Archived Cam and Crank Pos. Sensor same P#???

[Newf Limo]

I am going to be replacing the Crank Position Sensor this morning. I bought one from Cummins ($46. 60) yesterday and they could not find a seperate listing and or part number for the Crank -vs- Cam position sensor (Engine Position Sensor). I have a PN 4921597 for replacement. For some reason I thought I read that the Crank sensor was different. Beffore I tear this all apart, does anyone know if the old Crank Position Sensor was superceeded by the Cam positon sensor part number, maybe to simplify things?



As soon as I get done making this bolognese sauce for tomorrows lasagne, I am going to get started on the truck. Just thought if someone new for sure, I could be more confident about this.

 

[JLandry]

Newf,



I'm 99% sure Cummins stopped using the crankshaft position sensor starting with the 2001 model year. Model years prior to that had both a crankshaft position sensor and a camshaft position sensor, but from 2001 onward only the later sensor is used.



Sounds like you're all set.



John L.

 

[Newf Limo]

Many thatnks, but just a moment too late. I dropped the starter and found only a cover bolted in place of the sensor. Funny, everything I read here said that it was 2002 and newer that just had one of the two sensors.



Now that I am on the right track, I have managed to remove the Cam Pos. sensor plug, but there is now way in hades I can get in there with a wrench to get that bolt out! It is an allen head of some yet to be determined size. It looks to me that I have to drop the vacume/power steering pump! That sucks. I will take a look around here and see if I can find some old posts on the subject.



Thanks for your input though, very much appreciated!

 

[Newf Limo]

OK, I'll never do that again! I'd rather pay the $265 or so and let some Dodge tech gritch and cuss his afternoon away. There's 6 hours of my life Ill never get back!



So, for those that absolutely must save the couple hundred bucks in labor costs (like me)... I ended up removing the air hose from the intercooler as well as the port battery (drivers side). That gave me just enought room to pretty much be able to do... nothing. I ended up buying a round headed 5mm allen wrench, and a 1/4 drive 5mm socket and with the help of a hack saw, I made a round headed 1/4 drive allen tip for my ratchet. As another member posted somewheres. . an 8th inch turn and the bolt busted loose. I was able to (with great manipulation) remove it by finger tip persuasion. Feeling very proud and accomplished, I grabbed my flat prybar, which all carpenters worth their weight in salt, have on hand, and popped that old sensor right out! Piece-of-cake! WooHoo! That is just about the time that life as I knew it... . began to suck. I dropped the new sensor atleast 10 times just trying to get it in the hole. After that, it was time for the install-the-bolt trick. That was about 15 minutes of colorful outbursts of excitement and delight. finally i got it in the hole and started. Now, if I can only seat it by hand and not have to use a wrench... . your kidding right?!?! I had to use the socket wrench, and could only get 1/32" turns on the bolt before I ran out of wrenching room, maybe 1/64th inch turns, but, I don't want to sound discouraging or pesimistic. about an hour later, the bolt was in. I put the rest of the truck back together and found I no longer cared if it worked or not. I proceeded to the comfort of a chair in my airconditioned kitchen and proceeded to enjoy a very fine micro brew from Vermont. I will test the truck and report back later... like... after I care again!

 

[Mishkaya]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. :{

I have always been told that it is a bear to replace the cam position sensor on our trucks, so I simply had it replaced when the VP44 was swapped out, easy and painless. As an FYI for anyone who might not know to do so.

 

[Newf Limo]

Well, two days have passed and the paine is forgotten. The tach is back and the limp mode is gone and Jake (the Ram) is back to his old self again. Another success story, thanks to the TDR. This just goes to show you, $35 per year in the TDR is actually an investment, not an expense. The return on my money was at the least, 250 dollars, and some dealers would have gone straight to the injection pump and that would have cost over a thousand.



Thanks for the help guys!