Coolant Temp sensor

[lgilbert50@yahoo.com]

Need help, need a new coolant temp sensor and everybody lists two different ones. They are both are identical in appearance and one is twice the price. The part stores and Mazda cannot tell me the difference and was wondering if anybody can enlighten me so I can get the correct one.
Thanks
Lowell
1993 Mx3 GS

[93_mx3_gs]

I believe you need the green housing one.

[jschrauwen]

On your 93 there should be about 3 sensors in total by the filler neck. A single (black) wire one, a 2 wire (black plastic top) one, and another 2 wire (green plastic top) one. In general terms the single wire one is for your dash coolant temp gauge, the black coolant sensor is for the ECU (more or less) and the green coolant sensor is also for the ECU but primarily for the triggering of the drivers side rad fan. I listed these sensors in order as viewed from the rear of the engine moving forward. The 2 two-wire sensors should be similarly priced from Mazda (about $55.00cdn) and I'm not sure what the cost of the single wire one is. The 2 two-wire ones do look identical but there is a definite colour difference to the tops once the connector is removed - that's provided that the previous owner didn't mess this up and put the wrong one in. What would precipitate your need to replace it? You haven't mentioned what some of your problems or symptoms were that would necessitate this replacement. As a side issue, removing these can be tricky since the plastic tops to these sensors can get very brittle over time and heat exposure and extrernally can appear to be serviceable but may have separated from the metal body of the sensor. Hope this helps.
*John*