Lost temp sensor. Where did it go?

[kmhall]

This weekend i replaced the lower AOS hose which crosses the case under the intake manifold and inserts on the top of cyl #4. The R&R went flawlessly and i was feeling pretty good until the high temp light on the temp gage started flashing with the gage only reading 180. The temp sensor and grommet are gone from their place between the #4 and #5 intake runners and it is probably laying somewhere on the hot case. I cant feel the loose sensor wire where it usually falls and haven’t been able to see anything down there with my borescope. I probably snagged it with the new hose and deposited it somewhere inaccessible. What part of the wiring harness does the sensor lead exit? If i could identify that i could trace the wire to the lost probe.

Any ideas.

 

thanks

 

keith

2003 996

 

[kmhall]

Found it. The wire exits the harness at the top of the head along with the vario cam wires. The temp sensor worked its way down to a hot spot between cyls 5&6. When the motor got up to temp it threw a CEL for failure of the purge fan and the engine overtemp light began flashing on the temp gage while the pointer was only at 180. Additionally, the fan ran for what seemed like hours after shutoff. It all makes sense now but i was tearing my hair out until i happened to notice the temp sensor missing from its usual place in the intake manifold between the 4&5 runners. The search for the sensor took almost a week. 
So, before you go to bed tonite check you temp sensor. Your 996 will love you for it.