I was going through some boxes and found a new in the box Toyota water temp sensor that I bought back in 04 when my overdrive was having issues, I never installed it because I found the issue was a plugged coolant line thanks to the dealership installing my water pump with too much gasket goop. Anyway, Im getting ready to drain the engine and swap the thermostat, do you think its worth slapping the new sensor in there or leave the original 1988 one in place?? Its PN 89422-12010 by the way...

 

don't fix whats not broke. save it in case the old one dies.

 

good call, I just wonder if they wear out slowly and thats why it seems to take so long before it does go into OD?

 

To each his own. I've already replaced the engine coolant sensor on my '93, just to be sure. I'd rather put the old one in there if the new one goes bad than to wait for the old one to fail.

 

Yup, if I had a new one or something was cheap to replace and there was any doubt, I'd put the new one in and keep the old one around as a spare.

 

Agreed. 22+ years is a long time waiting for anything to go wrong!

That said, I'm still on my original water pump & thermostat, but with only 50K miles. I use the "age" replacement theory.

 

Shoot, when i put a new one in mine and the whole thing ran better.
Ive always said "If it aint broke, don't fix it" But lets just say you've got a car phone and someone offers you a blackberry...What are you gonna do?

Exactly

 

Same goes for your oxygen sensors as with the ECU water temp sensor. I think they fail over time, and we should all be on our second or third replacements.

 

My thoughts too.