Crankshaft Position Sensor Replacement
 

Good Morning All,


Yesterday I replaced my crankshaft position sensor on my 1999 4.0L and never do I want to have to do that again. Probably the most difficult part I have ever had to get to.


Anyway, if anyone has ever done this job or knows off the top of their head, is it okay to not reinstall the plastic cover piece with the new sensor?


I had a hard time trying to keep that piece together with the sensor while fishing it threw the top of the engine onto the bell housing. Without it, the bell housing is a little exposed, but I don't think anything harmful could get it there, or it would be hopefully unlikely. I just decided to keep it off and put the sensor on without it.


If anyone has any advice or thinks this was a bad idea, please let me know. I really don't want to mess with that thing again. haha

Yep! That's a fun one! I wrote this to maybe help somebody. (not positive the newer are 11mm-7/16 though)

11mm socket > 3 inch extension > universal > long (18-24 inches of extension). Your feet are sticking out under the passenger side, you can reach up past the front drive-line with your left hand to hold the CPS from the front. Your right hand is on the ratchet way back by the tranny cross member. If you tie a long string on the old plug, you can use it to haul up the new. Toss that piece of plastic if it's still there, and do not drop the bolts in there! Echlin # CSS980, (from Napa, for 87-90), should be fine, but some prefer to go to Jeep. I wouldn't bother with anything else for that.

If your left forearm is bigger than a quart Mason jar, you might consider removing the front drive-line. Also You might cut your old CPS wires if they go through a deal on a bell housing bolt, then after be sure your new are held somewhere safe.

The second one is REALLY easy!

Thank you for your advice! That really helps. I still have that plastic piece and I've seen people say that it's needed to give the sensor proper spacing from the housing. Are you sure it's safe tossing it?

Waz a guy who was service manager at a Jeep dealership for something like, (or over) ten years who told me that. "Out" from the housing would be less important then how close the CPS is to the flywheel/flex-plate, then how close it is. Closer, (without touching of course) , can even be an improvement. Being those screws are lateral, that will not change.

It's magnet is just feeling gaps in the wheel passing by it.

I was dreading the job after reading all the nightmare stories online but the truth is that it is not that hard, it took me less than 5 minutes to change mine out on my 96 a month ago.

I used a 1/4" ratchet, two 6" 1/4" extension, a 6" 1/4 wobble extension, and a 11mm socket. I went to the driver side, unplugged the CPS connector, laid down underneath the drivers side, looked up the left side of the transmission until I could see the CPS, and removed the two bolts using the tools. I did the reverse for installation and I was done in 5 minutes.

I dont think I have the plastic spacer on mine (or if it ever was there) on my 1998 4.0