What Would You Do? Crankshaft Position Sensor Disintegration!

2000 Tundra 4.7.

Went to replace crankshaft position sensor and it snapped in my hand as I was removing the wiring connection .

I grabbed bits of it with pliers and chipped away at it with a screwdriver hoping that at some point the rest would come out.

I'm literally digging a hole and feel like I'm now in a pretty bad situation.


Any advice? How much of the truck do I have to disassemble to get at this thing?

 

Dammmn! Man, that sux. I’d probably be tempted to use a left handed drill bit.

 

This is what I'd probably try doing too ...

Although I'd also be tempted to tap a wide flathead in there too, just 1/16" or so, and see if I could spin it out. That thing is toast!

 

This is also what I would try next.

 

Thanks for the fast advice! I tapped a flathead in there (deeper than 1/16), it just turns chunks out.

I'll try some reverse bits tomorrow. How worried should I be about going too deep, causing other damage?

 

can you use a magnet?

 

Be aware I'm also assuming this sensor partially unscrews by twisting it counterclockwise when using a left handed drill bit.

If ours are the type that just pops out, it might be a better idea to do what others I read about have done and that's drilling a hole, using a large self-tapping concrete/masonary screw and yanking it out with pliers.

Looks like 1A auto made such a video and did that same thing but used something like a slide hammer to pull it out.

https://youtu.be/J7CMe-Hpf-Q

 

Great video! He's got me thinking about hitting it with torch for a while before I attack it again.

 

I’m pretty sure that style just pulls out no turning. Look up the part on rock auto and make sure it doesn’t have threads. If it doesn’t I think I’d screw into it like the advice above.

That style sensor usually has a o ring that gets stuck with age. You’re probably fighting that.

 

I replaced mine last week, it just slides out. No threads. Just one bolt holding it in. Just like the ignition coil packs.

 

Let us know how you make out and if you can post the carnage. I’m sure I’ll be facing the same scenario when I eventually need to replace mine.

 

Point of screwing is to ensure it's free in the boss. Then reverse-thread to pull up and out, or sink a fastener as another mentioned.

 

F##k

 

Is the metal lining show in @jerryallday's pic still stuck in there? Looks like most of it is out.

 

Nailed It!

 

Whew. Truck is running. Will post details in a bit .

 

Uh oh. Where'd the tip of the fastener go?

 

This is so much funnier now, than it was two hours ago

 

This thread would be perfect with one more Jerry.

 

Okay. All buttoned up, test drove, runs great!

I did not mean to run the screw that deep.

I tried to make a puller using a large socket and a series of washers . I did not notice that the screw had slipped the washer. It felt like it was pulling out, when it was actually just going deeper.

Ironically I had clipped the screw because it was too long.

With the screw in the sensor, it still wouldn't pry out. I used a small flat head and a hammer to chisel away at the plastic. It eventually came loose enough to pull out.

Fortunately, there's a bit of room for error in there. I think the fact that the screw went through at an angle (unintentionally) saved me.


There's not a lot of room to work, but a long extension will allow you to run a drill bit and a a torx just past the oil filter.


The new sensor wouldn't fit until I sanded the corrosion in the fitting. A 1/2 dowel and some 220 grit worked well. I wrapped the end of the dowel with sandpaper ran it with a drill (also routed past the oil filter).

Cleaned it all out with some brake cleaner on a rag, buttoned it up and it's good to go!

 

Just had a thought. I bet a little Dremel sanding wheel rigged on an extension would also work for cleaning out the fitting (instead of the dowel).

 

I just replaced my timing belt. I worked around that sensor like it was a loaded mouse trap. Damn thing is too delicate.

Do you have to calibrate anything when you replace those?

 

I sure hope not

 

I didnt hahahahaha

 

I had to calibrate a throttle position sensor, was wondering if the crank sensor was the same. I looked it up, there is no calibration required on the crank sensor. I was just curious

 

That's quite a rig, jerry!

Glad to see you got it out.

 

Just had another thought. Before this repair I was having intermittent issues with the speedometer/odometer. Sometimes they just wouldn't work at all. Tachometer was fine.

It's working now. Wondering what the odds are that it's related to the faulty crankshaft position sensor.

Similarly, the battery seems to drain pretty quickly while the truck is sitting (I don't drive it everyday). It's too early to tell if that also resolved, but I'm also wondering if an inability to determine appropriate position was... I dunno, screwing w/ something that caused the battery to drain.