Hi Folks,

I had a minor front grill repair done in the local body shop on my wife's RX300 and these guys have broken the ambient temperature sensor. I guess they were trying to remove the electrical connector and could not do it. I spent couple of hours this Saturday trying to remove it also and could not do it.
Do you know any tricks to remove the sensor from connector? Obviously, I don't want to brake incoming/outgoing wires.

I would appreciate your advise.

 

My RX300 is not with me now; I will remember to check it tonight when I get it. Usually, the connector has a locking tab, or called release tab, somewhere in the middle or on the side. It accumulates dust over the years and difficult to press down before the connector can be pulled out. In that case, I use a flat screwdriver to press the release tab down while pulling.

Not sure if that helps.

 

SVRX300, thank you for your reply. I was pressing the locking tab which is in the middle and pulling the sensor at the same time. I saw the tab was moving, but the sensor got stuck (or my hands got weaker), so I could not disconnect it. The danger was obviously not to break the connector wires. Have you used any tools for it?
Thanks

 

Hi osetleo, I have never worked on the ambient temperature sensor. My first reply is based on the type of connector in general. I wish I could provide more help.

 

Never pull the wires. There is a rubber O ring that makes the connector water tight and with the heat-cold cycles the rubber has bonded to both pieces. Patience and squirting wd40 or equiv will free it. Just be careful as sone connectors are mounted and it you want to wiggle the un-mounted end.

Salim

 

Salimshah, thank you. I will try to spray with wd40 or something like that. I was using connector cleaner spray that did not help

 

Dont waste the cleaner .. use it once the connector comes apart. The cleaner may dry out things even more.

One of the tricks to break the bond is using push force occasionally ... normally you will be using pull to separate.

Salim

 

Thanks, you are correct. Using electronics cleaner was not smart