Sorry about the delayed responce but I just got into Texas at the hotel. The coolant sensor is a snap male / female concector & has a pry spot to un-do and you need a small 2 inch screw driver to pry it apart. Since the sensor is a screw in type witch threads into the engine block. The clip was on the very top on mine. My guess it could be in any position since it screws in. Obviously it would be easiest if the pry place was on the side or bottom but it was a pain for me to un-do. When I put the new one on I tightened it so that the connector snap would be on its side.