IM FREAKING SCREWED (Crank Sensor Stuck In Block)

kadoi · September 09, 2003, 07:10:49 PM

was changing my crank sensor and the worst think immaginable happend...it broke off about a 1/4" into the hole....what am i to do...PLEASE anyone help me asap...thank you in advance for your help

The Burning Rom · September 09, 2003, 09:28:08 PM

Nope, no clue. I've never broke one off inside a block before. You're gonna have to find some way to get it out. A magnet maybe? Needlenose pliers? You're just gonna have to try different things until you get it out. Good Luck

R Dubya · September 10, 2003, 08:13:47 AM

Mine snapped off when I changed it, but it left me some slack, I used a big screwdriver and eventually (and carefully) pried it out of the hole. The problem is it probably wont come out with a magnet, you're probably going to have to drop the oil pan. That rubber seal holds it in there pretty good. At least you know the sensor was bad or original, the car will run much better when its fixed. Don't get frustrated, be patient it will work out.

kadoi · September 10, 2003, 02:57:06 PM

thanks...but tht problem is that i live in an apartment and if i was to take the oil pan off...well lets just say i would be searching for a home....I had some one suggest that since it is metal surrounded by plastic that i could just bust the plastic up since it is brittle anyways and use a magnet to pull the metal out? what do you think

R Dubya · September 10, 2003, 03:27:21 PM

It is definetely not a good idea to get ANY foreign pieces, plastic or metal, in the crankcase. Just keep trying to get it out with some small needle nose pliers or something. Other than that, I'm not sure.

florida_tgp · September 11, 2003, 07:07:24 AM

how about a drywall or deck wood screw, try to get in a few turns
and then pull out. I don't even think it needs to be centered on the
sensor, even if its off to one side, it should dig into plastic, then pull.

Chris A · September 11, 2003, 09:01:50 PM

Use compressed air in the breather hole to blow the sensor out.

It is a plastic housed coil with a pickup winding. So a screw won't go into it. You don't have to worry about it falling in, but it will hit the middle of the crank.

I've done the compressed air trick quite a few times and it works well with no side effects (blown out seals etc)

Chris

kadoi · September 12, 2003, 04:21:26 PM

dang thats smart...you talking about the pcv valve hole? cause im not for sure what your talking about but that sounds darn easy

Chris A · September 12, 2003, 07:06:04 PM

The PCV is in the back of the motor, the breather is in the front.

kadoi · September 12, 2003, 09:52:07 PM

yeah i knew that much..but thanks anyways :lol: :lol:

Chris A · September 13, 2003, 10:01:51 AM

I said:
Use compressed air in the breather hole to blow the sensor out.

You said:

you talking about the pcv valve hole

I said:

The PCV is in the back of the motor, the breather is in the front.

Glad you knew which was which. Alot of guys don't so just trying to clear it up! I didn't want you trying to get a air nozzel in the back of the motor to the pcv valve hole. Too much work when the breather hole is right up front!

kadoi · September 13, 2003, 10:09:03 AM

sorry about that....it was my mistake...i didnt read it right...thanks for clearing it up....feel like an ass now lol :lol: :oops: 8)

Chris A · September 13, 2003, 05:41:35 PM

Don't feel like an ass!

I just pointed it out so you knew where I was coming from! Its hard to tell how much some guys know! Good luck with it, I notice that you are getting good suggestions on the other board too! I've tried the epoxy thing and found its too hard to get a good bond on the sensor because of all the oil.

Chris

kadoi · September 19, 2003, 06:18:33 PM

well here is my update on my situation here...chris i used your idea and came up empty...didnt even budge the sensor. I havent tried the JB weld thing yet and I was wondering if i could just start the car up and if this would force it out? And how do you hook the air compressor up to the breather valve? Thanks for any input.

Chris A · September 19, 2003, 09:50:02 PM

1) the car won't start without the cranks sensor.
2) there is nothing in there to force it out if you crank it

Where did you put the air compressor hose in? You should put the nozzel in the breather hole on the valve cover. Never failed me, but there is always that one time. Maybe the compressor on one side and a shop vac on the other?

Maybe you could use a cardboard tube (like from a tampon????!) to put in the hole and then pour in some jb weld to keep it off the sides. It would have to be really clean to work at all. I would use the long set JB weld vs the JB Weld Kwik 4 min epoxy. It will probably be stronger and give you some more working time to get it in there.