wow, great write up and thanks for taking the time to teach car alitterate fools like me how to save some $... +1 for this man!

 

Ok i got a 2006 altima 2.5l and had to change the CPS sensor.. I could not find a good DIY so here you go, the damn STEALER wanted 300.plus to do this.. Hell with that...

Remove the (4) allen head bolts that hold the plastic engine cover. Remove the air tube that connects the throttle chamber to air filter box. Pull off the valve cover breather hose with the air tube. Now place a drop light under the two rubber heater hoses (at the firewall on the drivers hand side), shining the light forward towards the back side of the block (below the intake runners). To see the crankshaft sensor and connector, look between the valve cover and the throttle chambers (intake runners) on the drivers side, look straight down toward the ground… look for the sensor with a black wire connector with a green tab on the side, held to the engine block with a gold colored 10mm hex headed bolt. You will need to view the sensor from this position as you are following the steps below to remove and install the crank sensor.

Here is the little problem and the green push clip that is a PITA..

You will have to push on the green part of the clip till you here a CLICK. Then just pull it off of the CPS. Mine just pushed in no prob, yet if it is hard try putting a 15mm socket on your thumb and try again so it wont cut into your thumb it will look like this when it comes off.

Next step is to get the CPS out of the side of the block, this was the hardest part for me.. Its a 10mm bolt holding it in, i took a 2in extension and reached down and put it on the bolt. then took a 4-6in extension and rachet and hooked to the already started 2in and socket and lossen it up.. Now to get the CPS out of the block you might be able to wiggle it back and forth to get it out, mine i took some needle nose pliers and grabbed it and pulled it out..

next to clean connectors and put in new CPS.. lube up the new O ring with oil slide it in the side of the block,,, then get the 10mm bolt through the sensor and into the block, kinda tricky! and torque it down think it is 8ft pounds mine is snug

then take the connector push it on the CPS till you hear a CLICK!

replace the air box and tighten everything up.. the reason i have all the pics is cause you cant see the dang CPS you gotta feel for it, i jsut stuck the camera down there and snapped some pics to get my mind right.. good luck to all with this hell with paying the STEALER 300.plus to do this..

muleman,

First of all I want to say thanks for your write up this step by step. I always want to replace mine but to scare to DIY and never get to do replace it.
May I ask what symptom did you had due to replaced this crankshaft position sensor? I have a 3.5 SE, do you think this sensor is in the same location as 2.5 that you mention. Thanks.

 

hey. johnny king

the sensor on the 3.5 is in a diff spot it think you go though the passenger side wheel well to get to it.. but the reason for the change was CES light on throwing a p0335 code.. the car would buck like the tranny was slipping then throw the code, happened mostly on the interstate running around 75mph with cruise set pulling a steady grade..

 

o yea i forgot to say to get the new redesigned sensor it has a metal casting around it. looks like this..

here is the old one that was bad. i would not advise putting one that looks like this back in, cause they are a bad design.

better picture of crappy designed sensor.

 

Wow it's that simple?!?

Thanks for the right up!

 

Awesome writeup man I am getting right on this cause mine is bucking and shuttering. I think I will replace the camshaft sensor as well since the parts are only 38 and they are the same part. Where is the camshaft sensor located? I know its easier to get to than the crankshaft sensor.

 

I have an 05 and mine hasn't thrown in codes yet but should I replace both the crank and camshaft sensor as preventive maintenance? I have a header on the way to fix the pre-cat issue and after seeing this it seems like I should do this to prevent any other unwanted Nissan issues.

 

Nah, I'd save a few bucks and just wait til your car shows symptoms of the issue rather than doing it as preventative maintenence. I did the precat header change too for preventative but the senors failing won't cause your engine to blow so I wouldn't worry about the sensors too much. IMO of course.

 

Okay, I am almost done with this replacement.

First, my sensor head is backwards and the clip has to go on the other way...which is good in a sense because it clears a path to put the bolt back on without the clip being in the way.

Second, I cannot for the life of me get the sensor to clip back into the harness. It wants to go and I have pushed it together til my hands are absolutely raw and it will not clip back on. Is there a secret way or a different way I can try? I have tried pinching the clip and sliding it back on as well.

Thanks

 

Nevermind, I bought an Irwin Quick Grip from Lowes and got it put together real fast and without crushing it.

Question now is, I have tried to clear my check engine light twice and it clears it but then when I start my car it comes back on after about 5 seconds of the car starting. I wonder if its because its a new style sensor or something to that effect??? Hmmm...

I do notice however while driving it that it shifts easier and the RPMs are much smoother than before. I am pretty sure its working just fine and I was very carful not to bend the pins inside the sensor that connects to the harness.

Maybe the dealer or my mechanic can clear the code or keep it from coming up???

 

mr brace...

go to Advance auto or Autozone they have a scan tool which they will clear the old code out of your car... for free...

 

Hey thanks for the advice but I did the ECU reset on technosquares website and it made it go away.... yeah!

 

NOTE: make sure when you buy a new cam or crank position sensor, you buy it from the dealer. There is a strong possibility that an aftermarket sensor you buy could be and older version of the sensor that hasnt been revised yet due to the OEMs not letting third party vendors see the original designs for parts. My new sensor that I just changed a few months ago looks exactly like the new sensor, but it does NOT work properly forcing me to go to the dealership today to pick up another one and swap it out yet again. its not too much more from the dealer, and in most cases will probably be cheaper than a parts store anyway. Just a little bit of advice.


