How to Change the Crank Sensor in Your 2001 Durango

So your Durango is throwing the OBD code P0335 and possibly some other transmission related codes now? It's time to change the crank position sensor. Getting to the sensor is not that difficult, but I found that changing the sensor was problematic. I am including my personal technique I had to invent for this purpose ;-).

You will need a few basic and tools like a socket set, one or two sets of pliers, and a large flat blade screwdriver. For this instructable you will also need a cordless drill, some 1.5" drywall screws, and a drill bit.

My hackerspace (Bloominglabs) has a car lift so I just tossed my Durango up in the air. If you are using jacks be careful, use jackstands if at all possible. A car lift is many times safer than jacks and stands, but I realize that this is a luxury item.

You can reach the sensor in two ways.

The first way is over the passenger front tire. There is a hex bolt holding the sensor to the under-side of the engine. These pictures all show the new sensor installed which has a shiney silver ring around the hex bolt, the silver "holder" extends to one side off the base of the sensor (and the sensor is clean and black in my pictures). There is a wire harness that attaches to the end of the sensor of course.

The other way to access the sensor is from underneath the truck. This gives you a different vantage point to work, but I found myself switching between both positions.

First unplug the wire harness from the sensor. Now remove the hex screw that holds it to the engine.

So here is the trick. I was not able get the old sensor out easily. I ended up breaking the head off the old sensor while I was working on it. I had to drill a small hole and screwing a drywall screw into the old sensor. This gave me a pry point I could use for leverage with a screw driver.

Actually I ended up shearing off the first drywall screw so I drilled a second hole and installed another one. With quite a bit of force and manipulation I was able to work it out of the hole.

The new sensor slips right in without any problems, at least it did for me.

Screw the hex bolt back which locks the sensor into place. Reattach the wire harness.

Lower your vehicle back to the ground and see if it starts. From here you will need to clear the ECU error with a code reader or by pulling the battery terminal for a couple minutes. If the error does not come back then you are good to go!