removal of crankshaft position sensor

[diddley813]

Hello all, 1998 lumina, 3.1, auto trans.
It has probably been explained many times before but after searching I could not figure out how to do this. I raised the car , removed passenger side tire. Removed electrical connector, sensor rotates but cannot pull it out of the block. There is a plate attatched to the block and trans that blocks most of my efforts to pull it out. Have now broken the top of it so only the cylinder remains. I have read of other people inserting self tapping screws and other means to remove it. The problem I am having is that there is barely room for my hand much less for tools. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Have also rotated the engine forward after removing the two dogbones and removed the alternator to try to get more room. No luck

[jeffcoslacker]

Would undoing the motor mount and lifting the motor a bit give you room to work?

I can't remember how the sensor sits in the old ones like that. But lifting the motor is no big deal. Just be sure you use a plank of wood between the jack and the oil pan so you don't crack it.

Usually when they are that old, the motor mount is completely covered in crud. And worn out. If lifting would help, it'd be a good time to change it too.

[jeffcoslacker]

Wait...those were in the middle of the block on the back?

I can't think of what's in your way...can't picture it...

[diddley813]

thanks for the reply jeffcoslacker,
I changed the mount yesterday and it was a mess. The problem with lifting the motor is that it is attached to the trans and it will go up as one piece. And yes the sensor is in the middle of the block. What is blocking it is a plate attatched to the halfshaft. Will put some pics tomorrow. Have other members replaced this sensor with the engine out or cars with a manual trans because I can barely reach the sensor. Again thanks for your help

[Tech II]

Hope you are replacing the right crank sensor, since the vehicle has two of them......

Yes, there is no room back there.......you remove the hold down bolt, and it should come out.....but sometimes it rotates and doesn't.....what I generally do, it attach a small vice grip around the base, and then using a screwdriver between the block and vice grip, I can pry it out.....but if there is nothing left to grab, there is only one other way......drop the pan and push it out from the inside.......but the pan is a PITA.....

[diddley813]

I hope it is the right one also as it is kicking my as*!!! Used the vice grips and screwdriver on the nub that was there but it just splintered off.
Well the worst has happened. After removing the bracket that was blocking my hand the sensor broke off flush with the block. I will try to put a self tapping screw in the sensor and pull it out (maybe) with it. If it fails I will then have to go through the oil pan.

[jeffcoslacker]

I read your original post wrong, thought it said 1990. That's why I made the older reference. Sorry.

Probably wouldn't have helped you initially since access was blocked, But I've found that with stuck o-ring type items like that it's best to first soak the hell out of 'em before you even start the job with penetrant, then work 'em out in kind of "unscrewing" motion or back and forth, where you turn them in place while pulling gently. Eventually they work their way out. Pulling straight out never seems to work.

[diddley813]

Well first off thanks for the advice. Since there was no room for any tools in there I got a dremel tool with a flexible shaft and drill a hole in it. Could not screw anything in it...so....ended up drilling a bunch of holes then breaking it up. Removed most of the pieces of plastic and the magnet but some fell into the oil pan. I don't think that the pieces will get past the strainer in the oil pan. So the new sensor is in and I drove it for about an hour...no problems....hope this solves it for me. Again thank you for your help