How to Remove wire from sensor - Detonation Sensor

[Red 80 TA]

Hi All. Hope someone out there can help me.

I would like to remove this connector/wire but am not sure exactly how to go about it without damaging it. Do I just pull it off?

I believe it is the detonation sensor.

I have a 1980 Firebird TA original car. 301 engine, automatic, W72 Performance package, non turbo.

Thanks in advance

Mike K

[Frosty]

Without looking at a Pontiac Service manual for a 301 engine, this looks like a water temperature sensor, especially since it is next to the thermostat housing.

[Red 80 TA]

Thank You for the quick response.

Would you know how to remove this without breaking it?

[Frosty]

The wire should slide off the sensor. There maybe a clip that you have to compress to get it to release. This will deactivate your temperature gauge on the dash in the process. Once you have the wire off, you can take a socket to remote it. Just remember that this sensor is submerged in coolant, so you should expect coolant to leak out. So be prepared to plug it up with something else ASAP. Otherwise you will have a mess.

[Red 80 TA]

Thank you for your quick response.

[Frosty]

Happy to help.

[Red 80 TA]

Hi Frosty

 

Worked just like you said. came off real easy. next step is to get the timing chain cover off now.

Thanks again

[TWO LANE BLACK TOP]

If you're going to remove the timing cover...Do Not use a gear puller to remove the Damper...The gear puller can and will damage the Damper by pulling on the outer ring dislodging it from the center hub of the damper...Use this type of puller instead...Also before removing the damper pull the engine around by hand until the timing mark on the damper lines up with the zero mark on the timing tab on the cover...Once the cover is removed the timing Mark on the cam gear should be at six o'clock...The crankshaft gear timing mark should be at 12 o'clock...If they are not lined up...That indicates that the outer ring on the damper has slipped around the center hub (A Very Common Issue on all GM cars) Rendering the timing mark inaccurate...and cannot be relied upon to accurately set the timing using a timing light...

TLBT..

Edited February 10 by TWO LANE BLACK TOP

[Frosty]

Two Lane - is this specialty damper tool something you can borrow or rent for your local auto parts store?

[TWO LANE BLACK TOP]

Yes...I'm 99% sure that a Harmonic Balancer puller/Installer Can be borrowed/rented from Advance/Autozone...Etc...

The balancer puller/installer uses existing threaded bolt holes that are in the center hub of the damper...Thereby concentrating the pulling force  on the center of the damper instead of the outer ring...The same puller/installer is also used to push the damper back into place...Just be sure to read instructions...VERY Important...Before doing it...

Something else that is worth mentioning...When reinstalling the Balancer/Damper...Alot of people use the crankshaft bolt/washer to push the damper back into place by tightening the bolt...The issue with that is...The excessive torque put on the crank bolt/treads while tightening it will gall/strip the internal threads in the end of the crankshaft and or the crank bolt...

Also a lot of people will use a block of wood and a heavy hammer and knock the damper back into place...The issue with doing that is twofold...First is if the balancer is not started exactly straight and flush it will damage the mating surfaces of both the crankshaft and the balancer causing a burr/ridge on one or both...The second issue is the shock generated on the end of the crankshaft when hitting it with a hammer will force the crankshaft to slide back forcefully against the soft Thrust bearing faces...Inadvertently Changing (loosening) the Crankshaft endplay/thrust bearing clearances....Which is a whole other issue... 

TLBT... 

Edited February 11 by TWO LANE BLACK TOP

[Red 80 TA]

Thank You.

Appreciate the update.

Had to buy my harmonic dampener puller. similar to the picture up above. it worked really good. removed most of the bolts on the timing chain cover.  still left, are the two on the bottom back side attached to the oil pan and the two bottom front. hopefully it should come off.