CKS Question. '02 3.7L V6

Can anyone offer any tips or time saving tricks involved with installing a new Crank Position Sensor in a 2002 KJ, 3.7L V6?

I'm gonna try this pretty soon and have watched a couple youtube videos, but taking the passenger side tire off is not an option for me right now.

Thanks for any useful tips.

No need to remove any tire but it's a super tight fit if not doing it up in the air on a lift.

Have some drywall screws handy if it's the normal stubborn CPS and it breaks.

I did it the easy way... While the engine was out. Had to break off the outer piece and drive in to get it out. I actually had the bedplate off at the time too. No help to you but just a warning that those things seem to swell or corrosion builds up around the sensor and it would spin but not come out.

Thanks for the help!:favorites37:

I think I'm going to try it tomorrow.

let me know how it goes im curious

I'm definitely not pulling the engine to do this.

We keep getting pounded with snow and freezing temperatures here, so it makes outside work very difficult. Very difficult I can handle. But this looks impossible to me while the KJ is on the ground.

I can't get the wheel off and my major problem is my lack of reach. I'm 5'2", NOT overweight, but the ability to reach that position from the wheel well looks impossible to me while dressed in winter Carharts and bib overalls.....

:insane::Angry::beatdeadhorse5::hunter::emotions122:

KJCrazy said:

I'm definitely not pulling the engine to do this.

We keep getting pounded with snow and freezing temperatures here, so it makes outside work very difficult. Very difficult I can handle. But this looks impossible to me while the KJ is on the ground.

I can't get the wheel off and my major problem is my lack of reach. I'm 5'2", NOT overweight, but the ability to reach that position from the wheel well looks impossible to me while dressed in winter Carharts and bib overalls.....

:insane::Angry::beatdeadhorse5::hunter::emotions122:

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Sounds like nearly unbeatable odds in your case.. If this doesn't work out and you can't get to it, and you can't wait until the thawing weather arrives, it may be one of those rare cases where you bite the bullet and swallow down the fact that it may be a job best left for an actual vehicle repair garage.

I mean, hell, I did NOT do my last oil change on my wife's Acadia because of the weather and snow (garage is a workspace/storage area, not vehicle ready). A freakin' oil change... but it was 2 degrees outside with 15" of snow. So I spent the $20.

I got the new BWD CKS in today by jacking up the KJ and creeping in from underneath. That was a ***** of a job, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Well, the results are, it's still not starting and now there are no codes. The new CKS got rid of the P0340.

While I was doing the repair, I noticed a very hard, flat spot in the CKS harness about 5-6" from the sensor itself. Is that normal? It almost feels like wires could have maybe been cooked together, but the insulation and what ever is covering it doesn't look melted or damaged at all.

Do you still have spark and fuel?

ltd02 said:

Do you still have spark and fuel?

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I'm going to start my day off tomorrow by checking the ASD relay. I just wonder which one it is, but I can probably find that info somewhere.

KJCrazy said:

I'm going to start my day off tomorrow by checking the ASD relay. I just wonder which one it is, but I can probably find that info somewhere.

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Should be marked on the inside cover of the Power Distribution Center.

I swapped the ASD relay and checked all the fuses in the PDC. Still no change.
Maybe I just got a bad PCM from a good company?

I'd still check fuel pressure and see if the coils are getting any "spark". Of course if they aren't then maybe PCM. Did you try unplugging the PCM and replugging?

ltd02 said:

I'd still check fuel pressure and see if the coils are getting any "spark". Of course if they aren't then maybe PCM. Did you try unplugging the PCM and replugging?

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I did. I sprayed the connectors with contact cleaner also.

A friend stopped by with a good scanner and took a look for me. My PCM is in good shape.

My PCM also isn't getting a read on RPMs and is setting the P0340 code. I think the BWD crank sensor is bad. Or, I have shorted wires between the sensor and the PCM.

KJCrazy said:

A friend stopped by with a good scanner and took a look for me. My PCM is in good shape.

My PCM also isn't getting a read on RPMs and is setting the P0340 code. I think the BWD crank sensor is bad. Or, I have shorted wires between the sensor and the PCM.

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99.99999% chance it's the sensor is bad.Never seen a aftermarket crank/cam sensor last very long in a Chrysler.

At work aftermarket engine sensors have a 50% failure rate right out of the box.

I picked up a Mopar crank sensor for it today, but, it's raining. Maybe I'll try it tomorrow.

For anybody that's looking for a crank sensor, it's part number is 56041479AD. If you try to find the Mopar crank sensor, you have to search using this number or they'll show up as non-existent because Dodge changed the part number.

I just got done installing the Mopar crank sensor. Still, no start.:help::favorites68banghead)

Its throwing a cam position sensor code and you changed the crank position sensor?

JeepJeepster said:

Its throwing a cam position sensor code and you changed the crank position sensor?

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yes. I've all ready installed a new Mopar cam sensor as a result of the P0340.

Since there's been documented confusion by these Liberty PCMs, and also the fact that the RPMs aren't being read by the PCM, I installed a new Mopar crank sensor.