This weekly Q&A session answers your questions about cars and trucks. This week explores a broken Dodge Neon Crankshaft Position Sensor and a Nissan Altima throttle body.
Question: 1995 Dodge Neon
I have been searching for some effective way to remove a broken Crankshaft Position Sensor on my 1995 Dodge Neon. Now I am not even sure that was the problem! Anyway, when I was removing the old sensor, pulling it straight back, it broke right at the base. I am thinking that the original is ceramic rather than the new metal one I have. Big question is... if I take a drill to the remains... is the hole "open" to the block or is it just a closed end. Rather, when I get the remnants out, do I need to worry about chips and garbage getting into my oil and causing damage?
Thanks,
Bob
Answer:
There is no information if it is a blind hole or not. But it is a very good possibility it is not. What you can do is drill a small hole through the broken sensor. When you feel you have gone through the sensor pull your drill out and take a stiff piece of wire and put it through the hole you just drilled. If it is a blind hole you will feel it stop. If it keeps going then it is an open hole.
From that point any shavings will go down into the oil pan. Now drill the hole larger a step at a time until the old piece can be worked out.
After you have the old piece out clean the area well with carburetor cleaner and pour some oil into the hole so you wash any remaining metal dust and chips. When you are done change the oil and filter to get what you can out. Anything that's left in the oil pan won't hurt anything.
Question: 1997 Nissan Altima
This is a 1997 Nissan Altima. Since there is a little leak at the throttle body gasket, I need to remove the throttle body. Between the throttle body and accelerator cable bracket, there is a lever with two ball-shaped staffs at both ends. How do you disconnect this lever? Does it just pull out?
Thanks very much…
Shu
Answer:
Yes Shu, they just pop out. Place the end of a pair of needle nosed pliers between the ball and staff and work it off. When you put it back together clean the ball and socket and place a dab to a dab and a half of grease in the socket and pop it back together.
That’s all for this week. Feel free to browse the archives for past topics. And, as always, if you are stuck and need an immediate answer you can always call Vince on the phone.
Vincent Ciulla - Vincent Ciulla has been a professional automotive technician for over 35 years and is a certified master technician with experience in ...