OP if you're out there, could you edit your first post to include this? it's a good piece of information to give to everyone else to save them from the same headache I had.

Good pics by the way,... this thing is in such an anal spot, I swear.....

 

I'm gonna have to sorta disagree with you there...you see, if you have the right part number you should be just fine going to a part store and ordering it. I did just that, and mine is completely fine, sure it was different than the old part but it works right? Absolutely. If going to the dealer makes one feel more 'safe' in knowing they got the right part...more power to you. I however, like to save a few bux. :shift:

 

Im going to be replacing my crank sensor because my car has been hard to start lately... but what about the camshaft position sensor, should I replace both at the same time???
And I looked around but I cannot find a diy to change the camshaft sensor.

 

I think it's best. Cuz they are both plastic so it will give out eventually. Once ur down there might as well. Good luck. My alti had the same prob. Wouldn't start at times. Left me stranded at work once foe a couple hours.

 

The camshaft is cake to replace. its the crankshaft that is pain in the butokal area.
I've been told that its not necessary to replace both at the same time but I have doubts.

 

I must say...that part is placed in the absolute worst ****ing place, ever. I just finished doing mine, thank you very much for taking those pics, at least I had an idea of where to find it but wow...you do EVERYTHING blind, its bad...and also for anyone trying to do this again, I didnt understand that the connection simply "pops off" on its own when you put enough quick presure down on the green area...my advice, use a thimble. I was trying for 45 minutes to get it off (with 12mm sockets on my finger) when I thought of trying a thimble and it popped RIGHT off.....Also just incase anyone else runs into this..I assembled everything back up, put the air filter/intake tube back on, clear the ECU, start it up, check the air filter for leaks and take a ride...and for a quick second everytime I hit the gas the SES light is coming on, I almost ****ing lost it - reguardless I went back and tightened everything up (first disassembling everything again and pushing the harness down more on the sensor and tightening up the bolt more and then making sure the intake was tight when i put it all back) Needless to say its perfect now...crossing my fingers but its shifting properly and was driving like normal again =)

 

Part number

What is the part number for the redesigned CPS? I'd like to see if one of the parts stores around me can order it. I don't know where you all live that you're paying $40 for it from the dealer. They want $65+ at all the dealers around me here.

At that rate, I might as well go ahead and pay them to replace them for me but I'm so hesitant to do that for obvious reasons... mainly that I KNOW they're ripping me off.

 

CourtesyParts :: [23731V] SENSOR ASSY-MAGNET - Altima (L31) 2002-2006 2.5L F/CRANKSHAFT & CAMSHAF

That's where I bought mine from. 100% Nissan part, quick shipping, ended up being $48ish with tax/shipping...If you're not comfortable working on cars/with your hands and working essentially blind, don't attempt it. I'm not trying to discourage you AT ALL its not that hard to do, just in a hard spot. My right hand is cut up pretty good from doing that repair and I can understand why Nissan wants to pull the motor to do it, but it was worth the $300 I saved (from what people on here have said they wanted to do the repair) -- I think if I did it all over again though I could do it much quicker without messing my hand up like I did the first time...

 

After 2 weeks back from the shop the stupid thing is out again. Is this typical of this part? I did stress to use the updated version.
The car also throwing the speed sensor code too, is this because of the crankshaft position sensor being out?

 

I did a lot of research before I did the repair and did see some people complaining of this...I was told by another member of the site to make sure you buy the part from Nissan, not autozone, etc - He also said the part has undergone upwards of 3 to 4 revisions, the newest/most updated part is silver/metal round shaped sensor I'm told (thats what mine looked like)

I put mine in a couple weeks ago and haven't had any issues. Crossing my fingers for now

And my cars codes were crankshaft position sensor and engine speed indicator or something like that, from what people have said those two codes always come together

 

What a coincidence, mine just threw a P0335 code after what felt like a short engine miss a couple times, and look what's on the front page. Thanks, you saved me a bunch of research, especially the part about that clip which looks like it could be a pita.

I did a little price checking for the cps, and also found the dealer had the best price by far. Didn't expect that.

 

Thanks Tozzi that makes me feel a little better.

 

thank you

Thanks for the post. I can not believe this was such a pain in the ass. I had to use the needle nose to get the dam clip off. I want to punch the person in the face that come up with this clip.

 

Thanks for the post. I can not believe this was such a pain in the ass. I had to use the needle nose to get the dam clip off. I want to punch the person in the face that come up with this clip.

agreed!! Lmao:banghead:

 

Altismo... and everybody... i got my CPS from Autozone think it was 35.00 i went to the STEALER got them to pull the part and the two looked the same.. the new design with the metal around it... so i went VIA the cheap ass way the autozone part anyhow it has a 2year waranty.. so if it fails it will go back...

 

I believe they were p0725 and p0335.

 

Hey ur awesome. Guys this is really helpful. My story.... My car wouldn't turn on or I would have to give it gas then no prob. Luckly!!!!! My really really close friend works at Nissan, he put the computer to my car and it was both crankshaft pos. AND camshaft pos. Sensors. So I already knew the prob. He gave me both sensors. New from the dealer and they were the 'new metal ones' as listed above. I gave him $70 for parts and labor. He even showed me where they were located. But I must admit this DIY is great!! I asked another mechanic on why they to bad. He told me it's cuz they came plastic from factory that's why the new ones are metal. So I assume everyone will have to change this at one point or another.