DIY: Replacing Crank Position Sensor (CPS)/Engine Speed Sensor from top (1.8T)

[Seerlah]

Disclaimer: Neither I, Audizine, nor any of it's members take responsibility for any damage done to yourself or your vehicle while performing upgrades or maintenance. Work with caution, care, and safety.

If you have a bad CPS, you can replace this from the top of your engine bay. It is rather simple, if you have the right tools. And really, all that would be is a phillips head screw driver, 5mm hex extension, and magnet.

First you want to use the screw driver to remove the coolant tank from it's mounting points, then undo the connector on the underside of it. Now, just flip it up because you will need to get to the CPS from the underside's space of the coolant reservoir. And place, have a shop light or flash light by your side. You don't want to work blind. I personally placed a shop light in the engine bay, and also used an LED flash light to be sure I am not working blind (been there before many times, and it's not cool). The CPS is located by oil filter, on the actual shot block. It is held in by one bolt. It has a 5mm hex and I believe what is a 10mm socket provision (should have confirmed size before placing back). Here is where I placed my 5mm hex extension, resting inside of the CPS bolt.



It is kind of hard to take an accurate pic of where the other end of the hex extension is, so I gabbed this pic from Google images (looks like it belongs to ECS ). I have arrowed in red the CPS sits. The sensor goes right in the middle, with that one bolt hole on top of it. That is where my hex extension is resting, inside of the bolt.



Now undo the bolt, but have your magnet sitting right next to it so you don't drop the bolt once it is fully threaded out. The bolt is destined to drop without this or something similar (ie magnetic extension, socket, etc) to make sure the bolt does not drop. Anyways, bolt should now be removed. Here is mine, sitting on a magnet.



If your CPS has never been taken out before, it might be a PITA to get out. Actually, may be a real PITA. What you need to do is be able to just break it free, and it should be smooth sailing after that. No guarantees, but should be. And then just take the sensor out.



Resintall in reverse. But to make it so you don't drop the bolt, you also need to do something about this. What I do in cases like this is put some tissue between the bolt and bit. Make sure there is a strong hold there, and good to go. Torque back down, and done.

It may be hard to see, but that bolt is being held in by toilet paper as a wedge between the bolt and hex extension.



Not the greatest write up by a long shot, but at least you know what you need to do

[BaseDrifter]

Looks good to me. Getting the old sensor out was the hardest part for sure, they can be really stuck in there.

I ended up removing the oil filter for a little extra room, but it's probably not necessary to do.

[Breppinq]

removing the oil filter is easiest for sure, might as well just do a quick oil change while your at it

[Seerlah]

I personally didn't have to. This is my 3rd time swapping that sensor out like this and never had an issue anytime. But yeah, others may not have the same luck as me because I know that have been known to not want to budge for many. Taking out the oil filter would def make it much easier for access to the sensor. If you can't get it out or want more working room, then removing the filter is no doubt the way to go.

[andrew96]

Hate to revive this thread but I'm currently trying to replace this sensor and got the bolt out easily but can't seem to get the sensor to pull out of its housing for the life of me. Any tips?

[Davdraco1]

Did you try twisting the sensor and pull. Mine came right out when replaced.

[Believer]

My brother's was a battle when we removed his. We just kept pulling and twisting until it finally budged. If you're ok with damaging the old sensor a pair of channel locks or vice grips may be helpful also.

[Seerlah]

Who makes a DIY thread with half the pics missing?!?! Damn elementary school drop outs. Class was let out extra early for that dude. So remember kids, stay in school.