Crank Position Sensor Lifetime

[Hector]

A friend of mine got stuck smack-dab in the middle of the freeway on the 405 during rush hour. Thanks to the Metro Freeway Service Patrol (this free service is great here in SoCal, one of the very few worthy propositions that came into being in 1990--400 miles of patrolled freeway with an average response time of 10 minutes from time of breakdown--tax dollars at work for a good cause,) he was towed to the nearest exit. My m30 still has the original crank sensor. I was wondering if anyone had any info on the lifetime of the sensor. I do not ever want to be in a situation like this. Just might replace for piece of mind.

[winfred]

they die anywhere from 5 miles to 500,000 miles get a new one, get a new main relay and fuel pump relay too as they are cheep, and if you are north of 200k and or you can hear the fuel pump more then a few feet away from the car id be thinking about one of those if you really wanna stave off the tow truck

[aston_jag_tech]

Why did you point the fault on the crank sensor? Did you check it recently or mess with it?? What about normal wear components..fuel pump, fuel filter, ignition coil. etc. More information on history helps a lot.........

[shogun]

The ones on my car are 19 years old and no problem.

[winfred]

he was talking about changing it on his car to avoid getting stuck like the friend did, preventitive mantaince


Why did you point the fault on the crank sensor? Did you check it recently or mess with it?? What about normal wear components..fuel pump, fuel filter, ignition coil. etc. More information on history helps a lot.........

[Hector]

I will go ahead and purchase the components you suggest and marry those with my on-the-road repair kit (fuel hoses, radiator and fuel tank repair kit...) I already have in the trunk. A little preventative maintanance can go a long way, and save you tons of money.

[The Bigfella]

My new crank sensor arrived from BMA on Friday - and I just put it on. Mine was still working fine but the plug just crumbled away when I went to reinstall it after the engine rebuild. I've used the old one - with the pins insulated for the first 2,500km, whilst running in an waiting for the new one ex Germany.

Under $100 (one fifth the price of what the local stealers wanted) - and its a genuine BMW part.

[E34-520iSE]

Mine still has the original one, 217k miles on it now.

HTH,

Shaun M

[BigKriss]

Are there part numbers for those items Winfred? Whats the part number for the crank sensor...


http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/fuel%20pumprelay.jpg


they die anywhere from 5 miles to 500,000 miles get a new one, get a new main relay and fuel pump relay too as they are cheep, and if you are north of 200k and or you can hear the fuel pump more then a few feet away from the car id be thinking about one of those if you really wanna stave off the tow truck

[winfred]

61 36 1 729 004 main relay. 61 31 1 459 577 fuel pump relay/02 sensor heater relay. 12 14 1 726 066 Crank Position Sensor m50. 12 14 1 720 853 Crank Position Sensor m30. 12 14 1 720 852 Crank Position Sensor m20. 12 14 1 731 887 Crank Position Sensor m60.

[BigKriss]

Thankyou Winfred.


61 36 1 729 004 main relay. 61 31 1 459 577 fuel pump relay/02 sensor heater relay. 12 14 1 726 066 Crank Position Sensor m50. 12 14 1 720 853 Crank Position Sensor m30. 12 14 1 720 852 Crank Position Sensor m20. 12 14 1 731 887 Crank Position Sensor m60.

[takumidrift30]

they die anywhere from 5 miles to 500,000 miles get a new one, get a new main relay and fuel pump relay too as they are cheep, and if you are north of 200k and or you can hear the fuel pump more then a few feet away from the car id be thinking about one of those if you really wanna stave off the tow truck

I can hear my fuel pump a foot away from my car, I have a 125,000 mlies on it right now. Do you suggest of replacing it? Since on the topic of preventive maintenance how about the alternator, at what point should I be changing it before the break down point? The stick is my daily driver and i don't want to get stranded too.

[winfred]

the pump is probably fine, keep a ear out for a change in sound as they don't usually up and crap, most of the time they get a little noisy and then they are like a old starter if you beat the **** out of them (bottom of the tank while someone is cranking) you may get another start or two. alternator, you can look at the brush pack and see if they are getting short, this use to be a easy 5 minute process but with all of the ducting crap they put on it it can be a half hour to a hour pain in the ass, the brush pack/regulator is the most common failure point


I can hear my fuel pump a foot away from my car, I have a 125,000 mlies on it right now. Do you suggest of replacing it? Since on the topic of preventive maintenance how about the alternator, at what point should I be changing it before the break down point? The stick is my daily driver and i don't want to get stranded too.

[Hector]

part numbers, and Winfred thanks again, bro. You saved me some leg work.

[takumidrift30]

the pump is probably fine, keep a ear out for a change in sound as they don't usually up and crap, most of the time they get a little noisy and then they are like a old starter if you beat the **** out of them (bottom of the tank while someone is cranking) you may get another start or two. alternator, you can look at the brush pack and see if they are getting short, this use to be a easy 5 minute process but with all of the ducting crap they put on it it can be a half hour to a hour pain in the ass, the brush pack/regulator is the most common failure point

Thanks Winfred, I'll take a look at them over the weekend. Any sensitive part I should be careful when I open the alternator?

[winfred]

watch it when taking the wire on the 10mm, the bastard likes to grip the wire and take it around with the nut


Thanks Winfred, I'll take a look at them over the weekend. Any sensitive part I should be careful when I open the alternator?

[takumidrift30]

watch it when taking the wire on the 10mm, the bastard likes to grip the wire and take it around with the nut

I'll take a note of that, thanks again!