Engine speed sensor fault (16706)

[alexperkins]

It is a DIY job, but a little fiddly and you need some event decent sockets and scanners for access.

The starter motor has to come out from the back of the engine, then the sensor just unscrews from the back of the block under where the starter goes into

The wiring goes across the top of the gearbox to the left. Its the only single wire in tubing so you should be able to identify it

[emma_88]

I actually never changed mine, my family friend mechanic did and he said it was a right pain. Like I said my starter motor and inlet manifold had to be removed to access it.

Oh and sorry I don't have any photos.

I'm sure I got my sensor from TPS for £69 in 2010, it's quite an expensive sensor but it does the trick!

[alexperkins]

It can be done without the inlet manifold removed.

Its just about doaable without

[TimGti]

Thanks guys.

Alex did you do the job working from the top of the engine bay or from underneath the car?

Not being able to have a look myself in daylight at the moment isn't helping me picture it!

[alexperkins]

I did it from the top.In fact, i have done it twice now!

Imagine your looking at the engine

The starter is at the back right where the top of the gearbox is to the back

The sensor is underneath where this mounts - stupid place i know

Its a case of taking out the starter and associated bolts, getting it far enough away from its mount and then changing the sensor.

[TimGti]

I think I'll try and stick a camera in the engine bay if she's home before dark today and see if I can locate it!

Might be back with some more questions after that

[alexperkins]

A vw press photo for the hell of it



See the brake fluid container in this image to the right hand side (yellow cap)

Its basically behind there to the left.

[TimGti]

Ah that fills me with hope that its not too far down the back .. I had visions of me laying in the engine bay reaching miles down the back of the block and not being able to see a thing!

Oh and that bay makes me realise how dirty ours is!

[alexperkins]

Dont get me wrong - its not particularly easy to get to, but if you take your time it is dooable.

I think it makes us all feel like that!

[TimGti]

It is a DIY job, but a little fiddly and you need some event decent sockets and scanners for access.

The starter motor has to come out from the back of the engine, then the sensor just unscrews from the back of the block under where the starter goes into

The wiring goes across the top of the gearbox to the left. Its the only single wire in tubing so you should be able to identify it

Alex,

Possibly setting a new record for slowest repair ever, I am finally going to tackle this today .... ....

Did you unplug the electrical cables from the starter, or just undo the 3 main bolts and move it aside (suspend it somehow?) leaving the electrical connections in place?

[TimGti]

So with reference to the three main bolts, I was expecting to see at least one bolt on the starter motor side. However all three seem to be as follows:

These two bolts had the plastic cable guide clipped onto them and are on the 'battery' side.



and the third one (that I though would be on the starter side) seems to be a long bolt (6") that feeds through from here? Also on the battery side.



Does this seem correct? I can't see any other bolts on the back of the starter, using a mirror!

[alexperkins]

Thats the bolts. There is a nut on the back though so be careful.

You dont need to disconnect the wiring - theres enough give

[TimGti]

Thats the bolts. There is a nut on the back though so be careful.

You dont need to disconnect the wiring - theres enough give

Cool, cheers.

Is this the wire that leads to the sensor by any chance? Goes from the rest of the cables in that plastic guide and disappears off down a small gap beside the starter and the rest of the block? (The starter is directly above the circle)

[alexperkins]

I beleive so. Its the only wire there - It plugs into another cable in the tray, and its the only one to do so, so just follow it.

[TimGti]

Right. Undone the 3 bolts, but I'll be buggered if I can move the starter motor any further out of the way that this! Not being able to see down the back of the engine isn't exactly helping to see what's stopping it from moving!

Anyhow I assume this is the sensor, with a small allen key bolt. Tried to undo it with a long 1/4 socket set, but no joy yet! Whether I'll even have enough room to pull it out and refit the new one I'm not sure Soaked it in WD and will go back later to see if it is looser!