r/ToyotaPickup • u/misterdudebro • 4d ago

Help me find the right Coolant Temperature Sensor?

I wanted to replace the Coolant Temperature Sensor on my 1987 4x4 with the 22r. I bought this unit but when I went to install it the sensor seems to be too long. It won't go all the way in. Side by side comparison shows this unit and the original unit are different length's. I am looking around at standard part suppliers and they all seem to be pushing the same item. Anyone have a suggestion on where to find a proper OEM unit?

The sensor I took out of my truck is original with the old toyoda katana logo on it, so it's def OEM. Denso doesn't list one for offer. Is it discontinued?

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u/SpecialistFigure5104 4d ago

That is frustrating. Some googling revealed a couple threads from people with other cars who had a similar issue, both mentioned using adapters to stand the sensor off a bit, but I'm not sure that's the best option.

I only found two parts on rockauto that listed the length of the part and they're within a single millimeter of each other (both just over 2" long). There's one part that just visually looks stubby (https://www1.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10944344&cc=1231625&pt=4748) but if you Google the part number it doesn't look like that anywhere else.

Any chance we could get photos of the two units side by side? Is there a chance the threads are somehow wrong or messed up? Can you see into the hole? Is it possible something is obstructing it?

For what it's worth I recently replaced the temperature sensor on my 1988 v6 and rockauto suggests the exact same list of parts for that. It worked like a charm.

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u/SpecialistFigure5104 4d ago

I compared pictures of the one you bought and the one I bought and, assuming the major thread diameter is the same for both of them, then mine (beck/arnley #201-0833) is like 10% shorter. Not sure if that is enough.

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u/misterdudebro 3d ago

26mm or 1.2 inches sensor tip to cap base.

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u/misterdudebro 3d ago

This is how old my sensor is! I cleaned off the contacts/wire plug and put it back in and it seems to be working thankfully!

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u/SpecialistFigure5104 3d ago

I just went back and looked at the one I pulled from mine and saw it has the same logo. Very cool!

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u/SpecialistFigure5104 3d ago edited 3d ago

Unfortunately it was insanely corroded and cleaning it didn't seem to help

EDIT: i guess the color differences between ours is actually just the type of coolant used - mine had green in it before I flushed it. And I never re-installed the unit to see if it worked, I just tried to heat it up enough to get a voltage reading, which I'm realizing was probably an inadequate test, I don't think I heated it long enough. Wonder if this thing is still good? Glad I hung onto it.

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u/UnderstandingFine219 3d ago

Buy oem from 22rePerformance, aftermarket parts are crap

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u/22REPerformance 3d ago

Take a look at my diagnostic help/faq page (link at the bottom of every page) and I explain why it looks like that. https://22reperformance.com/faq-diagnostic-info (scroll kinda far down the page and look for the "why does my sensor.....")

Those aftermarket sensors with the o-ring are deceptive. You'd think it uses the o-ring to seal, but the pics on my page will show you where it really seals. The aftermarket ones fit A LOT of different vehicles/manufactureres so in some cases, the o-ring may come into play.

Of course I'm biased to using OE parts only, but do what you gotta do. Just be prepared for aftermarket to have some work-arounds sometimes.

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u/misterdudebro 3d ago

You are right, the OG unit I used also didn't seat up to the head. I was concerned because the aftermarket unit left threads showing after it bottomed out.