Chrysler Crossfire
Crankshaft position sensor

3, Tricks to install the new crankshaft sensor, page III:

Already when I loosen the old crankshaft sensor I noticed that I will get problem when installing the new one. Here are some simple tricks that I used to do it.

Old sensor vs new sensor:

First I check that the new sensors has the same physical dimension as the old one, and it looks to have that. The screw with its inverted Torx E8 head. Maybe it had been better to replace it with an ordinary hex screw. But I didn't have any of correct size at home. It has the dimension M6, 16 mm long and the head has a diameter of 10 mm.

The E8 head screw tool:

As you see the tool has too big diameter, the screw came in at an angle. It will get me problem if I try to use it when I install the new sensor.

An alternative tool:

If I can use a normal socket wrench tool with 1/4" shaft the problem is solved. It only have six surfaces compared to the star pattern the screw E8 screw head has. With this I can't have very high torque, but it's not necessary in the beginning. When I get the screw in the thread I can use my bigger E8 tool to screw it with higher torque.

The tools compared:

Compare the sizes of these two tool sets. I had to use a bit longer extension to make it, about 80 mm compare to the 50 mm extension in the photo above.

Lock the screw to the tool:

Next problem to solve, how to not drop the screw in this narrow space around the crankshaft sensor. I don't even see what I do, only fell by my fingertips. I don't have any magnetic socket wrench tools so have to do it in a different way. I taped the screw to the socket wrench and it worked fine.

Otherwise the installation of the new crankshaft sensor was just opposite compared to how I removed the old sensor. Give the electric connector a spray of some anti oxidation, the engine must be cool !

The Check Engine lamp:

What do you think, will the engine start ? I crank the engine and it started direct. With the Check Engine lamp reset I took a drive around the block. No problem, but I have to test this for a much longer period before I take the car out to roads far from where I live.

If you have more money than time it's of course better to leave the car to the workshop. But I'm always curious and want to know my car well, it feels much safer to me.

The original crankshaft position sensor:

This is the original crankshaft position sensor. It's a Mercedes Benz original part. The number says A0031532728, google on it and you find them as spare parts at many places. It's not very expensive, about 20 to 35 Euro.

I will buy a new sensor to have as a spare part in the car if something like this happen again.