Engine speed sensor replacement

[Ady_G 0]

My VR6 hasn't started in over a week now, had to call out a mobile auto electrician with diagnostics kit last Saturday which said it was the engine speed sensor. The engine turns but doesn't spark.

 

Been waiting all week for him to get the sensor and come round and fit it for me, but it seems to be taking a long time.

 

Had a look on related topics, shocked at the £140 charge for one, but is it an easy job to swap one over? I got a rough idea where it's located but not 100% sure. I have just hurt my ribs and back and don't really fancy lying under cars or spending hours bent over the engine trying fiddley tasks.

 

Cheers

 

Ady

[P38Aaron 0]

had a speed sensor problem on my VR6 on the sender and pickup, it seems to be located at the fron of the engine near the engine mount (reason for mine packing up was engine mount damage) mine misfired between 3500-4500rpm and VW diagnosed it as speed sensor, think the whole lot cost me about £900 for repair as the had to take gearbox out or something, bit of a big job i was told.

only reason it was £900 was because they was on 2 seperate occasions costing about £40 each time.

Hope this helps and hope your C will be up and running soon!

Aaron

[dav 0]

Changing mine today mate, it’s a simple but slightly awkward job to do,

It held in place by a single hex bolt and it is situated just under the trio of sensors on the front of the engine block.

You need to jack the car up and get it on some axle stands, undo and replace, need lots of light as its a bit dark down there.

 

hope this helps

D.

[dr_mat 0]

My VR6 hasn't started in over a week now, had to call out a mobile auto electrician with diagnostics kit last Saturday which said it was the engine speed sensor. The engine turns but doesn't spark.

 

Been waiting all week for him to get the sensor and come round and fit it for me, but it seems to be taking a long time.

 

Bear in mind that "Engine speed sensor - no signal" will come up ANY TIME a VR6 is scanned while the engine is not turning.

 

If it says "open circuit" or "short to ground" or similar then the sensor needs replacing, if it says "no signal" then it's possible it's something else (immobiliser? relays?)

[Ady_G 0]

Cheers for the help guys, I got someone that will fit it for me now.

 

I'm a bit worried about the possibility that it may not be the engine speed sensor because it's arriving on Saturday, and if I spent a ridiculous £140 on something I didn't even need I'm going to be gutted!

 

I already feel robbed at having to pay that, and as a result I'm thinking of selling the VR6 once it's running. But it was running a bit rough before it refused to start, it felt like slight erratic rises and drops in power, all the plugs, ht leads, distributer are newish.

 

I will just have to wait and see and hope it runs once the sensor is changed.

 

Cheers

 

Ady

[Ady_G 0]

Bear in mind that "Engine speed sensor - no signal" will come up ANY TIME a VR6 is scanned while the engine is not turning.

 

If it says "open circuit" or "short to ground" or similar then the sensor needs replacing, if it says "no signal" then it's possible it's something else (immobiliser? relays?)

 

Looks like you were right dr_mat, I'd already bought the sensor so I had it fitted and no joy.

 

In the middle of a debate at the moment, mechanics blaming alarms, alarm installers blaming the ignition system. I'm inclined to believe the alarm installers because the ignition live to the stereo doesn't come on now, and the alarm only immobilises the starter motor and fuel pump (I think), so if it turns and doesn't fire it can't be that.

 

The car was recovered to the garage anyway, but there not sure what to do with it at the moment.

 

Gutted, been without a VR6 for 2 weeks now!

 

Ady

[dav 0]

Ady_G,

I am in the same boat as you mate, have not driven my VR for about 4 weeks, and could be more. I have also changed a whole load of parts too with no results. Towed it to a garage last night and letting them deal with it now. It ran fine for two whole years and then played up big time....

[Reggit 0]

I'm in that club as well! Engine speed sensor was playing up a few weeks ago, now my MAF sensor needs replacing. Waiting for the local VW specialist to get one in. Keeping fingers crossed that will cure the problem.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Are you getting fuel Ady_G when cranking it over? The ECU kills both the fuel and ignition when the Cranks sensor is down. Lift a plug after a few cranks and smell it.

 

If you're getting fuel then something is amiss with the ignition.

 

The alarm should cut the fuel and starter motor but some morons cut the ignition instead.

[Ady_G 0]

Dav & Reggit, it's depressing isn't it! I've been driving the birds Rover 214, at least the VR6 will feel like the fastest car ever when I finally get it back.

 

kevhaywire, the alarm is a quality Sigma properly fitted by Car Electronics (CEL) in Leicester - great place, no problems or false alarms with it in 2 years, so I reckon it's the ignition. I think the fuel is getting through and you can hear the fuel pump prime.

 

But after spending £150 on a engine speed sensor and it not fixing it, I've left it with a VW specialist cos I don't want to waste more money on bits I don't need. But the problem with garages is they sometimes can't be bothered to do a bit of fault finding, time is money and all that, so if the computer doesn't come up with anything they blame the alarm!

 

I told them about the live from the ignition to the stereo suddenly not working, but I've left it with them.

 

I'll let you lads know when I find the answer.

 

Cheers

 

Ady

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Ady mate, the pump may prime but if the ECU is not happy, it will cut the connection to the rail and the injectors won't open, hence suggesting you lift a plug and check for fuel. The ECU has no control over the fuel pump, the pumping is autonomous.

 

The only circumstance where the rail is taken down is when the sensor is dead. There is no substitute for G28.

