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Old 05-31-2014, 03:16 PM
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Default Universal cam/crank sensors

My cam and crank sensors are both doing the long, slow decline again. The cam sensor doesn't like revs above 6500 anymore. The crank sensor doesn't like to get wet.
Since new ones only seem to last for a limited period of time, has anyone tried replacing them with some aftermarket ones, like the ones from DIY Autotune: hall-effect-crankshaft-position-sensor?
If they last longer and work more reliably, I'd be determined to install two of those somehow. I have an MS3X, so the challenges should be purely of a mechanical nature.
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Old 06-01-2014, 10:04 PM
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I did not have good luck with (one of my two) DIY autotune stainless threaded hall sensors. I'm running their plastic/lug mount sensors currently. I do not have many miles on them so the jury's still out on them, but the max temperate spec is higher for the plastic sensor. Go figure.

MSD has sensors with built in LEDs that flash when it triggers, for quicker diagnosis when things go wrong. But they cost a lot more than the DIY.

I would think OEM sensors are more reliable than aftermarket sensors however...?
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:29 AM
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Something tells me the MSD sensors are from an industrial application. Might be called a prox or proximity sensor. We use a dick load of those things at work.
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:46 AM
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And I'm pretty sure the DIYAutotune's can be bought from Newark Electronics for cheap, but in quantity of 10. I found the newark part number in some old Megasquirt documentation.

Buying the sensor off Amazon from DIYautotune was cheaper than buying directly off DIY's site.
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Old 06-02-2014, 09:41 AM
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The Escort has a fancy Haltech sensor. It's worked just fine for the 10 minutes the motor ran before self-destructing.
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Old 06-02-2014, 10:35 AM
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I am currently using, and have been using, genuine Mazda parts from the dealership. So my empirical evidence is that stock Mazda isn't all that great.
My MS can handle pretty much any input signal, but it may require a change on the PCB. So if I'm replacing my stock Mazda sensors with something else, all I'm asking for is that it lasts longer than a year. And I don't want to modify my MS, just to figure out that the sensor I'm using is no better than stock Mazda.
You can also get Bosch sensors from VW and such for cheap. I believe they are Hall sensors too. They run around $20 or so. But again- nobody seems to know, if they are any good.
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Old 06-02-2014, 06:33 PM
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NB cam sensors are notoriously bad, but the crank sensors are bombproof - between my own customers and all the 949Racing cars I've wrenched on, I've never seen one fail. I'd look at your ECU, not at the crank sensor.
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Old 06-02-2014, 06:48 PM
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Could be an auto-x thing again. A few of the CSP and SSM miata have had crank sensor failures.
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Old 06-02-2014, 06:57 PM
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We've had 1 crank sensor randomly just stop working. Not damaged, only 70k miles, no matter what car just wouldn't start. swapped it for another one, been running like a champ ever since.
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Old 06-02-2014, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Leafy
Could be an auto-x thing again. A few of the CSP and SSM miata have had crank sensor failures.
What ECUs?
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Old 06-02-2014, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
What ECUs?
I know of two on hydras and one on an EMS4.
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Old 06-02-2014, 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
NB cam sensors are notoriously bad, but the crank sensors are bombproof - between my own customers and all the 949Racing cars I've wrenched on, I've never seen one fail. I'd look at your ECU, not at the crank sensor.
The first crank sensor failed with the stock ECU. The current one has been working for two years and now starts failing with my MS3. But only when wet....

So I doubt it's the ECU.
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Old 06-02-2014, 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
NB cam sensors are notoriously bad, but the crank sensors are bombproof - between my own customers and all the 949Racing cars I've wrenched on, I've never seen one fail. I'd look at your ECU, not at the crank sensor.
I have had one get flaky. It was a NB CKP sensor that was transplanted on a ~600CI big block Ford.
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Old 06-02-2014, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by TurboTim
Buying the sensor off Amazon from DIYautotune was cheaper than buying directly off DIY's site.
Amazon is funny like that on rare occasion. It wasn't intentional. Our prices on Amazon or ebay are usually a couple dollars higher than on our site to help offset vendor fees.
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Originally Posted by concealer404
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Old 06-02-2014, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by stefanst
My cam and crank sensors are both doing the long, slow decline again. The cam sensor doesn't like revs above 6500 anymore. The crank sensor doesn't like to get wet.
Since new ones only seem to last for a limited period of time, has anyone tried replacing them with some aftermarket ones, like the ones from DIY Autotune: hall-effect-crankshaft-position-sensor?
If they last longer and work more reliably, I'd be determined to install two of those somehow. I have an MS3X, so the challenges should be purely of a mechanical nature.
It should work great for the CMP sensor. I am concerned about picking up the CKP signal though; the Miata OE trigger wheel is very thin. As the Mazda CKP sensor is generally robust, I'd recommend leaving it and concentrating on just replacing the CMP sensor.
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Originally Posted by concealer404
Buy an MSPNP Pro, you'll feel better.
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Old 06-03-2014, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Leafy
Something tells me the MSD sensors are from an industrial application. Might be called a prox or proximity sensor. We use a dick load of those things at work.
I have some Omron proximity sensors laying around (god knows why), PNP, NO, 5-30VDC and threaded body. P/n E2E-X1R5F5-G. Any reason they can't be made to work with an MS instead of buying new sensors every season?

Spec sheet for poops and giggles.
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Old 06-03-2014, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Oscar
I have some Omron proximity sensors laying around (god knows why), PNP, NO, 5-30VDC and threaded body. P/n E2E-X1R5F5-G. Any reason they can't be made to work with an MS instead of buying new sensors every season?

Spec sheet for poops and giggles.
I dont think those go hot enough. Seem to top out at 80°C You'd really want something to be able to handle like 150°C to be safe. And I only quickly paroosed, whats the max frequency they can handle?
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Old 06-03-2014, 11:17 AM
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Specs for the ones I have:

Response frequency 2 kHz
The response frequency is an average value. Measurement conditions are as follows: standard sensing object, a distance of twice the standard sensing object, and
a set distance of half the sensing distance.
The 85C might be a bit low for our applications perhaps.
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Old 06-03-2014, 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Ben
It should work great for the CMP sensor. I am concerned about picking up the CKP signal though; the Miata OE trigger wheel is very thin. As the Mazda CKP sensor is generally robust, I'd recommend leaving it and concentrating on just replacing the CMP sensor.
That should make things a little easier then anyway, since changing the settings on the MS3X, that reads the CMP is easier than changing the circuit on the MS3 mainboard (v 3.0) that reads the CKP.

Does anybody have any idea why the CKP would fail when I drive through a puddle? The connector looks good to me- but it is a 15 year old car....
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Old 06-03-2014, 11:29 AM
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As long as you keep the sensor type the same, Normally Open Hall Effect. I dont see why the settings would need to be changed at all, its more or less generating the exact same signal for the ecu. Might need some work if the leading and trailing edges look different.
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