhtt.

That's why we spend most of our time here fixing Mazda's "developments."

Do you know how long it took them to address the cooling system issues with the car? SIX YEARS.

8-)

BTW: You place the sensors where they will be the most accurate. You don't put an EGT in the muffler tip, nor do you put a water-temp sender in the water pump inlet.

If Mazda wanted to continue their trend with the IAT, maybe they should have just mounted it in the LIM while they were at it. Heck, put that sucker in the rotor-housing - heat-soak party!