Crankshaft Position Sensor - Step by Step crank, Chrysler Crossfire, Mercedes Benz SLK320, Clk AMG

Joining me as I replace a crankshaft positioning sensor on the Chrysler Crossfire after it would fail to stay running for extended periods of time.

[@hurricanejavi1701]

Wish I found this video sooner. Had a job like this last week. Could've saved me a lot of time but oh well 😄

[@Renee48912]

I can’t believe it somebody who does a video with extra light so you can see what they’re doing amazing

[@glencouls]

I worked in TV. I don't have all the gear I want to do the job, but I do know when zero light just isn't going to work. Thanks for noticing I'm at least trying to get you the best viewing experience I can.

[@user-br8mo5jk9v]

This video saved me a ton of time and money at a mechanic - thanks👍

[@glencouls]

Thanks for watching, and more than anything I'm very happy it saved you some money.

[@garysinde3968]

This worked E-8 Socket with 1/4 inch drive to get past that heat shield protecting the sensor. Also our check engine light came in after the sensor swap but went away on first drive. I put a moving blanket on the engine and laid on it to reach the sensor easily. Good video, thanks

[@Rethman01]

Laying down on top of the engine seems a clever way to get this job done!

[@brucem2039]

This is an easy in theory, yet difficult to do job. I spent over 40 min trying to get the connector off, but I couldn't get a proper grip on it. All I could do was use the index finger and thumb of my right hand, using my index to try to depress the clip while tugging. No amount of wiggling would break it free. Finally, after my finger tip was too sore to try anymore, I grabbed a set of standard pliers, opened them to the wide position, and tried to use them. After a minute of trying to get a proper grab, I was able to use the pliers to depress the clip, and FINALLY pull the connector off. It took a lot of force, so be really careful if you do this so you don't damage the plastic part. To pull out the sensor, I again couldn't remove it using Glen's two finger approach, so I used the pliers and, once freed up, it pulled out easily. This ended up taking over an hour, but if I had gone to the pliers sooner, I could have completed it in 10 minutes.

[@colinmoore2926]

Great video, thanks. Saved me a lot of money just buying the sensor and fitting myself. V. fiddly to reach on the SLK320 as the gas strut for the bonnet gets in the way of leaning over to see, but no mechanical skill needed. A magnet on the end of a telescopic stick is very useful for when you inevitably lose the bolt.

[@glencouls]

Thanks for your comment, so true

[@FrankieBag0donuts]

Thanks for this video... it truly helped. I had to remove the guard to accommodate my large hands. But it was done with your help. 😎

[@billjoy5269]

Thanks Glencouls, you reaffirmed my suspicion regarding my trs sensor. Appreciate your help and thanks again.

[@glencouls]

I'm glad you solved this, using the video for reference. Thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@billjoy5269]

👍🏻

[@michaelgerhart1888]

Awesome video. Some people set the camera in one place and can’t see a thing. Thank you!

[@glencouls]

Thanks so much watching and being understanding about the need for me to move around a little.

[@KAZUYAGONNATRY]

It's was easy to understand.nice video!

[@glencouls]

Thanks Kazuya!

[@lal2300]

Nice clear video: 👍. Good explanation.

[@glencouls]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@brentlywhitson6791]

Awesome video, thank you !!

[@glencouls]

You're very Welcome. I hope your Crossfire is running in top shape!

[@richardfurgal3857]

Thank you for the excellent video.

[@glencouls]

Thanks for watching and commenting, it helps the video stay on top as the years roll by.

[@donsaelzler5334]

The way I understand it - after looking on line for a 6mm star.... an E-8 Torx female socket seems to be the correct tool.

[@glencouls]

Thanks for clarifying. The tool I'm using is from kobalt and has these spiny things that wrap around the star bolt, basically I just tried a couple until one fit snug. Thanks again for reporting your experience. The tool is multipurpose for security bolts in general.

