Metal on Crankshaft Position Sensor

[brummy]

While troubleshooting a P1320 code, I found metal shavings on the magnet of the crankshaft sensor(POS). Is this normal?

[Towncivilian]

I'm not sure, but I'd think it shouldn't have metal. Are there metal shavings in your engine oil?

[brummy]

It's been around 2000 miles since I changed the oil but I didnt see anything at that time. The truck (this is a 2001 Pathfinder LE btw, I dont think I mentioned that in the earlier post) has 164000 miles on it and to my knowledge, the sensor has never been removed. Is it possible that this could be normal wear over the years/miles? I was thinking of running it for a week or so and checking the sensor again to see if it collects any more. I'll be changing the oil early as well and see if any metal is in it. I did drive it today (~10 miles) and the P1320 code seems to have gone away and it is running much better now that the metal has been removed from the sensor.

[Chuck Tribolet]

I don't think this is normal, or you would be reading "clean your crankshaft position sensor regularly".

It's possible that the filter is catching most of the metal so you don't see any in the oil.

When you change the oil, pull the filter and cut it open. See if there's silver stuff all over the filter media.

And think about a magnetic drain plug. I don't think the OEM is magnetic, but I've seen aftermarket sources.

Chuck

[Towncivilian]

The OEM plug is not magnetic. I bought a magnetic drain plug from eBay for around $8 shipped. I will take a photo of the magnet and of the residue wiped on a paper towel to see how effective it is.

I also put hard drive magnets around the oil filter to potentially catch more iron and such. Even if it isn't anything that wouldn't have been caught by the oil filter, there is less stuff in the media and more for other non ferrous junk.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Towncivilian makes a good point about hard drive magnets. Hard drives contain a very powerful magnet
that the voice coil that moves the heads back and forth pushes and pulls against. If you have the right
tools (usually a set of Security Torx bits) you can open an old dead or disused hard drive and salvage the
magnet. They are fun. If you have two magnets, you can put one on top of a wooden table top, hold the other
underneath, and the top one will flip as you turn the bottom one over.

Note that once you open the hard drive, it's toast due to contamination.

Chuck

[zach7685]

NEVER PUT TWO HDD MAGNETS IN OPPOSING POCKET'S. You have been warned.

[brummy]

It turned out that cleaning the crankshaft sensor did not fix the P1320 code. It came back after running it for about 25 miles. It seems to trigger when doing a start with a hot engine. It began running rough about 30 seconds after start and the check eng light began to flash shortly after. This time the "cyl 5 misfire" code (P0305 I think) accompanied it...swapped coil packs 3 and 5 and the problem followed. Replaced coil pack and it has been running fine since. A friend of mine says that once one goes, the rest are to follow and I should get another pack on order. Have any of you experienced the same?

As for the metal on the sensor, I changed the oil and did not find metal in the drained oil...cut the filter open and noted a couple very small flakes of metal and some dirt only. Also rechecked the sensor and it didn't pick up any more after 40 miles. Thanks for the ideas about the magnetic drain plug, hard drive magnets and especially the handling warning. I'll give it a try and keep an eye on it...hopefully it's nothing serious...
-jb

[Chuck Tribolet]

NEVER PUT TWO HDD MAGNETS IN OPPOSING POCKET'S. You have been warned.

It took me a minute to figure out what you meant, but OUCH!

Chuck

[Towncivilian]

I've also heard that same coil pack "explanation". I haven't found a conclusive answer one way or another. What's the manufacturing date of your Pathfinder? This can be found on the driver door jamb sticker.

[brummy]

09/00