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No, you can't get at it without removing the thermostat. Changing out the sensor isn't the difficulty, it's loosening the two torx bolts that hold the thermostat housing. Because of the nearness of the temp sensor and the electricity flowing around it, the two bolts sometimes galvanize to the block. Use a quarter-inch ratchet with the proper size torx to loosen them. A 3/8ths drive with the torx on the end is too big to loosen the rear one because of the angle and the thermostat housing. If the torx bolts don't come out with a quick jerk on the drive handle, take a hammer and beat the top of the torx bolt viat the drive to knock the galvanizing loose. Don't get too heavy handed, because the cast aluminum thermostat housing hasn't got a lot of support under it and you can break it if you lay into the bolts with too much force. A real horror story is twisting off one or both of these bolts. Has happened. A word of caution: When taking out the bolts be very careful that they don't fall off the end of the torx drive and drop down inside the guts of the engine compartment. One of mine did and it took two hours with a light to find it. I was afraid to start the engine because the serpentine belt is close by, and you will easily become paranoid thinking that the bolt has wedged into the belt and a gear. To get the thermostat housing removed you have to carefully turn and twist it to get it by the two metal fuel lines that are conveniently in the way. Once removed the thermostat temp gauge can be taken out with an open end wrench. Note the white oxide around it and on the wires from electrical corrosion. Dick
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