Changing the temperature sensor on a VW Beetle takes only a couple tools, and the sensor is easily located -- usually on the front of the engine on the intake manifold, near the thermostat. If your VW Beetle is a 1993 or older, the coolant temperature sensor only has one wire. If it is a 1994 or newer, it has four wires because the sensor for the computer and the sender for the gauge were combined into one sensor. The plug-in connector is keyed so that the wiring harness connector cannot be plugged in the wrong way.
Open the hood and locate the coolant temperature sensor.
Unplug the wiring harness connector on the sensor. Pull the C-clip off the hose using the pliers. You might need to use the screwdriver to pry the clip away from the hose far enough to grab it with the pliers.
Pull the sensor out of the hose.
Push the new sensor into the hose. Push the C-clip onto the hose to secure the sensor.
