For starters, it doesn't look like an ignition coil. Is everything on your car still working okay?

 

the head gasket is messed up and I am in the middle of changing them... I thought it might have been an ignition coil because there was a spring that was inside of it, but that flew off and landed somewhere. I highly doubt my car will run without this...

 

Temp sensor?

 

it might be, I was thinking along the lines of that too. I'm still not sure and I know it's gonna cost some $$

 

It is a temperature sensor.

 

Yes, this is the coolant temperature gauge sending unit. You car should run ok without it, but your temp gauge in your cluster will not work.

 

I stripped the bolt on this part and ended up breaking this thing in half.

You should remove the broken part and replace it. If you can't do it yourself, then take it to a machine shop and have it removed.

There are a couple of ways to DIY. You can drill a hole down the center, and use a tool called an "easy-out." Or you can drill out the entire piece, and re-tap the threads. Or you can drill it out over-size, and install a heli-coil.

The temperature sensor is a vital input to your ECU... So, you should replace it if you want your car to run well.

 

I didn't strip the threads thanks god, everything fits ok it was the bolt that I completly messed up.

 

Yep, temp sensor. It's made out of brass so it's kind of soft. You shouldn't have any trouble removing it and it should be <$15 to replace.

 

really 15? where could I get it for that price..?

 

There are two temp sensors in the car, one on the radiator and the one on the water outlet, which is the one you broke.

Actually I was off in my pricing, they look to be between $20 - $30. Sorry.

 

This temp sensor is for the gauge in the dash only. Do not turn your ignition on with this disconnected. The temp gauge according to the manual will peg upward and the indicator needle could get damaged. The engine should run fine without it but you would not have any temp reading.

 

well after days of searching i finally got the temp sensor... but it's the wrong one! It's the one thats to the left of this "sending unit" and I can't find it anywhere.

Is the actual name of this sensor called temperature sending unit?

 

It´s an ECT Gauge Sending Unit, also known as "Temp Sensor"!!!-Mike

 

it wasn't called a temp sensor. Found it called as a temp relay