Heres my problem (I am afraid it may be a big one)!!! I took my 1998 explorer v-6 SOHC to a really good repair shop and had them do some diagnostics because it wouldnt hardly run on cold starts. they said the problem was the coolant temp sensor and the throttle position sensor. i do most repairs myself if i can so i get the car back and get the parts. throttle position sensor- i replaced it no problem. but, i was unscrewing the coolant temp. sensor and got it a few turns loose but then i notice that there is a brass sleeve that the sensor is screwed into, and it is just spinning and spinning in the intake manifold as i try to loosen the sensor. so i am afraid i might be in for some serious repairs. i am wondering if the brass sleeve is something from the factory or if it was placed in there because the original threads were stripped out or something. if thats the case, i dont know if i should go ahead and replace the intake manifold or if there is some way to fix it without going through that. the coolant temp. sensor is like half way out and i cant screw it in or out. i would appreciate any info anybody has, my truck is out of commission till i get it fixed.... whats the easiest fix? how much is an intake manifold? how much does the dealer or repair shop charge to replace it? thank you!!!

 

Sounds like you have nothing to lose at this point. Try some liquid wrench for a day or so and tapping with small hammer then jam a small screwdriver into the threads and see if it will turn out with a wrench again. You may need to carefully break it out and re-tap the hole. There are thread repair kits you can buy if the hole needs enlargement.
Don't you hate when stuff like this happens. It took me 3 days of tapping with an impact wrench, half a can of liquid wrench to free a spark plup on my 1996 5.0L AWD. When it finally came out, I thought it had broken in the head. But all was well.

Good luck