W164 OM642 diesel CAMshaft (CMK) position sensor replacement DIY
04-15-2016, 10:34 PM
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W164 OM642 diesel CAMshaft (CMK) position sensor replacement DIY
W164 OM642 diesel CAMshaft (CMK) position sensor replacement DIY
Date: 4/15/2016
Author: AMG_W211
INTRODUCTION: My 2009 ML 320 Bluetec diesel was throwing a couple of check engine lights (P0340 and P0341) which I reset once, but they came back again a couple of weeks later. So it was either the circuit to the CAMshaft sensor or the sensor itself. This DIY is applicable to the 2006-2011 ML diesel OM642 engines (CDI or Bluetec) or any OM642 diesel family engine.
Do note that this DIY is for the CAMshaft rotation sensor and NOT the CRANKshaft sensor (a totally different sensor, and it is usually more problematic as it won't let you start your car).
***See attached complete PDF for pictures (and same info listed here)***
TIME: 30 minutes
DIFFICULTY: 3/10 (mostly easy, fussy air filter housing removal)
COST: $32 for CAMshaft sensor (part number below)
SUPPLIES/MATERIALS
PROCEDURE
1. Remove the plastic engine cover. Just lift up the black plastic engine cover and put aside.
2. Loosen screw to right air filter housing and rubber engine air hose (goes to turbocharger). Using the 7mm socket, loosen the 7mm screw to the air filter housing/engine air hose. No need to remove the screw totally.
Image 1. Overview of camshaft position sensor job
3. Remove the 2 Torx E10 bolt to the passenger-side air filter housing. One is in the front (easily visible) and one in the back (not so easily visible). See the following pictures to see where the front and hidden back one is. See image 1 but also the following images 2, 4, and 5 for bolt locations.
Image 2. Front view, right front air housing.
Image 3. Side view, air filter housing
Image 4. Rear side view, air filter housing.
4. Remove the Torx E10 bolt holding the bracket that holds some wiring harnesses to the right front of the engine. From the front of the air filter housing, it's about 3 inches towards the front of the car. See image 5.
Image 5. Harness bolt location, oil cap surround, and plastic front cold air intake hose
5. Remove the rubber surround for the oil cap. Just pull up and it comes right off. This will give you more clearance to get the right air filter housing off. See images 1 and 5.
6. TRICKY PART. Remove the right front air filter housing. First, slide the plastic front cool air intake hose (part of it sarts at the front bumper; see image 5) so that it is disconnected and pushed aside from the right air filter housing. Next, angle the top of the air filter housing towards the right fender so it clears the rubber air intake hose that goes to the turbocharger. Then, lift straight up the air filter housing so the lower anchoring legs (see image 3) clear out of the friction sockets. You'll then need to wiggle the air filter housing forward towards the front of the car so it slides out. [SIDE NOTE: once you get this housing out, consider replacing the air filter inside]
7. Remove CAMshaft sensor. Disconnect the electrical harness connector to the camshaft sensor--you'll see a tab that you need to lift up before you can slide out the end connector (see image 1 and 6). Now, move the rubber insulation block away from the sensor to expose the E10 bolt. Remove the Torx E10 bolt holding the camshaft sensor. Pull the camshaft sensor straight out. You may get a couple oil drops--clean up the sensor mounting surface on the engine (just wipe it up or use some isopropyl alcohol to clean up the area).
Image 6. Camshaft position sensor location
8. Install camshaft sensor and reassemble the car back by reversing the steps. In step 6 of reassembly, make sure the air filter housing anchoring legs are placed back in the friction sockets before you put the screws back on--sort of a pain to do.
***See attached complete PDF for pictures (and same info listed here)***
Date: 4/15/2016
Author: AMG_W211
INTRODUCTION: My 2009 ML 320 Bluetec diesel was throwing a couple of check engine lights (P0340 and P0341) which I reset once, but they came back again a couple of weeks later. So it was either the circuit to the CAMshaft sensor or the sensor itself. This DIY is applicable to the 2006-2011 ML diesel OM642 engines (CDI or Bluetec) or any OM642 diesel family engine.
