FJ62 Water Temp Sensor Replacement?

[landcruise]

Hello All.

I'd like to replace my water temp sensor. Not very experienced with repairs though I was just able to swap out the Fuel Pressure Regulator. Just a few bolts on that though. I can't exactly tell what I need to remove to get to the water temp sensor. It looks like I might be able to just remove a couple hoses? Before I dig in I thought I'd ask if anyone has replaced their sensor and what exactly they recommend. Sadly I don't have the factory service manual. hope to get one soon.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

If it's of any consolation, the FSM says nothing about the removal of this item. Why do you want to replace? Is your gauge not providing any temp reading?

 

[landcruise]

yeah temp always shows cold, and the ECU gives back code 22, which relates to the water temp sensor. just swapping the unit might not fix it but seems worth a try. i was having issues starting the engine/stalling when it was warm, replaced the fuel pressure regulator, which seems to have remedied that, hopefully, (only been in a day). but also got this temp sensor and want to go ahead and put it in if i can do it myself without too much trouble.

 

[chitown40]

It's a simple replacement. You just need to move the hoses that are in the way. Since you end of losing a small amount of coolant when you unscrew the sensors from the housing, it might be a good idea to drain some of the coolant into a clean container (just a little bit should do) and then catch whatever comes out when you remove the upper hose into a small medium depth dish or pan (whatever you can get in there). This is the most environmentally safe way and you can just refill the coolant when you are through. If your coolant temp. sender looks all ratty and like the spade terminal is close to breaking off, just go ahead and replace it while you are in there. IIRC it's about a $10-15 part. I am running an aftermarket coolant temp sensor and it's been working fine for 4 months now -- I think it was somewhere around $25-35.

Good luck.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

My Haynes manual describes a test for the sensor, but it sounds like chances are it's the culprit so you might as well replace it. Looks pretty straight forward, either use an open end wrench or a deep socket on the nut. Don't tape the threads of the new sensor-just put it in as is.

 

[landcruise]

thanks guys. going to put the sensor in asap.

meanwhile i'm still losing coolant. yesterday i took the cruiser out to see if replacing the fuel pressure regulator helped with the warm start issues (it did). it sat cold all night and this morning when i went out i saw a pool of coolant collecting under the engine. couldn't trace where from. the radiator overfill tank is much lower but the coolant level in the radiator seemed fine. it's been doing this for awhile but when i took it to the mechanic recently they replaced the radiator hoses and did a flush and said it was all fine.

just to cover my bases i just bought a new radiator cap. what else should i consider? it did overheat recently which is why i brought it in for new radiator hoses -- but i didn't drive it long hot. pulled over and thought i avoided head gasket damage or anything like that. the mechanics said they didn't see signs of head gasket damage.

and, like i said, performance & warm startup is good again after replacing the FPR yesterday. i remember this cruiser running really cold back in the day and over the last few years it's run much hotter.

 

[landcruise]

huh. it does seem like the radiator cap was sort of crapped out. not a good seal. maybe a worn spring.

i waited til the engine was pretty cold to switch caps and still quite a bit of coolant gushed out. is that normal? could all that pressure, and the fact that it wasn't going into the overfill tank at all, be due to a bad radiator cap?