[@SuperWill-gh8xv]

Ty so much i have a 2004 slk 32.was shutting off once it warmed up looked a the k40 relay and solidered the board … same issue. Purchased a cps sensor and I was able to complete this myself with a 3/8 socket no luck . My slk has another heat shield bolted on with the transmission bolts, plus a heat shrink type wrap around the sensor wire. Your switch to a 1/4” drive was a life saver. Don’t think I could have done it without the smaller drive. Hope this helps others as well Great video Thank you

[@glencouls]

Thanks for commenting, and adding the tip about what you were seeing on your SLK, glad the 1/4 inch drive worked out. Thanks for watching!!

[@SuperWill-gh8xv]

The angle on my slk was further down so you could not see the bolt very well, was anle to get it out, but replacing it with sensor was a challenge! I ended up putting a little bit of electric tape over the socket and the edge of the bolt to get it started. Then once it was threaded, was able to remove the socket and remove the tape and tighten it all in all tedious, but doable.

[@glencouls]

@@SuperWill-gh8xv a great tip for our SLK friends.

[@richardmashbitz5541]

Great job, you explain thingseasily

[@glencouls]

Hey thanks, I have a couple more crossfire videos coming. Siren replacement (fixes slow battery discharge) if you have a CF that can't seem to keep a battery this why, and CF ignition pin and dash deconstruction 101. You might consider subscribing so you know when they hit.

[@trinidadbgame1671]

Huge help thanks 🙏🏾

[@glencouls]

You are welcome, thanks for watching and commenting. Enjoy your Crossfire/SLK

[@JohnHenry-er4wu]

Nice Video. Thank you!

[@glencouls]

Thanks for watching! Good luck.

[@ennamorgan]

Very useful and detailed. Sadly, I wasn't able to get that clip to release, so after a few scrapes and scratches, bumps and bruises....(to my hand, not the car!), not to mention a few expletives along the way, I caved and made an appointment with Firestone. Prefer to pay a few dollars than several hundred if I break something vital.

[@ChuckMist]

I used a small straight pick to lift up the bottom of the latch. That worked very well, versus trying to squeeze the release. Then, the connector easily pulled off the sensor. When unscrewing the small #8 TorX bolt, I was cautious to fully unthread it and LEAVE IT resting in the bolt hole. Then, I used my flexible jaw grabber to grasp the bolt and remove it. To install the new bolt I will attach a long thread to it, so I can retrieve it, if it falls. I will also lightly tape or glue tape the bolt to the new sensor before installing it.

[@raffaelemerlo3625]

Ok first let me say, great explanation!! I'm about to replace this part, have been reading comments and I would really appreciate your opinion about my particular situation... My car was on the run and suddenly it turned off and didn't start again, some people told me maybe this was the problem but others told me maybe protection mode was enabled, you have to know that 1 month ago the remote control of my key ran out of batteries, I didn't think it was going to cause a problem so I didn't replace them inmediatly, after a month of opening and closing the car manually, I mean without the key remote control, I had this problem, car doesn't turn on and I don't know if it's because of a damaged crank sensor or maybe another problem related to the fact that I didn't use the remote for a long time... I would really appreciate your thoughts, thanks again bro

[@glencouls]

You are probably not going to like what I have to say. The key, ignition, skreem issue is a big part of being able to start this car. I think your skreem is fried. It sucks but it happens. I can tell you how to test this, if the skreem unit is bad and you have tried to start a few times it won't fire at all. Then if you disconnect the battery, and reconnect it, it will "almost start" like fire at TDC for a couple of cylinders then just die (thats the skreem borking up the ignition process. Then it will go back to not firing, until you do it again... disconnect the battery, fire it up.. it almost starts but dies. Then nothing until you disconnect the battery. As you can see its a cycle, the positioning sensor at least in my case I could start the car rip around for a bit, and then it would just die.

[@ronbetts5505]

Another great video. I’m guessing the camshaft position sensor is just as easy? Will you be doing one? Thanks again for another great tutorial!

[@glencouls]

I do them as I replace them.

[@armonianumerica5830]

I have Xfire....this is great

[@glencouls]

Thanks for watching. I have had a new video release every week for the past 5 weeks. Please consider ringing that bell to be informed when I drop another Video!

[@armonianumerica5830]

@@glencouls already done. 💪

[@jonhickman1620]

New owner of a crossfire and you have a great video, just changed my CPS out today because of your video I accomplished the task, by the way what causes them to fail? Thanks.

