Need help with '96 SL temp sensor/service engine light

I have an intermitant problem with my '96 Saturn SL. The engine runs fine for a few days, then the "Check Engine" light comes on, and once in a while the coolant temp warning comes on, even with the engine still hardly even warmed up. The engine runs rough at idle and surges while accelerating. The coolant temp warning will usually go out, but the service engine light will stay on, sometimes for several days. Then the light will not come on for a few days, and the engine runs smooth again. Maybe the next day the light will come on, repeat above. I'm thinking the coolant temp sender is bad. I had it replaced at the dealer a few months ago during another repair

- they said it was cracked and leaking. Looking at my bill it's a pretty cheap part, 14 bucks for the sensor and $32 for the connector to hook it up, but it must be a bitch to replace, because they charged

1.5 hours of labor to replace it. I'd imagine the warranty was only 30-90 days on the part.

Should I buy a new sensor and try to replace it myself?

Any advice would be apreciated!

Larry

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Larry Grapentine IPMS #40310 Peoria, Arizona, USA snipped-for-privacy@cox.net visit the IPMS Craig Hewitt Chapter web site at

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Larry Grapentine
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Changing the coolant temp sensor should be less than fifteen minutes of work for most people - including the connector. The dealer charged 1.5 hours to replace it because they can.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

Reply to
Lane

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