positioning tool for crankshaft sensor, 92 SSEi

[dravella]

Hey everyone, I have been trying to get my son's car on the road and feel like I have run the gauntlet.... Geesh!!! Down to the last item I hope.

Replacing the crankshaft sensor, got the 17 & 18 trouble codes, ran the checks on the crank & cam sensors wiring and checked out the ICM, did the operational checks for the injectors, and changed the plugs & wires just because they needed changing.

Struggled getting the stupid vibration dampener pully off, supposed to just pull off after removing the bolt..... "the book says", yeah right. Got the crank sensor off it's bracket and in doing so it just kind of crumbled to bits on my hand, so I guess it needed a change for sure.

The big deal now is ....... an alignment tool for positioning the senor correctly as to avoid damaged from the steel fins on the dampener. Is there some tried and true method of positioning this, I.e. thickness of the cover of a book of matches or something OR do I need a special tool
to position it???


THX in advance

[Mickey#1]

I used a .020 feeler gauge between the sensor & outside of the balancer rings.

[dravella]

Hey Micky ThX , but can't get a feller gage back there. I've got a dual drive pulley that is pushed almost up against the block, meaning once you remount the dampener pulley there is vurtually no room. I did find a SPECIAL TOOL on the internet that costs a mere $490.00.

THX again

Stuck in No Where Land

[dravella]

Not much going on the Crank sensor...... Got in changed out but not aligned/positioned/gaged. No room to get a feller gage back behind the pulley because it's a dual drive pulley sys. the pulley is almost up against the block.

Found "SPECIAL... VERY SPECIAL.... TOOL" on the Internet to set the proper gap/position. Only problem is the stupid thing COST $$$$$$$ 490.00

The sensor cost me $36 bucks took me a 2-3 hours to install it and the stupid tool cost more than labor and materials????? Can't afford it!

Need help any ideas are WELCOME

[seichin]

I just installed the crankshaft sensor on my son's 92 bonneville se. After installing the sensor, I put on the harmonic balancer just enough to see where the 3x and 18 x rings would fit. I then loosened the long screw on the sensor and adjusted it by sight. I then kept tightening the pulley until it turned over the engine. after seeing that it didn't touch either ring, I started it up and was in business!

[truc0011]

Originally Posted by seichin

I just installed the crankshaft sensor on my son's 92 bonneville se. After installing the sensor, I put on the harmonic balancer just enough to see where the 3x and 18 x rings would fit. I then loosened the long screw on the sensor and adjusted it by sight. I then kept tightening the pulley until it turned over the engine. after seeing that it didn't touch either ring, I started it up and was in business!

I think you got lucky, I know alot of mechanics that try to eyeball it and end up breaking the sensors.....I think you need to find the tool. The dealers all have them, maybe if you go to one and explain the issue they'd let you use it...just a thought maybe worth a shot. When I did mine I worked at a dealer and they let me borrow it over night.

[dravella]

The Ol' Brain is stalled out & the car is up on jack-stands in the garage. Third-round with the Crank sensor is I guess, a decision process. Do we disassemble everything and put on a new sensor and possibly and new harmonic balancer (suspect both damaged because we didn't get the adjustment right before trying to start it the first time) or just tow the stuipd thing the Dealer and and let them handle it???? Any ideas as to how much a Dealer might charge?

OTHER SUGESTIONS WELCOME

Beating our Heads against the wall in VA.