What he said. The closed element seals the element from coolant, while the open exposes it to air so it responds quicker.

Basically every GM car from 80 up used these sensors. I'd recommend just buying new at the same time you buy the 'Squirt. Convenient and you know the sensor works. Not really worth wandering around the wreckers for this.

 

Yeah I agree. I was just thinking for when should one fail and I need to go to the autoparts store and get a replacement, what vehicle to look up for the parts monkeys to get me what I need.

 

Chevette.

 

The S5 has the dual range TPS so I assume I can cut the connector and wire the wideband signal portion only to the MS with a connector.

Has anyone tried this?

 

Rather avoid cutting the connector, but yes, that's basically how one would do it. Using the using the full range portion would work fine.