96 cutlass supreme--crank shaft position sensor

[tmgbosley]

HELP-- I took my 96 cutlass supreme to auto zone for a diagnostic test to find out why it was sputtering and the RPM gage kept jumping up and down only to shut off when stopped at a light too long. I was told I needed a new "crank shaft position sensor". My husband is not sure where the sensor is located or if any special tools are needed for this job. Can anyone help?????

[Manny_boy]

The crankshaft position sensor is at the rear of the engine (when standing at the front facing the car), it is between the firewall and the engine. The best way to access it (if i remember correctly) is under the car from the passenger side. no special tools, just a wrench, not sure what size tho. It just requires much patience. Be careful CPS's have been known to become brittle from engine heat, and break off inside the block while being removed, only to be retrieved from the oil pan.

Before you change the cps though, from reading your post, the symptoms don't seem to lead to the cps. usually when the cps goes bad (usually from age and heat soak) your car would stall and not restart until it cools off, or just not at all. Idle hunting (fluctuating RPM) is usually a symptom of either a vacuum leak (vacuum hoses or intake manifold gasket, which our cars are notorious for), a malfunctioning idle air control motor, a partially clogged idle air passage, or possibly your computer needs to relearn the idle. Has your battery recently been disconnected for any period of time, have you had any recent work done?