The crank angle sensor failed on my 2004 Coupe in November 2011. Given it has done over 70,000 km I consider I've been lucky. Fortunately, it never actually conked out while driving. It just started getting slow to crank over and start the engine, for about two weeks, and then the engine just wouldn't fire up. This was during 30 degree C heat in our summer.

The unlucky part was that I had to have the car back on the road quickly as we drive both cars every day. The local Chrysler dealership had me over a barrel - and charged $865 Aus dollars for the sensor replacement and a replacement radiator cap!! The problem here in Oz is that there are no parts kept in stock by Chrysler, Mercedes, or third party parts retailers. So, the car was off the road for three weeks waiting for parts from Singapore and Germany. We don't have the express transport services that you all have there in the Northern Hemisphere.

Maybe I've discovered what my next business should be. Spare parts.

Now the convertible has the sticky key problem - I've downloaded the instructions from Crossfire Forum on how to fix this and will be doing it tomorrow ( I was a tradesman in a prior life) . It's just gone over 40,000 km so I will be ordering a crank sensor tomorrow afternoon ( or perhaps I should just order a couple) for the inevitable.

Anyway, thank you so much for the instructions on how to replace the little bugger. I will keep these in my folder with all the other fixes.

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you for that answer. Last Saturday I was shopping and the xfire wouldn't start - cranks but no fire. Forum said, replace CPS. Ordered part from Rockauto for $48. Sunday driving, it failed at another store. Told myself, don't wait and bought part local for $57 (made in Taiwan) and had a local mechanic install for $85. After replace he couldn't start her. Told him I read in the forum how that may happen if the clip didn't click on tight. 2 minutes later he pulls up with my car. I'm thinking - all fixed! Nope.
Monday am - won't start. I fiddle with connector - starts! all fixed? Nope - now she shuts off on me when I get aggressive on the way to work. Restarts right away. I baby it for two days, with two more 'failures'. Rockauto part came in last night (made in Taiwan) - replaced at 6:30 this morning. Fine ride to work. all Fixed! Nope!
After work - cranks but won't start. Fiddle with wire - starts. Five minutes later in traffic - stalls. Restarts right away - safe but slow drive home.
Now I'm all worried - is it the ECM solder that is the culprit? Do I really have a crankshaft problem? By your reply above, and the fact that she cranks but just doesn't start means it's not the ECM (right?).
I'm going to order the Bosch part tonight, overnight. Lets see if that works.

 

If it was the RCM it wouldnt crank.... the Bosch part is the best solution.... last time I had to buy one at NAPA it was the Bosch part.... too bad you got the duds

 

+1 Yes, I can't reiterate this enough. It would appear that although some of us on here have run "aftermarket" brands of the CPS, the Bosch CPS is really the only way to go for this particular part. JHM2K recently went through this I believe, replaced the CPS with a non-Bosch part which didn't fix his no-start problem and moved on to other troubleshooting items, only to re-visit the CPS with a new Bosch unit and find that the aftermarket CPS and the Bosch CPS wasn't interchangeable. When I originally posted this thread, I purchased an aftermarket CPS brand and it worked fine in my Limited. That said, I am pretty confident that you need to purchase a Bosch CPS before troubleshooting anything else, which it sounds like you have already done.

Good luck and post up here how it all works out.

 

I just changed out my senor today! I am so excited! This thread really helped out a lot. Very simple job. Took all of 30 mins to complete. I did, however, break the clip to the wire that connects to my sensor. Thinking about taking some electrical tape to it and calling it a day... or should I try and replace it??

 

What about the parts from AUTOZONE? That's the one I just installed on my car.

Crankshaft Position Sensor | 2004 Chrysler Crossfire 6 Cylinders L 3.2L SFI SOHC | AutoZone.com

 

If it is working then you are good... for some amount of time anyway....

 

Found this ( Mercedes Benz Crankshaft Position Sensor - BOSCH - 0261210170 - NEW OEM MB Crank | eBay ) its th newest Bosch part number for our XF's! Cost is $45.50 and Free shipping so its less than others I have seen, AND its BOSCH!

Well, since I am a kind-of prepared guy, I thought I should get me one of these thangs! Seems someone else thought the same thing! So, I'm ordering one now!

Will let you know what I get, if the picture/details match!

 

I wanted to give everyone a follow-up to my recent flirt with disaster. As I posted, my CPS went out (intermittently) about 2 weekends ago. After ordering a part online from RockAuto, I decided not to wait and bought one quickly from Autozone (local) and had it installed by TireKingdom ($57 +$94 install). That part failed the next day. The online part ($42.00 + $18) came in two days later. I installed that one myself in 10 minutes, but after 2 days, that one failed too. Both were manufactured in Taiwan.

After scrambling my brain, you all put me at ease and said it was probably bad parts, not a more serious issue. So I bought the Bosch part from German Auto Supply, Ltd. ($47.50 + 30 to overnight). This one took 15 minutes to install because it has small 'ribs' down the tube and if you don't put it in straight, you can't rotate it to get the bolt hole lined up.

It's been 3 days now and not even a hiccup when I get into it! Mercedes engineering and tight tolerances require that you buy quality parts. If I would have done that from the beginning, I would have saved over $200 and 9 days of heartache. Moral of the story: Buy OEM parts! Saving 10-20% will cost you 100-200% in the long run. (oh - and listen to the guys on this forum - they DO know what they're talking about)

 

MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BOSCH OEM | eBay

Since that auction is done.. and down to $42.50 with free shipping.. Gets down to 30 bucks and ones going on the shelf for that rainy day! LOL

Footnote.. $45.50 seller has started a new listing linked to the ended one.

 

I saw this one, I singled out the statement "

 

The link I added .. the picture shows Bosch stamped on it.. should be the real McCoy...

 

Thanks for posting up your findings! This only further confirms that Bosch is really the only way to go for the CPS. Prior to all the reading on this forum I honestly would not have given buying an aftermarket replacement a second thought (I didn't on my Limited). I am updating the original post if I can with this information.

 

Totally agree here! I've never thought twice about buying anything from Autozone.. Almost like the tv show cheers when I walk through the door.. LOL. But thanks to this thread and Johns SRT fun and games - Bosch will be the only replacement sensors when it's that time.

 

OK, I should have done a little more research. I downloaded the picture and used my Irfanview picture viewer to pull the picture up in "negative". It has the correct Bosch info all over it in the right places. I used the one I received in the sealed Bosch package to confirm. I guess even I can be charged another 3 bucks if I'm not careful. Good catch!

 

I want to express my greatest appreciation to all members of the forum for the continuous support offered by all.
I was able to change the CRANK POSITION SENSOR in 10 minutes thanks to the pictures posted on this thread. The last time I took my xfire to the dealership, it spent 6 months there and cost me $900. I learned that " if the engine turns over but doesn't start it's the Relay Module. If it doesn't turn over it's the, it's the Crank Sensor.
Again thank you all

 

[quote=rickpabon..... I learned that " if the engine turns over but doesn't start it's the Relay Module. If it doesn't turn over it's the, it's the Crank Sensor.
Again thank you all[/quote]


Just to correct......
If it WON'T turn over/crank...it's the RCM.
If it WILL turn over/crank,but wont start.. it's the CPS.

 

I stand corrected, guess I was just somewhat excited that I was able to get my car going again. Thx

 

Anyone who has fixed their issue by replacing the CPS can relate to your relief. Glad you are up and running!