goingboeing737

OK

I finally understand what folks have been saying about checking the speed & reference sensors regarding my intermittent stall problem.

BUT.....

I have printed out the Clarks Garage procedure and I am still confused about removing them. I don't want to screw this up and have to try and readjust the clearance.

To remove them are you loosening/removing the nut that is on top of the black plastic part? OR.... Do you remove the locking bolt?

The article says:
"Unbolt the sensor and turn while removing the sensor. Two different types of retaining bolts were used on the sensors. You'll need a 5mm Allen head socket or 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the sensor retaining bolts."

The picture labels: Reference sensor; pivot bolt; speed sensor; locking bolt. But nowhere is the "retaining bolt" that is mentioned above pictured.

Could it be that I am too stupid to own this car?????

89magic98

Step 1: Find the nearby flywheel inspection hole. Cover this hole (I put a latex glove partway into the hole) before you start anything. You can easily make a serious mistake and drop a bolt in there.

----

You remove one bolt per sensor. I used a 1/4" ratchet with a 10MM head and a long extension with a swivel. Unless you suspect that your car is not running due to improper spacing of the sensors, do NOT touch the locking bolt on the side of the assembly.

When you undo the bolt, you will still have to wiggle it to remove.

Make sure you mark which sensor is which, and which engine harness connector it plugs into on the metal bracket bolted to the back of the engine. If you swap the speed and reference sensors, this will cause a no-start condition.

goingboeing737

Alright.

Removed the sensors. The speed sensor (closest to firewall) is worn/scraped on the bottom.

COULD THIS BE WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ???????????

Should I just swap them around as is, or try and adjust it "up" as to not "wear" the other one in the same way?

89magic98

Cosmetic damage (discoloration, minor scratches) should not effect the performance of the sensor.

If you really gouged it with the flywheel, I think you'd know. In that case, an adjustment is needed.

Can you post a picture?

Swapping the two won't help if one of them is defective. The two sensors are identical.

Some folks have found that the sensor wires are frayed/damaged.

goingboeing737

Got picture:

Speed / Reference sensors


Whatca think?

PeteL

They don't look too bad.
How do their connectors look? The rectangular connectors that are at the other end. Mine deteriorated over time, and at least once jiggled loose and caused the car to stop.

89magic98

If you cleaned up the metal on the speed sensor with some acetone (nail polish remover), is there a big dent/scrape on it? Hard to tell from the picture.

goingboeing737

Yes, dent and big scrape. Can almost see a round shaped "pin/dowel" under the surface.

Swapped the sensors around to other position. Shimmed the speed sensor with a washer (keep it from hitting flywheel)

Took it out for a test spin. Not stalling like it did. I was able to get it to stall once over a BIG bump.

Connectors "look" OK.

89magic98

In that case, you should probably adjust the whole assembly to get the spacing correct (which is the equivalent of adding the spacer washer that you tried).

I think the clark's garage site has the procedure on this.

goingboeing737

The cars starts and runs good. I am having a "stalling issue" when I hit a large bump.

Why would only one of the sensors show that kind of wear?

With them torqued in place how is the flywheel able to "hit" just the speed sensor?

This all started after motor mount and ball joint job. Could we have loosened somthing by jacking on the engine to lower the crossmember?

It is better than it was, and I will probably get at least one new sensor.

Grease Slingers,,,,,you reading this,,,??????

Red1

I would replace that sensor that looks like it has a groove in it. See what happens after that.

Kevin Baker

I forgot, after you swapped them, it started, stalled over a big bump, and now it wont start?

Try swapping in the one I gave you (yes Matt I had a spare) does it make any difference?

This still sounds like some type of "connection" or "ground" issue to me.

SoCal Driver

When you did the engine mounts you jacked up the engine higher that it's typical stock location?

If so you may have pushed the sensors into the flywheel and pin when they hit the firewall.

Need to do a through job of resetting their clearences.

goingboeing737

Kevin,
Still no start. Swapped out sensors all over the place. Nada. I am back to origial configuration with worn one in speed position.

SoCal,
I wouldn't have thought we moved the engine that much. More like holding it where it was and dropping the crossmember.


I can't believe how good it ran yesterday, then no start 3 hours later.


This is how good cars get sold cheap.......

89magic98

You have to think of the car "starting" and the car "running" as two entirely separate events.

You may say that your car ran for 3 hours yesterday. How many times did you turn it off, let it get cold, then tried to restart it?

Did you try to re-align the mounting bracket for the sensors?