OK, so is there no way to avoid dumping coolant all over everything? Any tricks? something blatantly obvious that I'm missing?

Thanks.
-Boob

 

There should only be minimal coolant loss when replacing the sensor because it sits fairly high on intake. Some people choose to take off the water pump to get a long socket on the sensor but I just went with a ratchet wrench. If the sensor is rounded or it's on there too tight you might have to take off the pump to get the clearance for the long socket.

 

Hint,

Wait till the engines cold and no pressure, leave
radiator cap on.

Later

 

i think he is asking about the temp. gauge sensor . i just swapped mine out this morning . the one between #1 & #3 sparkplugs . 13/16 deep socket , leave cap on , cold eng. . you will lose a little . not that much , at least not for me . good luck .

 

Yeah, that's the one. The sender, not sensor. Of course, I DID say "sensor" in the title. Sorry 'bout that!

......so we'll do our best and see what happens!

 

NEVERMIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....ok, per uncle tom's post, I was in fact in need of replacing my temp sending unit. ....I just didn't like his mentioning the 1 & 3 cylinder, as we all know, the sender is between 4 & 6.......or so I thought. DOH, that's the knock sensor!!!!!! ...turns out the pigtail simply fell off the coolant temp sending unit BETWEEN CYLINDER 1 & 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All is well. Everything works. No money. No spill. No wrenches.

Thanks uncle tom.