Michael Townsend wrote:

> Well,
>
> I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is that I found another coolant
> leak.  The good news is that at least the puddle on the carport floor every
> morning isn't coming all from the head gaskets!  There is a large plastic
> plumbing fixture on the left front of the engine compartment, with large and
> small water hoses going in and out of it -- going from the water pump, the
> oil cooler, that silly plastic ring tube (what is that for, anyway?) and so
> on -- I have never seen so much plumbing!  I assume that this thing houses
> the water thermostat.  It has a bleed screw on top, and two sensors coming
> out of the side.  My questions are:
>
> 1:  Why are there two sensors?  I can see one as a coolant temperature
> sensor.  What is the other one for?  The only thing that I can think of is
> that one is for the guage, and one is for the computer.  This seems wasteful
> and redundant - but it wouldn't surprise me.

There is one sensor for the temp gauge and one for the ECU.

>
> 2:  My leak is coming out of one of the sensor sockets, even though the
> U-shaped clip is securely fastened.  Is there some sort of gasket or washer
> that I can buy for this sensor socket?  I wouldn't have to buy the whole
> sensor, would I?

There are small copper washers at the sensors. Try to replace these.

>
>
> 3:  Could the housing be cracked, potentially?  I'd hate to have to replace
> that thing!

You'd better hope you dont have to replace the housing, I ahd to take out mine
while replacing the thermostat, one of the four screws broke in the housing, I
had to take it out, in order to get room for the extractor tools. In addition
this was the hardest screw I ever had to drill through. It was a real PITA!

>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael Townsend
> townsend@rtp.ericsson.se

Good luck,
PerL