airfuelEddie wrote:Just pray you never have a CrankShaft Sensor/tone wheel go bad,,although it should never happen. "Should" being the operative word!
I have NO idea why the decided to balance the sensor and magnet/crankshaft as an assembly? It's odd too. Other brands of engines use a tone wheel and sensor mounted in a usually inaccessible place near the lower block, but the sensor once found can be replaced without too much difficulty. This looks like a service nightmare if found 'bad'. The engine would surely have to be dis-assembled.
I don't see how crank wheel would go bad. Nothing touches it so it doesn't wear off or anything. Since it's inside engine if something causes damage to it there's going to be host of other problems too.
Perhaps you're mixing electrical sensor and tonewheel? Terms used on article are bit confusing as they call tonewheel itself as "sensor" while it's just piece of metal that actual electrical sensor "reads". I don't think you can change tonewheel on LS2 for example without taking crankshaft out first? BTW. There's no keyway on new hemi damper that would ensure it's always mounted in same location so you can't mount tonewheel on front of engine like on older engines.
Crankshaft Position Sensor (5V Hall-sensor) is mounted low on passenger side of block. Depending on exhaust setup and if using transmission with starter on drivers side (545RFE, W5A580 4x4) or passenger side (regular W5A580) it's either easy or not so easy to access. CKP sensor going bad was quite common with old 5.2L and 5.9L Magnum's, but I don't think it's as bad with newer models.
New sensors (not crank wheel, but electrical part) are available. DIY persons might prefer #56028815AA (2003-2006) since there's matching electrical connector available from Standard Motor Products with part number S738. Only difference compared to new one (2007-up) is electrical connector which is difficult to obtain unless cutting from stock harness.