I recently put a new '05 Maxima block in my '03 Altima 3.5. This block was intended for an automatic, as it did not come with a pilot bearing installed on the end of the crankshaft. I have it bolted to a '02 6MT with LSD that I bought from another member here (I converted from 4AT to 6MT). As you all know, the actual hole for the crankshaft position sensor is split in half - one side of it is on the block, the other side of the hole is made on the transaxle housing.

The problem I have is that the offset for the hole on the block is a few mm further out than the other half on the transaxle. While it still forms a round hole, it is not a flat hole, as the half on the block protrudes further out than the half on the transaxle. My question is, should I grind down the block-side to be flush with the 6MT, or should I use a grommet or other means of dust-shielding and bolt it in as it is? Knowing that the CPS is calibrated to read the fluctuations magnetism generated in the flywheel's tooth rotation, I don't want to turn it on the first time and have to deal with timing issues and a MIL/DTC because it was too close/far away from the flywheel to read properly.

As an alternative (if no one has the answer), I am also considering cutting the sensor's mount in half and then trying to start it with it sitting flush with the 6MT's side and JB-welding a custom bracket to the offset block side's bolt hole.

Sorry I can't provide pictures right now. I may also post this in the 5th-gen forum, as it's a 5.5-gen trans bolted to a 6th gen motor.

Thanks for the help.

 

take a picture of what your doing , When my swap was done there was a issue with the CPS as well, I will try to snap some pics of what im doing.

 

^ Cool, I'd appreciate if you could show me how yours was done. I will not be able to work on my project for another long stretch of time so it would be cool to gather the bits of info for the solution before I even get back.

 

Any more insight guys?

Thanks

 

Sorry , I'll snap some pics in the moring , I havent driven my car in few months and bought it in the shop today... I gotta do some more work and I'll snap some more pics of how / location of my CPS

 

^ Thank you very much. I need this- will help a lot. Did you re-use the AT CPS, or do I need to purchase an MT CPS?

 

Not sure if this will help at all, but I've also been fighting CPS mounting issues, tho they seem to be on a fairly larger scale than yours.....

I will offer this, tho: on both my old '02 block, and the '08 Quest VQ35DE in my car currently, the CPS mounting bolt hole is only on the engine block side, there's nothing on the transaxle, so it'd seem fairly difficult to screw up the install on that note.

Also, when I seperated my engine and block, I saw that the CPS had a half-moon shaped rubber grommet that sealed it into the hole created equally as you said, half on the engine side, half on the transmission. Perhaps this is the "grommet" you're referring to? And it's disappeared at some point along the way?

I can't imagine it serving a "must-have" purpose, tho, as again, there's just the one bolt hole that locates the CPS.

I would be interested in pics as well, as I'm still fighting P0335 codes and long start times.

 

^ Thanks - I still have that grommet and know where it goes, but the fact that the actual half of the hole on the block sticks out farther than the 6MT is what I don't get. I will await NiZMo1o1's pictures for further confidence before I try to start it.

 

So I went ahead and used the old sensor and grommet... and it started without issue.

 

would a 5.5 gen maxima 6speed fit into the 6th gen maxima?

 

i just dropped my 04 at the stealership. will keep the post updated when i get more info.

*Specs - 04 CVT tansmission

 

Havnt bolted up my housing yet but it looked like a direct swap for me? Swapping an a/t engine for my 6sp engine block. I'll test it tomorrow..did you get a 4sp or 5sp at motor?...Ithink they are actually diff. part numbers. One will drectly work with a m/t other than the pilot bearing/flywheel swap.

 

yep...just bolted mine up and same problem...oh well ..I am using the old sensor as well and hopefully I wont have any problems...did you grind down the block side at all or just leave it sticking out a little further?

 

Had a local meat head repalce both my crank sensors and still didn't\couldn't fix the issue. Brought my 04 (automatic) to the stealership. Great Technical service, lousy Customer Service people. Cost me just over $1600 for a new timing belt, guard and stuff. in the process they hosed my a\c compressor putting it back together. "the compressor has a leak. we can fix it for 400$" No Thank You very much. Now I'm fighting with the Service Mgr to fix what they broke.
What's the deal with the sensors?! Local guy said they were on National Back-Order. It sounds like this should be on a service plan or a recall. Am I out of my mind?! or just got a bad break?