How do you replace crankshaft position sensor on a 95 grand Cherokee Laredo?

Answer 1

Unless you are a competent wrench turner. Take it to a shop or dealer and pay the poor s.o.b.'s to put it in for you. It may cost you $300 plus the part but it will save your sanity...

Otherwise get ready to devote a good 2 to 6 hours to the project.

On my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 the crank sensor is mounted just below the passenger side head on the back of the motor.

1. DISCONECT THE BATTERY! Remove the negative wire from the battery.

2. Remove the cap on the throttle body (19mm), disconnect the tube to the filter box. Mark and remove the plug wires and take off the distributor cap (small Phillips). The connector to the sensor on mine was on the right side (facing the vehicle) of the distributor, disconnect it.

3. Using 1/4" drive ratchet and extension, get your self a bit holder with a 1/4" Allen bit in it. If you reach down behind the head there is an emissions bypass tube that runs from the back of the head to the exhost manifold. The mounting bolts (2) for the sensor are just under that. On mine I had to loosen a bell housing bolt to move a ground wire out of the way. I was able to run the socket and extension between the tube and the head to get to the bolts.

4. Getting the sensor out is fairly straight forward pull up on it and wiggle it till it comes out of the grommet in the bell housing. (WARNING: Make sure the grommet does not fall down into the bell housing...) The emissions tube is constantly in the way so you have to work it around this godless peice of metal..

5. Re-insert the sensor. Again- (WARNING: Make sure the grommet does not fall down into the bell housing...) I slowly worked the sensor in and periodically verified the grommet was staying in place. Put the bolts back in, reconnect the sensor, put the distributor cap back on, re-attach the plug wires, put the cap back on the throttle body, connect the tube to the filter box and finally connect the battery.

If all has gone well you will hate your Jeep because it just tore the crap out of you to replace a $50.00 part, but it should fix the problem of dieing while you are driving.

If you dropped the grommet into the bell housing:

Remove the starter (16mm), remove flywheel dust cover (4 11mm bolts) and fish out the grommet, you might have to turn the flywheel counter clock wise to get the grommet to drop down.

Hope this helps, and happy motoring.

irspiff