Where is the Coolant Temperature Sensor located?

Is this saying on the left side of engine if I was facing the car?

Hello,

The temperature sensor is located on the left side of the engine, if you are facing the engine.

The intake manifold will need to be removed in order to get to the temperature sensor.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-coolant-temperature-sensor
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

I have attached diagrams below for your reference.

Let me know of any questions.
Thank you.

Thank you so much! It is appreciated.

You are welcome!

I have removed the plastic intake manifold and still cannot find it, starting to wonder if this is a different sensor? I'm trying to change out the Coolant Temperature Sensor, but I do notice a lot of the diagrams say CHT sensor? Are they the same thing?

It is the CHT sensor (cylinder head temperature). Also, the lower intake need to be removed as well not just the upper plenum.

You know, that makes a lot of sense, removing that next. Thank you!!

You are welcome. Let me know how it goes.

I can now officially see it, but ran into the last bolt, which was stripped and below the exhaust pipe. It was a surprise how much I had to remove to get to it. Now I'm one bolt away. Thank you again for the advice thus far, definitely no way I would have figured this out otherwise.

You are welcome. You know there is always that one bolt that makes things tricky.

I was very excited and got it off last night only to see the sensor I got at AutoZone didn't fit. I went back and they said that it was the right one. At this point I guess I'm stuck. That's CHT sensor location right? Maybe they sold me the wrong thing or I'm missing something and that's not the sensor location?

Yes, that is the CHT sensor location. How is the replacement one incorrect? does it have different plug on the back?

Yes, the plug in the back doesn't match with what is connected to the old sensor, the current sensor in the car clips on the right, and the one I bought clips on the top (it's in one of the pictures in my last post). Should I just remove the sensor and take it to the store? It definitely was a surprise when it didn't fit after all that effort, lol.

You might want to call your local Mazda dealer, and talk to their parts department. Provide them with the VIN and they can give you the part number for the CHT. It is possible that there are variations due to the manufacturing date or other variables.

I ended up going to the Mazda dealership and ordered the part as well as the suggested wire that tends to need to be replaced with it.

Changed them out and the car is no longer just randomly overheating.

The original issue I was having was the car idling and feeling like it was pushing forward when in drive or reverse, it felt like it was increasing rpm and trying to go on its own. So, I replaced the throttle body and sensor attached to it.

I've replaced throttle body, replaced CHT, Wires attached to it. It is running better but when in drive or reverse it appears I'm having the same problem and it just gets loud and sounds like it's trying to increase RPM. At this point I'm kind of stuck. Any suggestions? No check engine lights or anything, super weird.

So, the RPMs increase without any extra throttle input?
How high does it usually increase?
Also, when it increases does it accelerate faster or stay the same speed or bogs down?