Missing wire for coolant temperature sensor

Tiny
BLESSED.WITH.A.CURSE
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 BMW 323
  • 2.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 170,000 MILES
My E46 323i is overheating. I am pretty sure we narrowed it down to a coolant temperature sensor. I have one on the way but unfortunately then realized the wire that connects to the sensor is completely missing. I am not much of a mechanic and new to BMWs. I cannot even find a partial wire to find where it leads from. Is this something that can be fixed reasonably?
Monday, September 3rd, 2018 AT 5:47 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
I can tell you it is two wires, a gray/brown and a brown/red wire. Both wires come from the Digital Motor Electronics (DME) Control Unit, located left rear of engine compartment. Here is what the connector to the ECT looks like, too.
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Monday, September 3rd, 2018 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
10KEVOO
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hey, did you every figure out the problem with it my cars been Over heating I recently bought this about a month ago and I realized I’m missing my connector to the coolant temperature sensor I don’t know where it is my mechanic couldn’t find it and so my cars been overheating.
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Sunday, December 18th, 2022 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,500 POSTS
Here is what the sensor wiring connector looks like:

https://www.google.com/search?q=2000+BMW+323+cooalnt+sensor+pig+tail&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1035US1035&oq=2000+BMW+323+cooalnt+sensor+pig+tail&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i10i160l2j33i10i299l2.6448j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

It will have a green/brown and Brown/red wires. Let me know what you find.

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Monday, December 19th, 2022 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
10KEVOO
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Do you think I can just wire it with the other wires?
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Monday, December 19th, 2022 AT 4:47 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,500 POSTS
Do you have wires near the sensor that match the color? If so you can wire in the new connector.
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2022 AT 10:54 AM

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