i know it needs replacing-getting new part this week. just looking for guide to pulling the old one out and the new one in. doing it ourselves. any pointers?

Call a shop or go to autozone or something like that. They sell books for do it yourselfers..

First thing to do is open the hood and then good luck.
Only kidding. Make sure you have the necessary tools and then it is quite simple, well depending how accessible it it. it basically is unbolting the old one and replacing it with the new one and conecting the wire like the old one was.