So I'm having trouble getting a new coolant temperature sensor (IAT) in on my '89 240 wagon. Following this guide:
I was able to get the old one out without taking off the intake manifold, but I just can't get the new one to get started and thread in so I can then screw it in fully (or the old one either when I tried that to see if there was something wrong with my new one). It's tight, so can't get a thumb in there and barely get enough fingers in there to rotate the thing, but no matter what approach angle I use or how much I rotate it clockwise it just doesn't seem to want to seat and actually thread in.

Anyone have any tips on this? Would some lubricant or something like that help at all?

 

Just finished that job. It can be a royal pain depending on the way you do it...... I found that the easiest way to do it is the way Robert did in this DIY video


Good luck, you just have to keep at it a bit until it threads in