My car will just crank a lot and then eventually fires up. It only started doing this once it got cold. Also, when this started happening, I started throwing a CEL for a crank shafter position sensor (ref). Are these related? How hard is it to replace this sensor? How much does one cost? Couldnt find much on it, just looking for a little help on the starting as well as the CEL. I recently added a MEVI and ECU.

 

okay, well, after i've actually done some research, i see that, yeah its related... the sensor is about $50 from Oreilly for the facing the crankshaft pulley. The other one, faces the gear teeth, and costs about $100. Please correct me if I am wrong, but 0407 refers to the (ref) sensor, which is the front one? Correct? Faces the crank shaft pulley? Are there any howtos on how to replace this.

 

Alright...so is the reference sensor the one on the front or side of the engine? Thanks.

 

You already found out.. but yes its related, same with the cam sensor. The ECU needs to know these in order to start up... I believe its up front by the crank pulley but I may be wrong.

 

# 1) Crankshaft Position Sensor (POS).
This sensor is located on the oil pan facing the gear teeth (cogs) of the signal plate (flywheel). It detects the crankshaft position signal (1 degree signal). A malfunction of this sensor may set the Diagnostic Trouble Code 0802.

#2) Crankshaft Position Sensor (REF).
This sensor is located on the oil pan (upper) facing the crankshaft pulley. It detects the TDC (Top Dead Center) signal (120 degree signal). A malfunction of this sensor may set the Diagnostic Trouble Code 0407.


Yes you are correct. So Im assuming thats the front of the engine, yes?

 

#1 is located on the side of the transmission.

#2 is located in the front of the engine where the belts are at.

I dont know how mechanically inclined you are but the crank pulley is the large main pulley by the oil filter. I've never changed it but it sounds like you'll have to take off the oil pan and see if you can access it from there. I'll check my Chiltons manual when I get home.

 

i know where the crank pulley is yes. Okay, so the Ref sensor, is the one I need to replace. This is on the front of the motor. Well, atleast thats the cheap one. Any help on how to replace it would be greatly appreciated. Taking it into a shop and doing it as soon as I know enough how to and can order the part. It's nice to have mechanic friends.

 

oh wow looking at the Haynes (not Chilton my bad) manual, its soooo easy to replace. The REF crank sensor is right below the crank pulley and to the right (closer to the front of the car) of the oil filter. You have to disconnect a small harness on it and it has 2 small bolts holding it into the block... Thats it!

THe POS Sensor is on the bell housing of the transmission just to the right of the front motor mount.. again its plugged with a few bolts.. not a big job at all!

My way of changing the REF would be...

Jack up car
Remove front passengers side tire
Remove plastic splash guard and thats it! You have access to the crank pulley and oil filter area.

You'll need a 12mm socket but the looks of it... again I'm only looking at a picture... remove plug and 2 bolts and replace with new one...

 

Sweet man, really appreciate the help. Looks like I'll be ordering the one for the front of the engine and replacing it. Guess I wont be needing my mechanic hook up after all, ill just hop under my car and do it. He's nice to have though, got a $10 aligment and my mevi and ecu installed for the cost of a 12 pack Haha, have a good one man.

 

Damn I wish I were that lucky... enjoy though.. its cool to have friends like that. If you need any help PM me.

 

Alright, well I replaced the sensor. Tried to start my car...car still cranks and wouldnt start. Starter burns out. Codes were clear untill I disconnected battery, replugged it in, and then the code for the sensor was back? Whats going on? I DO have a loose ground. Could this explain the code? I will be replacing starter tomarrow, but I still dont know if after I fix the ground it iwll be okay.

 

i havent been on the org for like 5 months or so because my max has been parked, i gave up on it because of this problem, but now i miss it and its time to bring it back out, my car will crank and crank but not start, let me know how it goes with urs, so far i've changed both crank sensors, starter, swapped battery with a diferent car to see if it woul change anything, changed cam sensor, temp sensor, fuel pump and mass air flow...still nothing, havent had any codes come up for anything, luckily i use to work at a junk yard and a i curently work as a manager of a parts store now, so i havent spent much on replacing these parts, im just tapped on ideas and no one else ive talked to seems to have anyother ideas

im changing a few relays tomorrow, a couple in the front box by the battery, have no clue where the fuel pump relay is, and after this its goin to the dealer...let me know how you make out

--Dan

 

did you clean off the sensors, the two crankshaft position sensors, and the one camshaft sensor on the timing chain cover. also check for loose grounds, thers one that links the engine to the tranny, if thats bad, then the car will continue to crank. a malfunctioning starter will also cause the car not to start, itll crank, but more like sputter. did you check if fuel is getting to the engine? i had a similar problem, gave me a code for crankshaft position sensor REF, but i learned that this is triggered when the car starts hard, it was in fact my crankshaft psotion sensor (POS), thats the one on the bellhousing of the tranny, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IF ITS CLEAN, itll have metal shavings, it monitors the flywheel. al my resistance checks checked out perfectly within spec, but ther ewas debris on it so it fudged up my cars ability to start up.

 

Replaced starter, tightened loose ground. Car starts fine, no more code. Probably didn't need the sensor then, but oh well...atleast i wont have to worry on it going out for a long time.

 

oh crap... all that for just a stupid starter... well have fun with the car I guess. I had a knock sensor code and replaced my knock sensor last night and got another CEL today... time to check it in the snow tomorrow. I'm very agitated right now with this damn car.

 

haha...yeah...stupid starter and ground...i changed it at 11 o clock 2 nights ago in about 40F weather, ripped flesh off my knuckle, then drove 150 miles Ha, that sucks bro, are you enjoying the knock sensor "mod" ? I know when I did mine it was a crazy difference. Good luck with the codes :/ My cels off now, but ABS will always be there...and I don't know why.

 

Nope didnt feel a thing of difference.. I guess I know why.. my CEL came back on and instead of just the KS code.. I got 4

Knock sensor which explains why I havent felt a difference...
0902.. which is undefined.. whatever
13-02.. Map Boro switch... and one your going to get a kick out of...
0407... Crank Sensor... REF... how nice eh?