Replacing the coolant temperature sensor on a GMC Acadia

This is my FIRST EVER attempt at making a video so apologies in advance for the quality. I wanted to share how to replace the temperature sensor on my wife's GMC Acadia. This would apply to the Acadia, Chevy Traverse or Buick Enclave. She called me one day thinking her car was blowing up. The fans were going full blast and the temperature gauge wasn't reading at all. Replacing this sensor fixed the issue.
Parts Used:
Temp Sensor:
amzn.to/2SQl2nL
Temp Sensor Connector:
amzn.to/35qKZNf
Air Filter:
amzn.to/2QIssqC
Music from KZbin Audio Library:
Feeling's Not Mutual by Single Friend
Moist by Mikos Da Gawd

[@toddmoss8672]

Thanks for the info it worked great on my gmc Acadia 2012 , 🇱🇷. ✌️.

[@jstrege34]

I am having the same issue on my 2018 Acadia but with the warning of “Driver assist may be reduced” coming on the instrument panel. Temp bottoms out, fan kicks on hi, compressor for AC is disabled. I have an extended warranty which would cover it with only paying my deductible. I was advised by the mechanic that the issue is the State Farm Drive safe module. I have relocated it to another area and still having the issue. So is the issue really the temperature sensor or is the mechanic actually being truthful? At this point, I’m not sure which to believe but I believe the mechanic is full of crap. So I guess my question would be can this module have any interference with sensors on a vehicle mechanic also said it’s because it’s Bluetooth which my phone is plugged in and connect it to my vehicle by Bluetooth so I think the mechanic is just full of BS. What is your take?

[@ChedderBaeBob]

Replace the thermostat under the intake for that

[@EagleEyeProductions]

The ac quits working when the temperature Guatemalan is bottoming out. Is it connected issue?

[@birolkidik1172]

thanks for the tutorial. i did change the sensor but still have the same problem. what else could it be ? thanks

[@umair00746]

Change the harnes connector. Mostly connector gers worn.. 🙂

[@carpediem4413]

Thermostat?

[@Andr1019_]

Does your wife car cooling fans kick on at a low speed a soonest you start the car or did they kick on a certain temp. Thank you.

[@sahilarora3126]

Buddy I replaced the sensor, but car still shows the engine hot ac off error. What else could be the issue ??

[@mwmceo6145]

What year is this car

[@stephaniemealey2343]

were there any special tools needed to change the sensor?

[@ragstowrenches7421]

You’ll just need a 19mm deep well socket to remove the sensor and possibly some pliers to remove the plug, although with pliers there’s a good chance you’ll break the plug like I did.

[@raymondj7588]

I broke my connector clip as well. When you drove the car without the locking clip did you have any issues? Seems to me that even without the locking clip when I pushed the clip it it seems to be holding on pretty tight on its own.....

[@jmlemay2007]

@RaymondJ, what method did you use that resulted in a broken connector? Did you just pull the wire until the connector broke? Did you replace the connector or plug it back on and hope that it stayed? Any advice apprciated.

[@raymondj7588]

@@jmlemay2007 Hi- I just put it back on without the locking clip and I can tell that that 7 months later I have not had any issues with it... It holds well without the clip..

[@JustinMentionedIt]

I don’t like the idea you gotta cut the OEM wire harness there and re splice it all, is there a way around that

[@ajkepler]

The absolute hardest part about this job is getting the wiring harness unclipped from the sensor but every video I've found basically say it's a pain but don't really describe how you get at it. I have tried fingers, needle nose pliers, nails bent into a hook shape etc and have gotten nowhere. I really don't want to pay a mechanic $$$ to do this job just because I can't disconnect the wiring harness.

[@jmlemay2007]

@HellbenT, did you ever succeed in getting the connector off the sensor? I'm having the exact same problem right now with my 2017 Acadia. I used a bent coat-hanger to pull up on the connector's red tab, but I still can't wrestle it off the sensor. Any advice appreciated.

[@ajkepler]

@@jmlemay2007 I was eventually able to get it off, but since it's been about a year now, I don't recall at this point exactly how I did it. It seems like I may have recruited my wife and her small hands for help but I could also be confusing that with some other mechanical project. I wish I would have posted an update at the time. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[@ecavil12]

I broke the clip while trying to take it out as well. I cannot emphasize enough how hard it is to disconnect it. But I was able to buy the harness at O’reilly for $70 and splice it.

[@djibcarlo]

Hey there, I just did the replacement for the Temperature Sensor on a 2007 Saturn Outlook. However, it is still reading hot on the meter and once it gets to red it triggers the No AC, Engine shut off. My question today is, did the socket for the temp sensor leak out coolant once you took the old one out? I saw on another vehicle for a Suburban/Tahoe, the mechanic performed it quickly so to stop the coolant from coming out. On my replacement, no coolant came out.

[@shanellewellyn1785]

Those but connectors are actually heat shrink conectors...they work well and don't need to add heat shrink tube or electrical tape

[@vondaeahdiya]

Where did you get new plug from

[@Bosivian]

Why not tell us the year of this Acadia?

[@LanceJoshlin]

Because they’re not all the same. Models earlier than 2017 the sensor is in a completely different location on the engine block instead of the radiator.

[@89YotaPU]

For future reference those butt connectors are heat shrink connectors. Throw some heat on them and they'll shrink.

[@amike4211]

He'll be pleasantly surprised when the heat of the motor does it all on it's own lol

[@user-dh2iz7ew7t]

When removing the plug, was it leaking coolant?

[@JustinMentionedIt]

7:30 looks like you put the insulation on backwards?.. EDIT, even tho there isn’t much I could find it seems you can NOT wire this backwards, meaning it doesn’t matter which way you wire as it is a resistor type sensor and does not have polarity so it don’t matter which wire goes to what… however I’d still do research on this for whatever car you got don’t just take my word on it… also it seems after you do this you need to unhook your battery too not just the negative but both negative and positive or else it could take a lot of hours or miles for the computer to recognize it

[@Lssjg702]

If its wired backwards what will happen ?

[@JustinMentionedIt]

Did you get an answer for that ?

[@Lssjg702]

@JustinMentionedIt if it's a 2 cable sensor, it can be wired any way lol. Just make sure to clear codes on computer before starting it. Or else fan will come on at start up.

[@JustinMentionedIt]

@@Lssjg702 yup so the way I had to fix that was after replacing the parts I unhooked my battery cables then it was all fixed

[@user-dh2iz7ew7t]

Did it leak any fluid when removing that plug????

[@sahilarora3126]

Yes for me.. and i have to fill coolent as well. But still didn’t fix my issue