Coolant temp sensor - what is a good replacement?

[TexasAggie]

Howdy guys - I was replacing exhaust manifold gaskets tonight and managed to tear the wire off of the temp sensor in the driver's side head. I've already soldered it together once, which was a real pain.

Anyone know a good replacement part number? I'm having trouble finding one with a single wire.

I'll grab some pictures in the morning.

 

[movietvet]

Howdy guys - I was replacing exhaust manifold gaskets tonight and managed to tear the wire off of the temp sensor in the driver's side head. I've already soldered it together once, which was a real pain.

Anyone know a good replacement part number? I'm having trouble finding one with a single wire.

I'll grab some pictures in the morning.

To be sure. The coolant temperature sender is in the head and tells the gauge what the engine temp is. The coolant temperature sensor is on top of engine, near the thermostat, and tells the computer the engine temperature. Sender....sensor...there is a difference. I am guessing at the year and engine of your truck. You did not say.

 

[TexasAggie]

I guess I was in a hurry last night and forgot to post vehicle info... that would have helped a lot! It's a '99 K2500 Suburban 7.4.

And you are right... I'm looking for the sending unit that feeds the gauge, not the ECM.

 

[Caman96]

My vote is always GM Genuine or Acdelco for sensors.
With updated information:
GM GENUINE 15326386
Acdelco 213928

 

[caminonut]

I personally would go to a GM dealer give them the last eight digits of your Vin number and get the correct one, as aftermarket is not always a good choice.

 

[xXxPARAGONxXx]

GM 12554253
for the L29 (7.4L V8) engine

Google that part number to find available vendors.

 

[xXxPARAGONxXx]

My vote is always GM Genuine or Acdelco for sensors.
With updated information:
GM GENUINE 15326386
Acdelco 213928

This would be for the 2-wire sensor. He needs the 1-wire sender (for the gauge cluster).

 

[Caman96]

This would be for the 2-wire sensor. He needs the 1-wire sender (for the gauge cluster).

The coolant temperature sensor is on top of engine,

Ohhhhhhhh, sorry it’s early, for some reason only that part of movievet’s comment made it to my brain.

 

[someotherguy]

You'll want to look at the connector end carefully - on the truck's harness. There's senders out there with the old round 1 wire connector, some of those come with an adapter harness. Seems kind of sketchy to me as you're introducing an extra connection that wouldn't be necessary with the correct sender, so it's a potential trouble spot later. The coolant temperature sender switched to a connector that looks like a 2 pin but there's actually only 1 pin in the socket, and a blade in the middle that acts as a key to prevent plugging it in wrong.

Richard

 

[454cid]

I'd probably buy this one, from SMP https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=40549&cc=1353451&pt=4748&jsn=552

Weird that this one isn't available through Amazon.

Every time I look at my sender, I hope I don't have to remove it. I'm betting it's pretty well stuck with all the heat cycles it goes through.