crankshaft position sensor - where is it?

[simon winn]

I have been given a 1998 w210 E320 that some of you have very kindly diagnosed as having a faulty crankshaft position sensor - I have purchased one for the princeley sum of £60 but cant find where it is located - can anyone help... regards. Great site by the way - will join when I have a working merc.

 

[996jimbo]

No idea I'm afraid!

But, are you the same Simon Winn that used to live in Winchester? Or are there just lots of you around!

 

[television]

its on the front of the engine by the crankshaft damper.

Malcolm

 

[simon winn]

Yes I used to live in Winchester - Are you married to Audrey or Annie?

 

[simon winn]

Thankyou Malcolm, by the way. I must be going blind!

 

[996jimbo]

Annie!

PS the crank position sensor went on my car a while ago and apparently it was a complete twat to do. I presume you've already tried shouting and swearing at it? It didn't work on mine either...

 

[simon winn]

Small world - How are you? - We recently tried to move back - had an offer accepted on house in Arthur Road but had to pull out due to lack of school places. I thought you drove Alfas?

 

[kth286]

Simon

I guess you have the V6 as opposed to the in-line 6.

They are similar, the CRANKSHAFT sensor is screwed to the bell housing NOT the front of the engine. It is tricky to get at.

It is a key sensor and informs the ECU that the engine is actually moving and then everything else falls into place.

I can't remember if I saw your earlier post or not, but this sensor has a habit of going out of spec when it gets hot, and that causes the engine to switch off suddenly without warning.

After a while and the car has cooled down it can come back within spec again and the car will restart.

 

[simon winn]

Hi - Yes this is the V6 version - car does stop when its gets hot then restarts after maybe 20 mins - I am pretty conviced that this is the problem and will take the car to an Indie when I can get it there to remove all codes !! In the meantime I will try to fix it as I'm not sure if its worth spending money on ( have only done 2 mile test run before grinding to a halt - car seemed fine but has done 239K with one owner) - I presume I need to take the bottom engine plate off to get at this area?

 

[996jimbo]

Simon - just tried to send you and email or pm but you're not accepting them (miserable bastard).

See if you can email me (from my profile). If you want to of course...

By the way when the crank sensor went on mine it was in the middle of a load of traffic in Bracknell. Went 3 times before I got relayed to a garage. There was no warning or suggestion as to what had failed as basically it thinks the crank has stopped turning so switches off the fuel/spark. Everything else works fine and I don't think it threw up and fault codes either. Each time it started again after 20 mins or so and ran perfectly until it cut the power again.

 

[simon winn]

Jim, I don't think I can receive as not a paid member yet - this will be rectified if car ever runs and I like it - I got it thrown in in a house sale I just did but quite like it however havn't driven it far enough. you can e mail me on this temporary yahoo address and I will get back to you. si1970_2000@yahoo.co.uk

 

[simon winn]

Jim thats an underscore between the 1970 and the 2000

 

[allan l]

David,

Do you recommend replacing crankshaft sensor, at 100k miles, as a preventative maintenance action ?

Allan Luskow
'94 E320 Coupe

 

[kth286]

Hi Allan

How's it going ?

My car has done 154,000 now and never any problem with the crank sensor (nor the MAS, which so many modern Mercs seem to get, as noted on this forum).

As I sometimes drive on the continental mainland I have thought I should buy a spare crank sensor to carry in the boot of the car, but never got around to it - yet.

I do however carry a spare coil, but since my new engine loom was fitted several 1000's miles ago, I have never had another coil shorted out.

An item that I do consider to need replacing on a service basis is the Lambda sensor, and I do know you have changed yours.

I think the water temperature sensors can go a bit 'awry' also, and changed mine when I changed the water pump, along with the new thermostat and new hoses.

Regards

 

[allan l]

David,
Since replacing all the Engine Loom and EHT components my '94 E320Coupe has gone perfectly.
However wear and tear still takes its toll. I replaced all the track rods etc recently. I intend to get my bumpers etc. repainted and covered with protective film soon, as they now look worse for wear. This will, hopefully, stop chips and scratches showing.
My milage is at 93K and I now only use the M-B for long trip in UK and on the Continent.
I look forward to reading more of your M-B experiences on this website.
Best wishes,

Allan Luskow

 

[kth286]

Allan

Hi again - mine passed it's MOT today - very pleased.

I've had the car over 4 years now and never failed an MOT yet, all at Merc dealer, as they should know what to look out for and therefore be the toughest to pass.

I did have an advisory (not a fail) "play in the Idler arm bush". This may be relevant to you also if you have changed all your tie rods etc - did you eliminate ALL the play, or does your idler arm bush need doing perhaps?

Regards

 

[allan l]

David,
When doing the tie rods, I also replaced all the other items in the system; Drag link and intermediate arm pivot bearings (M-B Kit p/n 124 460 01 19). All the play has now gone.
The M-B franchise dealer, in my area, for many years used one of the small local garages to do the MOTs on all their cars. I have been going to the latter directly, for about 7 years. They are very familiar with 124Ser (which are rarely seen at my main dealer) and alway flag up potential problems, long before they actually become problems.
Best regards,