How do I fix coolant sensor?

[Jtiger360]

My coolant senor went bad, and will not turn off. The shop is trying to charge me $275 for a new one + install!! I'm a noob , but I'm a do it-yourselfer and I say **** $275 for a sensor + install, I do it myself. How do I replace the coolant sensor?

Side Note: The 2k mile thing is for the brakes, however they say to fix the sensor "(soon)", but my brakes (10% on the back) are more important no? This shop just wants my money smh.

[Burbman]

AC Delco 213815, $14.77 shipped from Rock Auto. The sensor just threads into a hole in the lower intake manifold and there is a 3-wire electrical connector that pugs into it. Easy to change but hard to get at since it's down by the exhaust crossover.

[Scottydoggs]

some auto spa, lets call them a rip off, my god man wtf is wrong with these shops out there?


and they are calling for the low coolant sensor, thats in the side of the radiator. you can take that one out, clean it, then put it back, see if that fixes it.

the other one is the temp sender under the t stat housing in the lim. that burbman is talking about.

and do your own back brakes too. lol 255 for rear brakes, more thievery.

[Jtiger360]

some auto spa, lets call them a rip off, my god man wtf is wrong with these shops out there?


and they are calling for the low coolant sensor, thats in the side of the radiator. you can take that one out, clean it, then put it back, see if that fixes it.

the other one is the temp sender under the t stat housing in the lim. that burbman is talking about.

and do your own back brakes too. lol 255 for rear brakes, more thievery.

Thanks. This is why I want to learn to fix my own car! I will see if I can find the senor and order a new one. Is it plug and play? The $225 is with new rotors too. Where can I learn to do my own back brakes?

Just today the light started to turn off again. Is the sensor in a area where I can reach and just unplug and plug back in or do I have to take stuff apart??

AC Delco 213815, $14.77 shipped from Rock Auto. The sensor just threads into a hole in the lower intake manifold and there is a 3-wire electrical connector that pugs into it. Easy to change but hard to get at since it's down by the exhaust crossover.

Damn Thanks for the part # though!

[Jtiger360]

double posted

[Scottydoggs]

heres a link to get to it. and what it looks like. looks like a 50 dollar part. 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Problem Bad Low Coolant Sensor Engine Cooling 6 Cyl


and doing your own brake is about the easiest thing ever. with new pads and rotors, about a 100 bucks.

heres a vid, after the wheels off its a 4 bolt job. you dont need to take off the brake line. that stays on. you will need a brake tool to close the piston on your year car i think, it needs to twist back into the caliper. this guy changed the calipers as well, not needed in your case.

[Jtiger360]

heres a link to get to it. and what it looks like. looks like a 50 dollar part. 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Problem Bad Low Coolant Sensor Engine Cooling 6 Cyl


and doing your own brake is about the easiest thing ever. with new pads and rotors, about a 100 bucks.

heres a vid, after the wheels off its a 4 bolt job. you dont need to take off the brake line. that stays on. you will need a brake tool to close the piston on your year car i think, it needs to twist back into the caliper. this guy changed the calipers as well, not needed in your case.

Thank you! Do I have to touch the brake lines at all?

I just found the sensor for $23 at advance auto parts

[Burbman]

Good catch Scotty I was incorrectly talking about the coolant temp sensor, not the level sensor which is what is needed here. Standard Brand Coolant Level Sensor #10096163 at Rock Auto for $43.79. Easier to get to than the temp sensor.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Thank you! Do I have to touch the brake lines at all?

I just found the sensor for $23 at advance auto parts

Not need to touch the brake lines. Just push the caliper piston back in and install the pads and rotors.


And from a shops point of view, 255 is a good deal on new brakes for the rear. Shop pays 50-70 for all the parts, they mark it up to make money and then go off book time for a rear brake job, which is just about 1 hour, so shop labor is 100/hr. It all adds up.

[Jtiger360]

Good catch Scotty I was incorrectly talking about the coolant temp sensor, not the level sensor which is what is needed here. Standard Brand Coolant Level Sensor #10096163 at Rock Auto for $43.79. Easier to get to than the temp sensor.

cool thanks :P

Not need to touch the brake lines. Just push the caliper piston back in and install the pads and rotors.


And from a shops point of view, 255 is a good deal on new brakes for the rear. Shop pays 50-70 for all the parts, they mark it up to make money and then go off book time for a rear brake job, which is just about 1 hour, so shop labor is 100/hr. It all adds up.

What tools do I need, I do not know if he was removing bolts for the rotor or not.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

I think a 13mm and 15mm socket. And a hammer to whack the rotor with if it does not come off.

I use a screw driver to push the caliper piston back in before I take the caliper off. Or use a C-clamp.

[Jtiger360]

I think a 13mm and 15mm socket. And a hammer to whack the rotor with if it does not come off.

I use a screw driver to push the caliper piston back in before I take the caliper off. Or use a C-clamp.

Thanks I have all the tools you listed but the c-clamp.

[Scottydoggs]

like 5 finger said. as long as your getting new rotors, because using a screw drive WILL fvck up the old rotor, in the top of the caliper is a slot, jam the flat head screw driver in between the disk and pad, then pry back and fourth, till the piston is all the way back inside the caliper. do this before you unbolt it.

should you find a C clamp, leave the pad on the piston, and then crank it back in with the C clamp.

[dsmuts]

You can just unplug your coolant level sensor. Its on the rad under where the rad cap is

[Jtiger360]

You can just unplug your coolant level sensor. Its on the rad under where the rad cap is

Alright, I might do that. If I buy a new one I just unplug the old one and plug in the new one right? Still a noob no idea what hell I'm doing lol.

[Scottydoggs]

follow that link i posted, then take the sensor out, and clean it, put it back in, they get gummed up with dex cool, just cleaning can bring it back to life, free repairs,,,,whos in?

[1ATony]

Welcome to the site

[atj8]

Radiator Coolant Level Sensor Replacement - YouTube heres a video on the coolant level sensor.

[Jtiger360]

Radiator Coolant Level Sensor Replacement - YouTube heres a video on the coolant level sensor.