 

Anyway, I hope you find the fault....perhaps the ignition live going down is related to the infamous ignition switch?

[dav 0]

Ady_G, Reggit, most defiantly depressing, I was missing it at first, then it just started to piss me off.

But I do have some good news the geezer that I have looking at my car has got it running and it turns out that the problem was wait for it...the fuel pump, but even though I would have changed this my self, I did not because it was still priming and so I thought it was fine, but according to him it was a little out of the ordinary as sometimes it would allow/pump fuel and sometimes it would not, and it would also allow/pump fuel but at a very low pressure. All of this could make it look like it was a whole manor of other things such as Lambda/Engine Speed sensor/fuel pump relay/ECU relay etc....

 

Feel a bit lame as changing a fuel pump was almost a routine thing for me back in my MK1 Gti days. I do hope that this is the end of my running problems…for a while at least.

 

Note: “Check Fuel Pressure”

 

Thanks, and I hope this helps.

D.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Good call Dav, the pump is often overlooked as they usually work or they don't, they don't often do as yours did....but each circumstance is different. Hope it's sorted at last and you can enjoy the car again - if the whole debacle hasn't put you off Corrados for life that is!

 

I'd be right P'd off in your shoes as mine is my only form of transport!

[dav 0]

Looking back it should have been one of the first things I should have checked, but looking back I should have done a lot of things differently....

Anyway, I was seriously thinking of selling it and getting something like an Audi S6/S2 Avant or even a really mint MK2 16v if I could find one, but I know I would miss the VR. Lucky I have a nice reliable MK2 8V GTI to fall back on, I would have been in the SH*T HOUSE big time with out it, got to love the 8V gti they just keep on going.

First thing I am going to do this evening is filling her up and go for a nice long drive.

 

D.

[Ady_G 0]

Just picked the VR6 up, it was the ignition switch after all. I'm gutted that I got bad advise and ended up buying an engine speed sensor when I didn't have to, but you live and learn.

 

Just glad to have it back and running, I'm not annoyed with it and wont be selling it now.

 

Glad you got yours going dav, cheers for the advise everyone, off down the boozer the celebrate (not with the car).

 

Cheers

 

Ady

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Bummer.... oh well, looking on the bright side, you've got a crank sensor good for another 10 years and a new ignition switch. You can always flog the sensor on ebay and stick your old one back in?

[Ady_G 0]

Thought about that actually, but I paid someone £20 to change it and it looked one tricky job to do, I don't fancy doing it myself.

 

I might give the old one a polish though and stick that on ebay instead, a 12 year old 122k mile engine speed sensor has to be worth something to someone, specially on ebay.

[dav 0]

Ady_G,

 

I was glad to have it running too, but it did not last for long, i think i ran for two days.

 

The Story:

Me and the wife get up on Saturday morning and have a fry up and then i head out the GSF to get a new Rota arm Cap and exchange my old and crappy BBT leads for something, anything better. Got a new set BURU Leads exchanged under warranty, i know that these are not the best but much better than the crappy BBT's. Anyway got home and swapped all of new kit over - started her up and everything was cool the motor even sounded quieter?

 

By this time her indoors had got ready and we headed out to do a spot of shopping in Kingston, the VR drove like a champ all the way there and even the wife was impressed. Parked up and went shopping returned a few hours later and tried to start the car and tried again and again……you get message.

 

After my anger subsided I pulled out the AA card and called for assistance, the AA man turned up within 10min’s (got the wife to call – it helps) and within 5 min’s he had the motor started it turned out to be the “Ignition Coil” he just so happened to have one in stock and charged me £85 for it, and said it was a common problem they fail all the time, mine must have had an intermittent fault.

 

I really am beginning to believe that these VR’s are insane evil creatures with a wicked sense of humour.

 

Running real good now though….

 

Thanks for reading sorry about the length.

 

Thanks

D.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

If you mean Beru instead 'BURU', then they're good leads.

 

Didn't realise yours was an old dizzy model VR but glad it's sorted.

[jonrb 0]

Hi Ady

 

I take it that the new Engine Speed Sensor was fitted and you decided to leave it on? In which case do you have your old (used, but evidently still working) one and could I make you an offer on it please? I'll try emailing you directly as well.

 

Cheers

Jon

[Ady_G 0]

Hi Jon

 

Sorry for the delay, just got back from a 2 week holiday, I left very early on the 18th of April, hence the late response.

 

I have got my old engine speed sensor which is up for grabs if you still need it, although you may have sorted it now.

 

Let me know if you still need it.

 

Cheers

 

Ady

[jonrb 0]

Thanks Ady, but I am indeed sorted now. Well, kind of anyway. Reggit sent me his "possibly good" one and it made no difference and then a very nice RAC man recovered the car to my indie where the car now is. He hasn't come up with a firm diagnosis yet but is leaning towards the coil pack, which is a bit of a bummer as I only replaced it in December 2003. :(

 

Cheers

Jon

[Ady_G 0]

No worries, hope you get it sorted and it's not too expensive.

 

Good luck

[jonrb 0]

Thanks Ady

 

It is sorted now - turned out to be the Engine Speed Sensor had indeed failed and the ECU got confused and buggered the Hall Effect Generator into the bargain so both have now been replaced.

 

Unfortunately it was expensive, although I had quite a bit of other work done at the time.

 

Cheers

Jon