I followed the directions on this site:

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng47.shtml

But the plug I got was the green one that they mentioned, not the blue one. I still get the temperature light and no readings on the dashboard because I think the contacts aren't touching at all - the green ECT's contacts are very well recessed into the sensor while the OEM one looks flush!

Does anyone else have this problem?

 

im pretty sure the colors are to identify them, so if you had blue origionaly, green wont work and vice versa. you have the wrong part.

 

check the etc reading from your temp. display screen. maybe the connector is bad.

 

Looks like it was the wrong part after all - even when the local parts store said it was right (twice). I went to the dealership and bought an official ECT for like $25 - not worth the hassle.

Now all I have to do is replace my passenger-side LCA, figure out why I'm getting Rich Bank 1 codes, and figure out why my acceleration is so crappy (the last two are probably related)...

Cars are fun!