Reference sensor shield, any info?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Casper, Wyoming
Reference sensor shield, any info?
I have the lovely starter thunk and it seems to have gotten worse. From what I gather there should be a shield on the reference sensor, but I've yet to find a post with what the shield should look like. Anyone have a photo?
This is what I can see from the top of the engine, can anyone see anything useful? Am I even looking in the right spot?
I've seen references to a different bracket and sleeves but never any part numbers or places to buy. Just by myself I've been unable to find the shielding anywhere, probably looking in all the wrong places.
This is what I can see from the top of the engine, can anyone see anything useful? Am I even looking in the right spot?
I've seen references to a different bracket and sleeves but never any part numbers or places to buy. Just by myself I've been unable to find the shielding anywhere, probably looking in all the wrong places.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,981
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
You need the sleeve and updated bracket when using the smaller starters. I am pretty sure it was a '85.5+ thing but i am not certain. But if you have an early car and replaced the starter with the smaller later style or inadvertently replaced the bracket with an early style you will have the 'kick back'. Basically it is the engine firing at the wrong time during cranking because the reference sensor is picking up stray EMF from the starter and telling the DME to fire at the wrong point.
Sleeve; 944.101.320.00
Bracket; 944.101.321.07
I ran into this issue after i did my clutch. I broke the original bracket and replaced it with a spare early style not realizing the purpose of the sleeve. I initially thought there was a problem with the starter but after doing some reading realized this was the problem. Infact you may have come across one of my posts from about 2 years ago when i was trying to figure the problem out.
BTW, the bracket and sleeve are available from Pelican and Paragon to name a few places.
Sleeve; 944.101.320.00
Bracket; 944.101.321.07
I ran into this issue after i did my clutch. I broke the original bracket and replaced it with a spare early style not realizing the purpose of the sleeve. I initially thought there was a problem with the starter but after doing some reading realized this was the problem. Infact you may have come across one of my posts from about 2 years ago when i was trying to figure the problem out.
BTW, the bracket and sleeve are available from Pelican and Paragon to name a few places.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Casper, Wyoming
Whoops, my mistake. I have an '87 n/a. I'm not used to not having my car info in my sig.
The kid I bought the car from said that it had a new clutch and I'd heard of the shielding not being replaced with the clutch job. I broke the nose cone on the starter that came with it so got a used one from a member on here, same slim style. Old starter did it as does this one, just seems to be getting worse.
I'm sure I saw some of your posts, I went through every post I could find. Anyway, it looks as if the sleeve goes into the bellhousing according to this diagram...
http://dcauto.gotdns.com/illustration/index/203490748
Is that a valid assumption? If so I guess the only way to tell is if I pull the sensors? I've heard that's a decently "fun" job.
The kid I bought the car from said that it had a new clutch and I'd heard of the shielding not being replaced with the clutch job. I broke the nose cone on the starter that came with it so got a used one from a member on here, same slim style. Old starter did it as does this one, just seems to be getting worse.
I'm sure I saw some of your posts, I went through every post I could find. Anyway, it looks as if the sleeve goes into the bellhousing according to this diagram...
http://dcauto.gotdns.com/illustration/index/203490748
Is that a valid assumption? If so I guess the only way to tell is if I pull the sensors? I've heard that's a decently "fun" job.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,981
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
The sleeve slides into the reference sensor bracket, then the sensor slides into the sleeve. Changing the bracket is relatively straight forward but can be difficult due to space constraints. It is do-able without taking anything off the car but it makes life easier to take the heater control valve out. The only things to watch out for are making sure you do not drop anything into the bell housing inspection hole (put a piece of tape or stuff a rag in there as the first thing you do!) and gapping the sensors can be tricky (but there are a number of ways to do it including a specially machined gapping tool or the usual method of gluing a washer to the bottom of one of the sensors to set the gap).