[@glencouls]

Infrequent baths, jealousy, letting ugly girls ride in the passenger seat, forgetting to change the oil, old age, high mileage (I just made all of that up.) Enjoy your running Crossfire! Don't forget to check your RCM and Battery strength. This car does crazy stuff when undervolted

[@THRSHR-uy3ll]

I know this is an older video but I just wanted to say...Awesome Video!! Easy to follow directions, with close up views of each step,and a list of what size bits and tool to use. I do have a quick question?? Can you or someone else please tell me if this exact procedure will work in a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica? Any tips or recommendations is appreciated.

[@glencouls]

I don't know the answer to that. Th Pacifica was designed in the same Era by the MB/Chrysler design team, but the Crossfire was imported directly from Germany while the Pacifica is built in the USA. I think there are considerably more Mopar parts on the Pacifica.

[@THRSHR-uy3ll]

@@glencouls Ok thank you for your information. You just gained a new Subscriber!! Keep up the great videos 💯

[@glencouls]

Thanks for the sub, you're the best.

[@somathilakeBwm]

where locate crankshaft in mercedes w203 righthand drive .?

[@DanielLopez-dm9on]

Sir where did you get that 6mil cause I went to AutoZone and the bolt is to huge to fit

[@sajjad0090]

I change the sensor than my car won’t run why ??

[@jovicatrpcevski8617]

glencouls, I had that problem with my 2005 crossfire where it would try to start but it wouldn't turn over, so I replaced the cam shaft position sensor and the crankshaft position sensor the car started momentarily and die, it's like something is shorting out the crankshaft position sensor, so I would try to start it again and it just act like it did before I put in the new sensor, what else could be wrong?

[@glencouls]

SKREEM unit. I'm sorry my friend it's an expensive fix. The dealership will likely need to get involved. Have been having key issues lately? That rubber cup around the ignition delivers a data key via the skeem to the ECU which let's you crank and run. If the data is interrupted, or the microchip in the keyfob did not properly line up with the wire in that rubber cup, the SKREEM unit self destructs and your car won't start. State of the art anti theft back in 2000, not so cool on a $2500.00 car in 2020. Each time you disconnect the battery, and reconnect, it's like it gives you a glimmer of hope but it dies because the SKREEM unit doesn't send the data key to the ECU and it dies. Good luck man.

[@Perfecto13]

Good evening, I wanted to know if you have a video that shows how to check the transmission fluid on a Chrysler crossfire?

[@glencouls]

Well, not right now. I had my transmission fluid changed out at 60k miles at Anchorage Chrysler Dodge in Alaska. Let me look into this and see what I find. If you have not found a video for that, it may be a good one for me to look into. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll get back soon.

[@Perfecto13]

@@glencouls awesome thank you

[@SAHamel_]

Did you need to shave the ribs off a bit on the new sensor for easy insertion?

[@glencouls]

I did not, thats a neat idea, I did have issues "feeling" the thread to twist it in without cross threading it. It's not in a Fun location.

[@masokotebogo1]

I have a different kind of a challange. I started the vehicle to warm it up in the morning then I took long preparing myself and the patrol finished whiles it was running then I switch it off the key whiles not running coz of the patrol then later I refilled the patrol and it stopped running or idling. It starts and dies again even after I refilled the patrol. What do you think could it be the crankshaft sensor?

[@masokotebogo1]

I have to remove the battery terminal and put it back for the car to start but dies again anyways

[@glencouls]

What patrol? Is that petrol like, "gasoline" or fuel? Is that what you mean?

[@masokotebogo1]

@@glencouls Yes! I meant Petrol (Fuel) we use unleaded Sasol petrol in my country

[@glencouls]

You ran your car out of fuel? Is that what I'm gathering here? Your fuel sensors are all out of whack now. I would guess (this my two cents). I would let it sit for a couple of hours and try again. I've never ran the car out of gas idle.

