I'm trying to replace the thermosensor, and for the life of me, I have no tool that can get it off without ripping the entire car apart to get to it. My stock wrenches don't have enough room to fit on it.

How do you remove it off of the car without disassembling the entire front water housing? I did a search on it, but didn't see anything. Help appreciated!

 

I'm trying to remove this, since I've seen it called several different things:

 

Are you talking about the water temp sensor or the fan thermoswitch? The water temp sensor is 2-wire and is on top, the fan thermoswitch is 1-wire and is below that.

I typically like to take the alternator off to get more room. Usually you can get an open-end wrench on them and done. They're not torqued down super tight.

Dale

 

+1

 

Woot...yupz, that did the trick, thanks. I was having issues with the little metal tube on top. Water Temp Sensor, one on top...

 

Yeah I hate the design because you cant get a socket on it and I didn't have the right size wrench to change mine out when I broke it. I had to use an adjustable witch work I just didn't want to use that.

 

These cars are full of impossible to get to situations. I removed the air pump hard pipes over the weekend as part of a project and boy was it fun trying to get those damn things off.

It's almost less frustrating to pull the engine, break it down to a short block, and then have a thought bubble over your head like "oh yeah I got you you bastard bolt".

Many of the mods I've done have been more in line with ease of maintenance than anything else lol.

 

Probably too late, but the FC piece runs the fans on high 10 degrees sooner (97 vs 107) and is a worthy upgrade. Remember a new copper crush washer

 

^I was thinking mine had an 'O' ring. But that was so long ago I was still using the Miata thermoswitch....since changed back to the FC switch during a rebuild a few years ago.

It was a bit of a PITA to change w/the engine in the car though.

 

The fan switch has a rubber o-ring (black connector, single space), the thermoswitch uses a CCW.

 

I should do this...it wasn't really that hard once I pushed the alternator outta the way. My car has horrible heat soak after it's been on for awhile. Temps go past 210 after it sits.

 

Use either a thin-walled deep socket or the box end of a combination wrench. Its either 17 or 19mm I forget.

 

19, same as you'd use for the AIT

 

Ccw?

 

copper crush washer

 

Werd...19mm. My craftsman & snap-on wouldn't fit without removing the alternator...that is to say, I could get them on but had no room to turn the wrench due to the metal coolant tube.