mystery crank sensor wires.. where do they go??

[Kozworth]

Hey guys I was swapping out my waterpump last night because it was leaking. I removed the water pump pully and realized the wires (one I know goes to the crank sensor) were worn through the wire insulation. Its like 3 black wires.

I didn't put them back right when I did my pump and belt 2k miles ago I probably tied it all up and left that. I was wondering where it would be held into because I do not want to cut through that crank sensor wire. I know there were some plastic pieces but I don't know if I have them anymore.

Thanks in advance

[Ether-D]

My crank sensor wire was chewed through as well. I got a new one, and it had enough slack to go over the top of the motor (barely).

[phenobarb1]

I just dealt with this the other day for the same reason. I could have sworn that the Bentley manual showed some sort of little channel that the CPS runs through on the front of the block to protect it, but never saw one on my car. I ended up zip tying it on both ends. On the upper end just tie it to whatever will take up the slack, and on the lower end I tied it to the coolant hose to the reservoir to take up the rest of the slack. Definitely make sure you take out the slack, and that it is at least a half an inch away from the pulley and belts though, or it will just happen again.

There was some possible clip on the front of the block, that you might be able to secure it to also, but I still have to go out and see if I can make that work. As for running it over the cylinder head as Ether mentioned, I tried this but the wire on the CPS was just a smidge too short. It kind of had the length, but to turn the fitting in the correct direction to make the connection, it just wouldn't reach. Very annoying since that would be awesome. Really not sure what the hell BMW was thinking routing the CPS in this manner, since the potential for problems is obvious.

Oh, and you should probably get a new CPS, since on mine, when the insulation got frayed it started causing the engine to cut out/surge for a split second whenever the wire touched the block.

[LJ851]

Part 15 is the guide for the 2 wires crossing behind the water pump pulley. It clips on to the timing cover.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&btnr=11_0405&hg=11&fg=10

[jlevie]

And you will need 2ea part #14 in the above reference. They are cheap so I always get a few sets when I order them.

[phenobarb1]

Fuck.

It's always nice to find out that whoever was working on your car previously decided to leave out parts when they put it back together. The cover for the wires, and the clips were both missing, and I couldn't see the holes for the clips due to another wire that runs across the same path on the timing belt cover (I'm doing this with the radiator still in, so my view kind of sucks).

So, if I straighten out this bodge job, I guess I'll have to disconnect whatever that other wire is that runs across the timing belt cover also, so I can feed it through the holding cover for the wires. From where I'm viewing it though I can't tell what it runs to. Looks like it might run to either the starter motor or the sensors on the washer fluid res., or the coolant res.. Any clues as to what this other wire runs to?

[jlevie]

The two cables that run through the plastic chase are for the CPS and oil pressure switch.

The wires simply press into the chase, which will be pretty obvious once you have the partss there's no need to disconnect anything.

[phenobarb1]

Ah, ok, thanks man. I just thought the wire for the oil pressure switch might be too snug against the cover to wiggle something in there.

Either way, thanks again.

[Ceeker]

it is snug but there is enough play to get it behind the plastic shield along with the CPS wire.