Hi:

I have the dreaded low coolant light going on then the car warms up. It is the original 15 year old sensor. The water level in the radiator is fine as is that in the reservoir.

So, after reading on this forum and viewing some pictures posted on this site, I am ready to take on the project of cleaning and replacing the sensor tomorrow morning when the car is cold. I have also purchased a new sensor, in case cleaning it doesn't work, or if it doesn't look gunked up when I remove it. If needs to be cleaned and it works after cleaning, I checked with the local O'Reillys Auto parts place I bought it and they will take it back and save me some $$$

The question I have looking at the new sensor I got is about the wire clip.

I saw on the diagram that Shoebox posted that I have to pry outward on the top and bottom of the clip that holds the sensor on the radiator.

My question is: Do I remove the clip from the sensor after releasing it from the slots it is inside? Are there corresponding slots on the radiator this clip sits in? I imagine I just twist and pull outward to pop the sensor out of the radiator? I see there are 2 O-rings on the one I bought.

I looked on the car, and see the sensor, and can barely make out the clip holding it onthe radiator. I haven't removed the battery yet. I will do that tomorrow.

If it is not too much to ask, can someone please give me the quick and dirty idiot's guide to removing and replacing this sensor?

1. Drain coolant to just below level of sensor.
2. Remove the battery
3. ...
4. ...

Thanks!

Paul

 

Just do what it says on my site. The wires on the clip sit in a notch on the radiator. That is why you have to move them up and out. The clip does not have to be totally removed. When you re-install, put the clip in it's normal position on the sensor, lube the o-rings with a little coolant and push it in untill it clicks into position.

 

Super. Thanks!

 

I took the easy route by not even trying to re-use the old sensor, I just used my finger to plug the hole in the rad while swapping the old for new sensor.. =)

 

Thanks to both of you for your assistance toward helping me replace the sensor.

I released the clips, pulled out the old sensor, had the now one ready to go with the o-rings lubed with fresh coolant, and put the new one back in. I used an inspection mirror to make sure I had the bottom clip behind the lip of the radiator, as had I read in one of the posts, someone had failed to get the clips on right, and the thing blew out.

4thGENZ: I used your approach, and quickly put the sensor in w/o draining the coolant. Only lost a little coolant. I decided to put the new sensor in, since the old one did not appear to be too gunked up. The metal post was clean, there was only some sediment in the bottom part of the sensor cavity. It was the original, and at 15 years old, it was time to retire it.

Topped off the radiator, hooked up the battery, and lit off the engine.

Low Coolant light is off.

Paul

 

When I had the low coolant light problem, I cleaned mine and it did no good. I hope it works for you, but I had to get a new one. I got one at Autozone and it cured my low coolant light issue. My old sensor was around 13 years old.

Edit: LOL, I have to learn to read. I see you put a new one in it.

 

cured mine i just left it unpluged. not very many cars have a low coolant sensor if you just check it once in a while no problem.

 

Mine has been unpluged for 2 yrs. When I check level it's full every time.Gotta love an LT1

 

only have had to replace mine once and im glad. but at least i know how to do it. and paul glad to see you got it fixed. ROBS(shbox) the man mr ENCYCLOPEDIA himself!!

 

New to the site and to the z28 world. Evey question i had about my sensor has already been answered on this thred! I love this site! You guys taking your time to help eachother is what its all about so happy to finally own a Z!!

 

Welcome to CamaroZ28.com!

Thanks for taking the time to "search" for the answers. I wish everyone would do that.

There's actually been additional work done by one of our members, GaryDoug, to track down the reason for the frequent failures. He has found that the typical cause is coolant leaking past the sensor internal seal, and corroding the connections on the circuit board. Hence, "cleaning" is not going to fix many of the problems.