May get a replacement hose for the rocker as long as I dont need to take the inlet manifold off. List is getting bigger as also going to replace the oil cap too. Belt and braces 
E86 (N52K) Eccentric Shaft Sensor - No CEL
- Thread starter Jameszy
- Start date
I replaced mine several months ago. It only exhibited a bogging down under full throttle. Almost seemed like bad coil packs. Then I noticed the oil leak at the eccentric shaft sensor plug Photo attached). Turned out to be an easy job. I used the VDO replacement from Pelican. Lots of youtube videos but here are the things I noted.
1. Here in the states it's difficult to find a socket to fit the strut brace bolt properly (photo attached). Make sure you have the right one before you start the job.
2. You do not need to remove the fuel rail. Just disconnect the harness.
3. Be very careful removing the bolts holding the sensor in place. Extremely easy for them to fall deep into the block. Shove rags into all the holes under the bolt area to prevent this.
4. You do not need to calibrated/retrain the valvetronic system with software. It will automatically do it when you reconnect the battery and turn the key for the first time.
1. Here in the states it's difficult to find a socket to fit the strut brace bolt properly (photo attached). Make sure you have the right one before you start the job.
2. You do not need to remove the fuel rail. Just disconnect the harness.
3. Be very careful removing the bolts holding the sensor in place. Extremely easy for them to fall deep into the block. Shove rags into all the holes under the bolt area to prevent this.
4. You do not need to calibrated/retrain the valvetronic system with software. It will automatically do it when you reconnect the battery and turn the key for the first time.
Attachments
Well, I seem to be getting quicker at this now. All stripped and on the bench in 45 mins. I knew everything undoes and rocker cover wouldn't be stuck. Seems I may have found the culprit ( here's hoping) of the idle issues as being the gasket in the front left hand corner.
So, I have time , potentially a lot of time judging by the feedback on the rubbish delivery company Autodoc employ.I did email them to ask an expected delivery time and I wasnt wishing to wait a month and don't say its brexit thats the issue
. I will totally degrease and scrub the rocker cover and glue the gasket . So, then ready for the sensor. Didn't fancy taking the sensor off tonight, so that's another night, I have a few to wait, I think.
So, I have time , potentially a lot of time judging by the feedback on the rubbish delivery company Autodoc employ.I did email them to ask an expected delivery time and I wasnt wishing to wait a month and don't say its brexit thats the issue
. I will totally degrease and scrub the rocker cover and glue the gasket . So, then ready for the sensor. Didn't fancy taking the sensor off tonight, so that's another night, I have a few to wait, I think.Bit of progress tonight, with the rocker cover being degreased with hyperclean, washed and mostly dried. Also went round the gasket slot with an electrical cleaner and tissue roll to make sure it was spotless. Washed the gasket in the kitchen sink with a splodge of washing up liquid and dried. Then using Gorilla superglue , as reading it is the best stuff to hold solid plastic and rubber and glued the gasket in place. Probably used less than 1ml. It was done to give me confidence in getting it to stay when being man handled.
Need to wipe and degrease the head surfaces.
Sensor is now out. Is a bit of a wiggle to get it off the fitting it is located and also the lower bolt is a bit of an arse. BMW only needed about 2mm more space to make life easier. Still its out and waiting on these post muppets.
Ironically the wife ordered some shoes ( white crocs as she is a dental nurse ) so cheaper, bigger packet, from Europe and they appeared in 4 days. Now on 9 days and counting. Autodoc advise on ' up to 8 days'. Hopefully here by Saturday as weather looks pants and gives me something to do
Need to wipe and degrease the head surfaces.
Sensor is now out. Is a bit of a wiggle to get it off the fitting it is located and also the lower bolt is a bit of an arse. BMW only needed about 2mm more space to make life easier. Still its out and waiting on these post muppets.
Ironically the wife ordered some shoes ( white crocs as she is a dental nurse ) so cheaper, bigger packet, from Europe and they appeared in 4 days. Now on 9 days and counting. Autodoc advise on ' up to 8 days'. Hopefully here by Saturday as weather looks pants and gives me something to do
So, the Parcel Farce dropped the sensor off today and working from home :wink: gave me the opportunity to get it fitted. I unscrewed the lower bolt , so it fitted halfway in, this allowing space to get in behind the timing chain and guide. I had stuffed some rag underneath it and in front of the chain, so as not to loose anything into the engine, should something go wrong. I also used a deep 10mm socket, so it wasn't going through the plastic guide and potentially fall off. The sensor went on easier than came off and clicked into place and all 3 X 10mm done up.
With the rocker cover all set to fit and the aid of my son as cable out the wayer, managed quite easily to get the cover on and using the torx socket on the hand driver, went round and nipped up. Also fitted the 3 centre bolts and torqued first. Luckily, I have a small torque wrench for my bicycle building, which I used and torqued to the label on the cover. Everything else went back into place easily and within the hour, it was all done.
Reset all the codes and ran the ignition through once also for resetting the eccentric motor. Nervously ( well actually walked off to do some work
) I then opened the garage door and fired it up. As usual, it ran up to 1100 revs from cold and then as it warmed,the engine sat solid at 700 rpm and from what I remember , smoother than before I took it apart. Its been a while and I am old, so memory is a bit iffy. :?
