2010 Mazda 5 Front Collision Sensor:

During disassembly of the front end to replace the AC condenser, the wiring harness was disconnected from the collision sensor that is located next to the hood latch. Now during re-assembly, that connector is not latching to the collision sensor. It seems that the connector is spring loaded internally, and there is some sort of latch inside that holds it onto the sensor that is not working.

Is it likely that the connector is broken internally, or am I missing something in getting them to stay latched?

If there is a latch or retainer broken inside the connector, would there be any negative impact to the functionality of the sensor if the connector were held onto the sensor mechanically from the outside using a zip tie or tape, etc?

I believe the official position of the manufacturer would be that the entire wiring harness would require replacement, but I would like to have a better understanding of the sensor and connector functions before I make that decision.

Thank you in advance,

Jay