First, much thanks to the CPS threads on this forum for help in replacing my CPS.

Just below the CPS connector, there were globs of what looked like adhesive that had been slopped onto the engine. After I removed the connector, I noticed that it appears that the connector boot had melted. And since it's adjacent to the exhaust, it makes sense.

Some members posted photos showing a metal shield around the connector (image showing shield was cribbed from usprb1976). My early-production 2004 doesn't have the shield. Anybody have any info on when that was added? Seems like it might have been worthy of a TSB but I couldn't find one.

Now, I'm wondering if my intermittent starting problems and fault codes are because of melted the connector and not the sensor.

 

I took that shield off my car a couple of years ago when I was having P0335 problems....my car also has a heat resistant 'sleeve' on the cable that slides down over the CPS and connector..... the CPS is MUCH easier to work on without that metal shield installed....


It looks like a 'boot' that was melting and not the connector... if the connector was melting I would expect it to have problems and replacing the CPS should not fix it....
The connector is made of a very durable plastic that does not melt easily....

 

I'm thinking the heat shield is best, the radiant heat will be worse with the car stationary. The movement of air will cool the area down when moving. The shield will protect from radiant heat.

Heat resistant materials are just that, they are resistant to heat; they will get to the ambient temperature even reflective ones which just take a bit longer and anything wrapped in this material will take longer to cool down.