Lets hope that the oil on the sensor seal and eccentric motor, which both have new gaskets will stop the oily fumes in the cabin now , which was the reason for all this work. With changing the sensor, makes sure its reliable in the oil inside the old sensor being a potential future fail
With the rocker cover all set to fit and the aid of my son as cable out the wayer, managed quite easily to get the cover on and using the torx socket on the hand driver, went round and nipped up. Also fitted the 3 centre bolts and torqued first. Luckily, I have a small torque wrench for my bicycle building, which I used and torqued to the label on the cover. Everything else went back into place easily and within the hour, it was all done.
Reset all the codes and ran the ignition through once also for resetting the eccentric motor. Nervously ( well actually walked off to do some work
) I then opened the garage door and fired it up. As usual, it ran up to 1100 revs from cold and then as it warmed,the engine sat solid at 700 rpm and from what I remember , smoother than before I took it apart. Its been a while and I am old, so memory is a bit iffy. :? Lets hope that the oil on the sensor seal and eccentric motor, which both have new gaskets will stop the oily fumes in the cabin now , which was the reason for all this work. With changing the sensor, makes sure its reliable in the oil inside the old sensor being a potential future fail
Looks like you found the reason for oil fumes with that bad gasket. I had a mates 2.2 that had vaccum leaks, duff sucking jet valve alongside the lower intake bellows, smoke test revealed that one. Sorted that with a new part fitted only to find smoke when retested was showing up on the cam cover, renewed the gaskets but still got smoke, pulled it apart again and a close inspection revealed the cover had cracks around No4 plug. Prodding about revealed the plastic was hard and brittle and it was crumbling. Sorted that with a good used cover, all put back together using Hylomar gasket sealant around the half moon shapes at front and rear of the cover where the gasket changes direction. Also renewed the 15 rubber seals under the cover retaining bolts. Smoke test revealed no air leaks and the fuel trim codes were cleared and didn't come back. Car transformed and less frequent trips to the petrol station as it was no longer over fueling. Viewed the fuel trims in live data diagnostics and they were found to be normal, previouse to the fix they were at maximum as it trird to compensate for what it saw as a lean mixture with the extra unmetered air getting in through the leaks, the EML lit up when it gave up trying to compensate.
Thanks Col, I do hope this is all sorted now. I had the rocker cover gasket the Xmas before last but never did change it until Xmas just gone, mainly because of the oil fumes, which I know from open catch tanks for kit cars. Actually looking forward to getting it back out again now as the mojo was getting tarnished over the winter when it went away in November. Not sure when I will get it back out again, as we dont use the cars we have on the road now !.
I did check the rocker cover for cracks, as know that is common on the plastic ones. Main reason why I scrubbed it and degreased it. At the end of the day, it was my failure to get the gasket to hold. I used a Victor Reinz gasket , so not rubbish, but the groove that held it in place and that the bolts and metal sleeves all came out the cover made it awkward to stay in place.
Still, happy we are back together and ending the winter projects and ready to roll when I tax it. :driving:
I did check the rocker cover for cracks, as know that is common on the plastic ones. Main reason why I scrubbed it and degreased it. At the end of the day, it was my failure to get the gasket to hold. I used a Victor Reinz gasket , so not rubbish, but the groove that held it in place and that the bolts and metal sleeves all came out the cover made it awkward to stay in place.
Still, happy we are back together and ending the winter projects and ready to roll when I tax it. :driving:
Thrustyjust said:So, the Parcel Farce dropped the sensor off today and working from home :wink: gave me the opportunity to get it fitted. I unscrewed the lower bolt , so it fitted halfway in, this allowing space to get in behind the timing chain and guide. I had stuffed some rag underneath it and in front of the chain, so as not to loose anything into the engine, should something go wrong. I also used a deep 10mm socket, so it wasn't going through the plastic guide and potentially fall off. The sensor went on easier than came off and clicked into place and all 3 X 10mm done up.
With the rocker cover all set to fit and the aid of my son as cable out the wayer, managed quite easily to get the cover on and using the torx socket on the hand driver, went round and nipped up. Also fitted the 3 centre bolts and torqued first. Luckily, I have a small torque wrench for my bicycle building, which I used and torqued to the label on the cover. Everything else went back into place easily and within the hour, it was all done.
Reset all the codes and ran the ignition through once also for resetting the eccentric motor. Nervously ( well actually walked off to do some work
Lets hope that the oil on the sensor seal and eccentric motor, which both have new gaskets will stop the oily fumes in the cabin now , which was the reason for all this work. With changing the sensor, makes sure its reliable in the oil inside the old sensor being a potential future fail
Great news. No codes now I presume?
My revs fluctuated ever so slightly with the faulty sensor. Now, they are dead flat.
I havent put the reader back on since I reset and ran it up. I drove it down the end of the close , as just wanted to turn the car round, but it felt fine and a rock steady idle. Not got over 20 mph as yet as only 200 mtres in distance, although it was running for about 20 mins and previously it wasnt happy. I need to give it a run when off SORN and then check for codes. Thanks for you help also Jameszy
