M62 Camshaft Position Sensor (CPS) replacement
as performed on a 1998 BMW 540iA Sport
by kowached
Required tools: 5mm Hex (Allen) Key, 6mm Nutdriver, and a 10mm Nutdriver.
Required parts: A new CPS (12-14-1-742-185) and O-ring (12-14-1-748-398).
Remove the top of the air filter box by disengaging the 4 perimeter clips
around the air box as well as the 2 clips that connect to the air intake tube
to the engine. Disconnect the electrical connection to the air box temp sensor
and the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. Pop out the tube that leads to the Idle
Control Valve and use a 6mm nut-driver to unscrew the hose clamp downstream
from the MAF:
There’s the Camshaft Position Sensor:
Remove the air intake silencer with a 10mm nut-driver:
Unscrew the 5mm Hex (Allen) Key that holds the CPS in place. Remove the engine
cover and disconnect the electrical connector that goes from the CPS to the
top of the engine. Yes, the connector end can and will slide behind the oil
dipstick, but just barely:
Install the new CPS being sure to lightly oil the O-ring as you would the
oil filter O-ring so that it seals properly. Be very careful to make sure
that all intake hose connections are tight, any air leak between the MAF and
the engine can cause problems.
Note that if you would like more growl in the 3000+ RPM range you can easily
replace the air silencer box with a 1 inch PVC cap (not plug, cap only) and
a hose clamp:
If you have a Peake R5/FCX scan tool (http://www.peakeresearch.com/code_tool.shtml),
now would be a good time to reset the check engine light.
Below is just how everything happened, it may help in diagnosis:
Just driving along and no sound, no nothing, engine dies. Got it restarted
after a few tries, and it drove fine for a mile or two. Made it to a friends
house and let it cool down with the hood up (30 degrees outside) for 10-15
minutes. Car started up and ran fine for 5 miles, died. Waited another 15
minutes and drove it 2 miles to another friends house and left it there.
I'll hit it with the Peake Code Reader tomorrow, but it sounds like Cam Position
Sensor symptoms.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Dave
Message Title: UPDATE: Dr. Peake says E (nothing), then...
Posted by: kowached on 2002-11-16 at 14:14:38
(posted from: Host: pm682-41.dialip.mich.net IP: 207.73.72.147)
Message:
This is a follow on to my post below: http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/forum.php?postid=1370915
So I hook the Peake up to the car this morning and it gives me an "E", which
not only provides no diagnostic information, but means that there is a data
communication problem. GREAT, without error codes it looks like a $ to the
dealer. But thanks to Roadfly and you guys I decided to inspect the Camshaft
Position Sensor and the MAF for "physical damage" before having the flatbed
come and take her to the dealer. MAF, looks fine. CPS, looks fine. Note, I
was just looking for obvious physical damage, either could have been electrically
shot. When re-assembling the intake system I noticed that the Idle Control
Valve (silver can on its side at the top front of the engine under the cover)
was wobbling as I was reconnecting the intake hoses. I touched it and it almost
fell off, its clamping system was loose and the part that sits in the intake
manifold was not all the way in. SWEET! So I properly attach it and the rest
of the stuff and start her up no prob. Shut her down and clear the check engine
light and triumphantly get on my way.
About 5 miles later on the freeway I'm dead on the side of the road. So while
I'm waiting for the flatbed I installed the eye hook in the front bumper (you
all need to lube your threads) and decided to play with the Peake tool again.
Hook it up and hit GO fully expecting an "E" when "70" comes up! Flip through
the book find 1998 540iA DE63 - use chart 14. So what could be on Chart 14
error code 70? Camshaft Position Sensor, the very piece that I had in my hand
an hour ago.
Well, no dealers are open on the weekends (not that I wanted to pay their
price), so I'll wait until Monday and try Pacific BMW and Creiver BMW to see
who has the best price, and if the price is right I'll get 2 because it is
common part to fail and can easily be kept in the trunk and can be replaced
in 10 minutes with a screwdriver and a 5mm hex (Allen) head wrench...
Thanks,
Dave
Roadfly CPS Posts:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/archives/forum.php?postid=629417&page=3
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/archives/forum.php?postid=627714&page=3
Roadfly MAF Posts:
The MAF failures that I read in the archives sounded like gradual failures,
or started out only at a certain RPM before failing completely. I have had
no previous stumbling or stalling. The power cutting out part sounds dead
on, but also a symptom for the CPS.
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/archives/forum.php?postid=626566&page=4
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e39/archives/forum.php?postid=599218&page=10
Thanks,
Dave
E39 - 1998 540iA Sport (80k mile rad failure)
E30 - 1989 M3 (42k miles)
Now responsible for a 2003 Jetta TDI...
Past cars
E21 - 1980 320i (sold at 130k)
E23 - 1986 735i (maintained for dad)
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