Removing the Crank Sensor on an 01 Sebring 3.0L

On the surface, the Chrysler Sebring didn't seem like a car particularly worth talking about; it was, after all, essentially just a front-wheel-drive sedan. But Chrysler did make one very smart move with this chassis to set it apart -- it cut the roof off. After its debut, the topless Sebring quickly laid claim and held the title of America's most popular convertible, all the way through to today. No other convertible produced in the last 50 years has sold in the volume that the Sebring has -- and that's something worth talking about.

Instructions

1

Locate the crankshaft position sensor; you can find it on the back-side of the engine -- facing the firewall -- just next to the accessory drive belt, near the bottom of the engine block. The crank sensor is a magnetic Hall Effect unit that receives 8 volts from the computer. A gear-like, toothed "reluctor" wheel on the crankshaft passes next to the magnet on the sensor, causing the magnetic field to fluctuate every time a tooth passes by. The computer counts these pulses, and uses the "missing tooth," placed every 60 degrees on the reluctor to determine crankshaft position.

2

Kick a wheel chock behind one of the rear wheels, and lift the car enough so that you can get underneath it. Insert a jack stand and remove the jack. Disconnect the car's negative battery cable. This does two things: first, it prevents possible electrical system damage during sensor replacement, and second, it clears the computer's memory and primes it to use the new sensor. Unplug the electrical connector on the crank sensor, and remove the single bolt on the belt-side of the sensor. Gently wiggle the sensor out of the hole.

3

Clean off the new sensor's tip with a lint-free rag; it's best to start with a clean sensor with no metal shavings or debris on it. Insert the new sensor as you removed the old one, and tighten the retaining bolt to 5 foot-pounds -- or just hand tight. Don't overdo the torque here, since it's easy to damage the sensor with excess bolt torque. Reconnect the sensor harness, lower the car, and reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the car and take it for a test drive.