crank angle sensor

I own a 93 civic lx that just rolled 200k miles. while i was driving
on the interstate i felt my car hesitating and having trouble shifting
around 30-40 mph. of course the engine light came on and it later
read as a code 4 which is the crank angle sensor. i did all the tests
it called for and everything checked out as it was supposed to. any
ideas as to what the heck is going on? thanks for all your help..

Ricky

 

check all the connections, re-set the code and see if it happens again.
also, it's probably best to check the distributor to see if the shaft
bearing is shot. if so, it'll mince the sensor.

 

ok i will do that later tonight. what exactly will the shaft bearing
look like? I have my repair manual with me, is there another name for
it or can you tell me what it will be by? what happens if the shaft
bearing is shot, do i need a whole new distributor? thanks for your
help.

 

=====================

You're looking for powdery red dust inside the whole cap. It makes a
noise too and if it gets bad enough your timing belt can start jumping /
removing teeth. Google it or look in tegger.com.

'Curly'

 

if it's shot, you'll be able to waggle the shaft from side to side.
it's the thing the rotor arm is fixed to.

yes, the fix is a new distributor. theoretically, you can replace the
bearing but it's non-standard, hard to get, and on distributor
reassembly, you're supposed to recalibrate the sensor positions relative
to the shaft - simply not worth the effort.

 

ok guys i will check it out. thanks for your help and i will let you
know what i find.

ricky

 

well i started the car today and it was very puttery/jumpy. i popped
the hood and i could hear a tiny clicking sound coming from the
distributor. is that a tell tale sign that i need a new one? another
problem i found, which i have been trying to tackle for months, is an
oil leak. thought it was the o ring(so i replaced it), then it looked
like the valve cover gasket(so i replaced it) and now it looks to be
coming from the rocker arm assembly...any thoughts on this one?

thanks again
Ricky

 

that could be sensor, but just as likely just the normal sparking that
happens inside.

you need the proper sealant on the corners of the gasket where it goes
around the cam bearing.

but again, check the distributor - there's a seal inside and they tend
to go after a while.

i encourage you also to look into the brand of oil you're using. some
doesn't have good seal conditioner, and seals can leak prolifically -
motorcraft "semi-synthetic" being one example. others, castrol for
example, pretty much arrest all leaking(*), and not a seal to be
changed. check the pcv valve for blockage though.


* google this group for a write-up on my experience with this.

 

yea i hear what you are saying about the oil, I am using high mileage
oil right now(if I could only just keep it from leaking out!) i have
a question about that leak...it seems that the pinpoint location of
the leak is coming from camshaft holder number 5, which is the part
that the distributor bolts to on the top. it leaks from what seems to
be where it mates with the head..is there a seal under there i can
replace or do i have to replace the entire holder..if so, does this
require a new head gasket installation? as far as these and the
distributor, i have found a salvage yard just south of tallahassee
that is having 50% off all parts this weekend...you bet im gonna be
there!!

thanks again
Ricky

 

you probably need to seal in the corners of the new cover gasket. use
non-setting permatex, /NOT/ silicone. clean any old sealant out first.

after that, it's distributor o-ring or distributor shaft seal. the
o-ring should be a fairly snug fit and need lube before it slides in -
if you have the right size.

 

here is a picture(if this thing will let me) to give you a better idea
of what i'm seeing.
http://
img229.imageshack.us/img229/8295/picaz6.th.jpg

i know that i need to re-do the silicone on the valve cover but see
how it is leaking below that...is that a seal? the other leak we have
already determined is coming from the distributor.

thanks ricky

 

here is a picture(if this thing will let me) to give you a better idea
of what i'm seeing.
http://
img229.imageshack.us/img229/8295/picaz6.th.jpg

i know that i need to re-do the silicone on the valve cover but see
how it is leaking below that...is that a seal? the other leak we have
already determined is coming from the distributor.

thanks ricky

 

no, it's a gasket. you need to replace the whole gasket assembly on the
rocker cover, including the "b" seals. and this time, do NOT use
silicone like you did last time!!! use permatex #2 non-hardening
sealant, in the corners of the gasket area only. do NOT use anything
else, even if the dude in the shop tries to sell you something different
because he doesn't have it. and scrape /all/ that old silicone crap off
there first. every little bit. once broken, it doesn't re-seal, hence
the leakage.

that's a distributor replacement job if it's bad enough.

 

awesome, i'm glad i finally know what is goin on. you wouldn't happen
to have a link or anything that shows the gasket set that you are
talking about would you? i'm lookin all over the place to try and find
what you are talking about...and i promise i i will use permatex!

thanks so much
Ricky

 

http://catalog.worldpac.com/ibusiness/JSP.v.1.01/wizard.jsp?header=http://www.alleurasianautoparts.com/header.txt&footer=http://www.alleurasianautoparts.com/footer.txt&partner=ipb&clientid=alleurasianautoparts.com&baseurl=http://www.alleurasianautoparts.com/&cookieid=2F31AL5AY2F31AL5AX&year=1993&make=HO&model=CVC-LX4-001&category=All&part=Valve+Cover+Gasket+Set

http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_sealants/auto_Permatex_Form-A-Gasket_No_2_Sealant.htm

 

oo a valve cover gasket...yea i installed a permatex the other
day....i guess i took a bad angle of the picture, but its not coming
from the silicone seal on the valve/rocker cover gasket...its the
metal piece that holds the rocker arm that is right under it..the
metal to metal parts. where the arrow is on the right side is the part
the distributor bolts onto in the top and has the hole for the
distributor, the leak is coming from the bottom of that part. i can't
find a name on it anywhere or else i would tell you...sorry for being
such a pain with this.

 

you'll have to take it all off, remove and clean up the cam bearing
cover - the arrowed bit - put a little permatex #2 sealant under it, GET
RID OF ALL THAT SILICONE CRAP and put it back together with another new
gasket. yes, i know you just put one on there, but they don't seal on
re-use very well.

 

and when i say a little, i mean it. you do /not/ want to fill the
threads of the bolts or affect the clearances. just dab a little on a
finger, then smear the finger on the mating surface so it's just
discolored with the stuff. the bolt pressure on reassembly will squeeze
it into forming the seal you need.

 

got it...thanks. getting a new distributor tomorrow and will do a
follow up with the results. thanks again for all your help


Ricky

Just so we are on the same page, you can see the outline on these pics
a little better of the valve cover gasket:

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Just wanting to make sure that if you see the brown line under the
silicone on the metal to metal parts and reference that with the
picture i posted before....if you are correct that is the valve
cover? i figured it would be best to post as many pictures as
possible in case anyone having these same problems can have ease in
this thread...sorry for the quality though, its dark outside..

 

check for missing bolts...