[@masokotebogo1]

@@glencouls yes I ran it put of fuel..ever since then when I start it dies. And I have to take out the terminal to start it

[@momentoffaith2735]

I believe this may be what's wrong with mine but let me ask if the motor will turn over when it won't crank -- mines dies and won't do anything but if you wait for a little while it will crank back up

[@glencouls]

Yes, my experience was the motor will crank, mine even started and I could drive it about 500 feet (made for a very long ride home), then the sensor would heat up, and everything would die. I would imagine depending on how damaged the sensor is, your mileage will very, from zero to a couple of miles (then wait for the sensor to cool and it will start again). My engine didn't sustain any damage doing this, but after this experience I vowed next time to just call AAA.

[@momentoffaith2735]

@@glencouls then that's not my problem -- thank you so much for the reply

[@glencouls]

@@momentoffaith2735 it may be the "mystery no start" or RCM (relay control module). Crossfire does weird stuff too if the battery is less than a Consistent 12.8V.

[@momentoffaith2735]

@@glencouls It will just go dead while driving and wont even turn over. like the battery is dead but if you let it sit for a while then it cranks back up or so for it has. I see where the RCM supplies the fuel as well. I'm going to pull the board and take a look at it hopefully this week. I will keep you informed.

[@glencouls]

Just going dead while driving is exactly what my CPS was doing. The car would do nothing once it died. I would have to wait about 40 minutes, for the sensor to cool down then I could drive it around again.

[@MG89290]

Hi @glencouls great video. I have a similar problem - perhaps. After a long period when the vehicle was off the road, I started general maintenance on it (it worked fine at the time), I added fuel - which was probably a bit old already, but worked at the time. The vehicle then sat for another 6 months. I tried to start it and the engine cranked & coughed & nearly started fully. I did this for a while and eventually it would only crank. The battery was a bit of old - so I replaced that, but same again. I cleaned all the spark plugs - which were very sooty, then tested one cylinder with a bit of fuel - and it coughed when cranking. I checked the fuel line into the engine bay, but no fuel was pumping through when the ignition was on. Do you think this is a CPS issue or perhaps the fuel pump, or something else? You're help is very much appreciated. Thanks.

[@glencouls]

Could be the dreaded skreem unit. That's worse case. I would definitely replace the other cps, first. The electronic sensors on the car are very finicky.

[@glencouls]

Also, check out my RCM relay control module video. Make sure the solder points for the fuel pump are in good shape.

[@MG89290]

@@glencouls thanks. Just to clarify, ‘the other cps”, is this as per the video originally posted?

[@glencouls]

@@MG89290 cam and crank sensor. Two sensors both stall the engine. If your car is 70,000 miles and neither been changed, you're probably due

[@MG89290]

@@glencouls thanks. I’ll do both. Yes, the vehicle is not far off 70k miles. Thanks again. I’ve seen your video on the relays, thanks. So will check that too. Is the cam and crank sensor the same part number? I have noted the crank sensor is Bosch 0261210170. If not, can I trouble you for the cam sensor part number? Many thanks.

[@richardmashbitz5541]

One more thing to remove clip easier remove the sensor then take off the connector

[@nopeno6514]

I assume there is a special tool for this job.

[@glencouls]

Kind of, I have not watched this video in a while, but if I remember right there is star pattern socket you need. Like reverse torx. Either 10 or 12 mm. Watch video or read some of the comments, should be in there. It's not that special I bought mine at Lowes.

[@user-pw3rl9ks4n]

Stuck at a restaurant rn bc of this sensor

[@glencouls]

Sorry to hear that. Some crossfire guys carry a spare. I do not.

[@lightzeyroy70]

i replaced it but dropped the screw, and lost it, what do you think i should do now? lmao

[@glencouls]

I think you should pull the Bib underneath and and get the bolt.

[@isaiahprice1694]

I can’t get that screw out for nothing!

[@joshuajackson9116]

I could use your help

[@glencouls]

What's up?, I don't know how much help I can be being remote, but let me know what you are needing, and know that I'm NOT responsible for what YOU may do to your vehicle. I can only make suggestions on what you tell me, and there may be room for error diagnosing given descriptions or stories that you relay to me. But I can give it my best shot.

[@joshuajackson9116]

@@glencouls Hello my car is in limp mode I have changed the conductor plate, shift switch, ECU, and it's still in the same position any idea

[@glencouls]

@@joshuajackson9116 when you say limp mode do you mean driving like two or three miles then stalling out?