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Thread: Sensor Identification

  1. #1
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    Sensor Identification

    I've looked and while I keep coming up with a sensor that mounts near the alternator and monitors the crankshaft, it keeps coming up with the one for Motronic 1.1 and above that uses a tooth system.

    Mine is a Motronic 1.0 and the sensor is more like a timing sensor just above the smooth part of the crank to the left and below the alternator.

    What is that sensor and what does it do? Does it affect idle speed?

  2. #2
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    IF you are talking the M20b25 engine the crank position sensor is mounted on the passenger side above the crank shaft pulley. Again assuming we are talking M20 engine the idle speed is controlled by the ICV (idle control valve) which sits next to the throttle body on the drivers side of the engine. the Trottle position sensor is located on the belly of the throttle body.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ceekers View Post
    IF you are talking the M20b25 engine the crank position sensor is mounted on the passenger side above the crank shaft pulley. Again assuming we are talking M20 engine the idle speed is controlled by the ICV (idle control valve) which sits next to the throttle body on the drivers side of the engine. the Trottle position sensor is located on the belly of the throttle body.
    Nope. That one is what I keep getting when I search. It's for the 1.1 to 1.3 Motronic. It looks like this sensor goes to the diagnostic terminal above the alternator but it may join with other wires and not be just diagnostic. Here is a picture of it. I defiantly have a Motronic 1.0

    20180313_191653.jpg

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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by 95BMWIC View Post
    Thanks, after I read this I went out in the garage and looked again. It appears that it only goes to the large round diagnostic port. I'm only guessing but since the Motronic 1.0 isn't really OBD capable I am thinking they put this sensor in just so they could hook a machine up for diagnostic purposes since the car actually uses the position sensor in the manual transmission, but diagnostics can't use that one.

    Regardless thanks for the help I can see it's not essential to the car running and certainly doesn't affect the idle.

  6. #6
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    richardodn is offline Old Guy BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by clovett View Post
    Thanks, after I read this I went out in the garage and looked again. It appears that it only goes to the large round diagnostic port. I'm only guessing but since the Motronic 1.0 isn't really OBD capable I am thinking they put this sensor in just so they could hook a machine up for diagnostic purposes since the car actually uses the position sensor in the manual transmission, but diagnostics can't use that one.

    Regardless thanks for the help I can see it's not essential to the car running and certainly doesn't affect the idle.
    That's exactly correct. The M1.0 sensor up front is for diagnostics only. The ones used for actual timing data are the two on the bellhousing.
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