upper plenum sensor?

[GangstGP]

Just shattered the plug for the sensor on the top passenger side of the plenum. Figured that I would just replace the sensor and the plug. What is its exact name, and what happens when these go bad? Should I expect it to run different? It looked kind of oily, and I never replaced that one yet.
Should I try buying one at the corner parts store, or the dealer?My corner store TPS sucked.

[Invasion1]

MAT Sensor

Manifold Air Temp.

Dealer part i believe

[GangstGP]

thanks

[mfewtrail]

MAT sensor part # 25036751 (thanks to Jeorge's parts list/site! 8) )

Currently lists for $19.55 at gmpartsdirect.

www.gmpartsdirect.com

[GangstGP]

This is one of the main computer sensors that helps compute fuel mixtures right?
Anybody had one fail?

[Bossman429]

I viewed this topic an hour ago, and have been churning the thoughts in my mind since. So I MUST!:
This sensor is a MAT Manifold Air Temp sensor....From the description it sounds the same as an IAT Intake air temp sensor. As far as functionality anyway.
The MAT is called this because it mounts in the manifold, whereas the IAT mounts in the rubber intake pipe on an N/A 3.1.
So this leads me to ask the question, Why did GM/ASC choose to locate the air temp sensor in the intake pipe on the N/A 3.1, and in the manifold on the turbo 3.1. Why didn't they just mount an IAT on the upper intake pipe running from the intercooler to the throttle body, this would put it in the same spot as on a N/A 3.1, just in the metal pipe, rather than rubber pipe?
I'd just like to get the insight on some of you more knowledgable in the ways of the turbo 3.1.
Here's some reasons I thought of for why they changed the location:
- The pressure of boost would cause innacuracy in the sensor if mounted in the pipe.
- The metal intake pipe would be too thin/difficult to tap into for mounting a threaded sensor. Keep in mind that the N/A 3.1 IAT just presses into the rubber intake hose, boost would shoot that sucker right out. It would HAVE to be threaded in. The intake manifold has more material to thread a sensor into.
- Perhaps GM outsourced the manufacturing of the intake pipe to some other company. Whereas the intakes (at least N/A ones) were produced by GM in house. If they had the intakes in stock and outsourced the production of the pipe. They would choose to mount the sensor in the intakes that they were producing in house, as to lessen costs of waiting for parts, and speed up assembly production.

What do you guys think? As I was writing, the second suggestion stuck out the most for me. This just being from my own knowledge, and sense.

BTW: I haven't been to this forum in over 3 months. It's nice to see that some of the wiser members of the W-body forum are posting here. I will definitely have to frequent more often, as I see this forum is getting a lot more action from many knowledgable people whom I recognize. I stopped coming here because there were rarely any new posts.