Yesterday my car died on the freeway. Famous CPS went bad. Went to dealership and bought the part for 85. Thanks for Kevin (Hadilaw's Cousin) for giving me a ride and the AUS-E55, MEKANTOR, and EXOTIC-METAL for their help too.

New Sensor and Old Sensor


Tools needed - Extension and E8 female torque socket


Remove heat shielding form sensor wire connection and unplug the sensor wiring harness


Use E8 socket and extension to remove one bolt holding the sensor. Once this is done the sensor should just come
This is the location of the sensor



Install in reverse order. Easy fix beats paying 400 at the dealership.

My support car.


She is getting ready for the sensor to be replaced.

I freakin' love you man!!!!!

Houston Crew rules.

no doubt!!!!!!! hard to believe that something so small causes so many problems. glad you weren't out of commission for too long.

Nice. Just replaced mine last week. Preventive maintenance.

Wait, I just looked closer at the photos...it first appeared you access the sensor next to the coil packs. But then I see you under the car?

Can you provide a more specific location where you were working? Thanks!

That is kevin under my car, I accidentally dropped the bolt. He was retrieving it from the belly pan. The sensor is accessible from the driver side fender.

I need to replace mine as I type this. Ever since I bought the part and have it sitting in the car, the old part seems to be just fine.

DMAN! CSP ! been there done that!! hate the feelin, but def an easy fix! glad your car is up and going once again. crazy how something small can cause such huge probs lol

Sorry to hear you had the CPS go bad on you, I guess you know how I felt 4 times over since March

Thank you for the write up. I'm sure I will need this information in the future.

Can the mods make this a sticky in the DIY thread

any prior symptoms before the CSP sensor went bad?

and how did you diagnose the sensor was bad?


I wondering if it better to replace it before it actually becomes an issue.

You'll know when you can't start your car. Usually after the car gets warm. It cranks and cranks and cranks then it doesn't turn on. After it cools down it will start up just fine. Sometimes the CEL will come on, usually for the CPS and O2 sensors 1 in banks 1 and 2. It will be a soft code so it will go off after 3 cycles if your car continues to start up just fine. It will progressively get worse.

At $85, I might just keep a spare sensor in the glove box. I usually have tools in the trunk anyway.

that's funny. i had a pending p0335 code and i was going to replace the sensor over the weekend. the car had other plans as i was coming out from getting my hair cut...she didnt want to start. luckily i already had the part and i was close to home. called my girl and had her bring my tool bag and the sensor...replaced it in the parking lot.

bad Merc weekend in Houston i guess.

Must either be the hot weather or rain we've had over the last 2 weeks!
CPS issues for 2 Houston E55's and AUS's air bags going off for no real reason!

and my strut!

True I forgot about that one Mike!

Nice DIY. Thanks for the pictures.

Please, please tell us Kevin didn't get under the car supported only by a jack?!? That is a serious safety no-no. Once the car is raised, it must be supported by one or more jack stands in addition to the jack. This is one of those rules of life which you just do not break. Please don't end up a Darwin award.

Copy that Shadow5501. Thanks

Shardul is alway making me do the dirty work !

Thanks for the DIY. Funny how the car would not start at the car wash bay at the dealership. Dealership wanted to diagnose the problem but I told them no. Got the sensor online for $40. Hope that fixs the problem.

well if the CEL is on an you have a OBDII scanner you can check the code and it should tell you Crank Position Sensor Fault

I just replaced mine and now my car is back to tip-top shape.

So just to clarify, it's a pretty simple remove/replace type fix? Take the old part out, put new part in, done?

$85 is not expensive at all, seems it is wise to go ahead and replace this ahead of time to save yourself a headache in the future...