Just because your temp gauge on the dash rises when the engine warms up, does that necessarily mean the coolant temp sensor is good?

 

Not necessarily, I'm in the process of troubleshooting mine right now. It the gauge takes ages to move up to vertical, and once i get on the highway it drops back to cold. Spend any time sitting in traffic it goes back to normal, but a little spirited driving and back to cold it goes. My heater still blows hot, top radiator hose is hot, so i don't think its a stuck thermostat. In any event, a $15 20 minute job to change the sensor isn't a bad investment considering what a PITA it is to change a thermostat on 00+

 

Mine used to do that to me too. It drove me crazy but I learned to ignore it Eventually it threw a code and I replaced it; yours is probably acting the same. Changing the sensor is it's own battle, unless you have child-sized hands

 

Thanks for the response, I'm trying to install the black plastic clip that snaps over the pipe beneath the cts and I'm having trouble. Does that clip prevent the sensor from popping out? Because I can't figure out how it does that if that's the case. I can feel the narrow part of the pipe that it seems to fit over.

 

Thats a very painful part of my life and I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring it up anymore

OP, yes, the clip is supposed to hold the sensor in. From the DIY's I've read, if you don't put the clip on right, when your car reaches operating temperature, the sensor shoots out and coolant sprays everywhere.

 

Why does everyone think replacing the thermostat on 00+ is hard? I did it in about 45 mins..