- P0340: Camshaft Position Sensor "A" circuit bank or single sensor
- P0341: Camshaft Position Sensor "A" circuit range/performance or single sensor
Do note that this DIY is for the CAMshaft rotation sensor and NOT the CRANKshaft sensor (a totally different sensor, and it is usually more problematic as it won't let you start your car).
***See attached complete PDF for pictures (and same info listed here)***
TIME: 30 minutes
DIFFICULTY: 3/10 (mostly easy, fussy air filter housing removal)
COST: $32 for CAMshaft sensor (part number below)
SUPPLIES/MATERIALS
- CAMshaft position sensor (Mercedes PN: 0051531328 ($75 from dealer) or get an OE part from http://www.rmeuropean.com for $32--it looks exactly the same with the same markings and O-ring as the genuine MB part, without the Mercedes logo)
- 3/8 socket wrench with 3" and 6" extensions
- Torx E10 (female) socket [I got a set of 6 sizes off Ebay for about $14]
- 7mm socket (with either a screwdriver attachment or use a 1/4" socket driver)
PROCEDURE
1. Remove the plastic engine cover. Just lift up the black plastic engine cover and put aside.
2. Loosen screw to right air filter housing and rubber engine air hose (goes to turbocharger). Using the 7mm socket, loosen the 7mm screw to the air filter housing/engine air hose. No need to remove the screw totally.
Image 1. Overview of camshaft position sensor job
3. Remove the 2 Torx E10 bolt to the passenger-side air filter housing. One is in the front (easily visible) and one in the back (not so easily visible). See the following pictures to see where the front and hidden back one is. See image 1 but also the following images 2, 4, and 5 for bolt locations.
Image 2. Front view, right front air housing.
Image 3. Side view, air filter housing
Image 4. Rear side view, air filter housing.
4. Remove the Torx E10 bolt holding the bracket that holds some wiring harnesses to the right front of the engine. From the front of the air filter housing, it's about 3 inches towards the front of the car. See image 5.
Image 5. Harness bolt location, oil cap surround, and plastic front cold air intake hose
5. Remove the rubber surround for the oil cap. Just pull up and it comes right off. This will give you more clearance to get the right air filter housing off. See images 1 and 5.
6. TRICKY PART. Remove the right front air filter housing. First, slide the plastic front cool air intake hose (part of it sarts at the front bumper; see image 5) so that it is disconnected and pushed aside from the right air filter housing. Next, angle the top of the air filter housing towards the right fender so it clears the rubber air intake hose that goes to the turbocharger. Then, lift straight up the air filter housing so the lower anchoring legs (see image 3) clear out of the friction sockets. You'll then need to wiggle the air filter housing forward towards the front of the car so it slides out. [SIDE NOTE: once you get this housing out, consider replacing the air filter inside]
7. Remove CAMshaft sensor. Disconnect the electrical harness connector to the camshaft sensor--you'll see a tab that you need to lift up before you can slide out the end connector (see image 1 and 6). Now, move the rubber insulation block away from the sensor to expose the E10 bolt. Remove the Torx E10 bolt holding the camshaft sensor. Pull the camshaft sensor straight out. You may get a couple oil drops--clean up the sensor mounting surface on the engine (just wipe it up or use some isopropyl alcohol to clean up the area).
Image 6. Camshaft position sensor location
8. Install camshaft sensor and reassemble the car back by reversing the steps. In step 6 of reassembly, make sure the air filter housing anchoring legs are placed back in the friction sockets before you put the screws back on--sort of a pain to do.
***See attached complete PDF for pictures (and same info listed here)***
Last edited by amg_w211; 04-16-2016 at 01:09 AM.
The following 2 users liked this post by amg_w211:
stars_gatherer (04-04-2023),
tsk (09-21-2016)
09-21-2016, 09:06 AM
#3
Thanks for this. I searched for info a while before I came across this. This was perfect. I thought I had to pull the air filter housing apart to get it. Time will tell if the check engine comes back but I've got a nice shiny new camshaft position sensor now in my GL320.
