Engine Dies After 15 minute and Won't Start

[jimmybvilla]

I already bought the crankshaft sensor through someone who works in a parts distributor store.$ 21.00 with his discount. A bracket goes with it and you insert the sensor into the bracket. Two bolts hold the bracket into the engine. I am not sure I got the right one but a friend who is a mechanic will help me install it. Here are the instructions:

1.Disconnect battery and sensor wiring.
2. Rotate harmonic balancer until interrupter ring slot on rear of balancer aligns with sensor. On combined sensor the balancer must be rotated until both inner and outer interrupter ring slots are alinged with the sensor.
3. Remove sensor mounting bolts and slide sensor assembly back and out. It may be necessary to loosen or remove the harmonic balancer to obrtain sufficient clearance.
4. Examine sensor for evidence of physical damage. If damage is noted the dynamic balance interrupterring should be inspected.
5. Install the sensor reversing the removal procedure. Note: The enclosed crankshaft sensor is a second generation consolidated design using the same mpounting bracket as the dual crankshaft sensors. In single crankshaft sensor applications the outer interrupter pathway does not contain a sensor assembly. the sensor assembly is installed using the inner interrupter ring pathway.
6. With sensor installed use a brass feeler gauge and adjust for a 0.02 clearance bertween the outer surface of the interrupter ring and the sensor. Recheck at three different locations 120 degrees apart around the interupter ring. torue sensor retaining bolt to 3.4 N. M. ( 30 lbs ) while maintaining light pressure on the sensor against the gauge and interupter ring. If interupter ring contacts sensor at any point during rotation, the interupter ring may need to be replace.
7. Reattach sensor wiring and battery cables.

Those of you who have replace the sensor on P/A 92 3.8L does it sound familiar to you?

[3echo9]

He all....I just finished this very job as Timrice knows. So far so good still. I have a 92 Lesabre so my code was a 17. Research lead me to the crankshaft pos sensor. Yes I replaced plugs, wires, coil packs, fuel filter and tested fuel rail pressure before I went to the internet. I'm sure they needed changing anyway but who knows.

My advise is to use a very big breaker bar on the the Harmonic Balancer bolt.

I just marked the old sensor before I took it off and ligned up the new one to my marks.

The special tool to remove the pulley is nothing more than the one Autozone sells for $15 or loans out for free. You just have to get 3 .25 in bolts and some washers. The official part comes with tappered bolts down to .25in from .375 in.

Reinstall the balancer by tightening the bolt. Don't bang it on. There's a key on the balancer so you can't install incorrectly.

Have fun..you may end up spending the same amount of money but you get to keep the tools....

[jimmybvilla]

Thanks for the tip 3echo9. I will copy your post and give it to my friend. How long did it take to do the job? Is the Le Sabre crankshaft sensor the same as the Park Avenue? The picture you posted did not look like the one I bought. Mine has a bracket. This will be a interesting and educational project.

[timrice]

Glad to hear it, 3echo9. Let's hope that's the end of your problems.

As far as the variation in crank sensors goes, My '89 and '90 LeSabres had the plastic sensor-in-metal bracket type. My '95 LeSabre has the single-piece, all-plastic type which I have to believe is probably a more failure-prone design due to the thermal cycling stresses on the plastic body.

Hey...I wonder if plastic would make a good intake manifold? (That's really not funny, I realize.)

[3echo9]

Jimmy...it took me a few days due to my lack of experience. Knowing what I do now and having all the right tools I would say it's about a 2 hour job. I had to put the car back together a couple of times as time ran out to get tools and advise on how to do the job.