Short to positive after sensor replacement

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Mar 19, 2025 | 06:00 PM

RockyDave

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Short to positive after sensor replacement

2009 with a failing speed sensor. Ordered an OEM replacement and did the swap. Problem solved!........well sort of. Car now runs fine but throws short to positive error. My question for this group is what would you do to find where the short is. I'm fairly confident it is the plug but how can I check?

Thanks

Mar 19, 2025 | 06:41 PM

'10Q7TDI_Prestige'

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From: USA - NM

Would suggest you'll get a lot more help if you post full information. I'd suggest you post up that exact fault code you alluded to, for starters. The more details you can provide, the easier it is to help you out.

Also, was there any oil/fluid/gunk on the plug or wiring? Did you clean the plug with contact cleaner/electronics cleaner? Any dielectric grease or other spray products used that might be contributing to fault code, etc.?

Last edited by '10Q7TDI_Prestige'; Mar 19, 2025 at 06:54 PM.

Mar 20, 2025 | 01:47 PM

RockyDave

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I'll post the full scan when I get home but I do have some additional information. First, the connector was getting oil on the back side from a small leak that eventually drips down the wires. The contacts appeared to be clean but I did spray everything off with brake cleaner then MAF cleaner and put a small amount of DeoxIT D100 on (no dielectric grease).

I also checked continuity between pins but there was none (good). I then checked voltage with the ign on and noticed something unexpected. 3 wires (ground, pwr, signal) both pwr and signal were at 3 volts. I would have expected the pwr to be around 5 volts and signal to be 0. My current thinking is that oil made its way into the connector and I can't get it clean. I am installing a new connection this weekend and will retest.

Mar 20, 2025 | 03:27 PM

RockyDave

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyDave

I'll post the full scan when I get home.

Full scan attached with the focus area below

Address 01: Engine ( ) Labels:. 079-907-560-BAR.clb
Part No SW: 4L0 910 560 L HW: 4L0 907 560 B
Component: 4.2l V8/4V 0020
Revision: 78H02--- Serial number:
Coding: 0121000A190F0960
Shop #: WSC 31414 790 00001
VCID: 313F179A2D26703230E-8064
VINID: 9D105198911C08950000114920340E5111

1 Fault Found:
000840 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G163)
P0348 - 001 - Short to Plus
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 255
Mileage: 214511 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2025.03.16
Time: 13:43:04

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 688 /min
Load: 26.7 %
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Temperature: 77.0°C
Temperature: 21.0°C
Absolute Pres.: 1020.0 mbar
Voltage: 14.224 V

Readiness: 0110 1101

Attached Files

Scan-WA1AV94L29D001598-20250316-1441-214510km-133290mi.txt (24.0 KB, 14 views)

Apr 3, 2025 | 06:09 PM

RockyDave

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I replaced the connector and confirmed that the old one was brittle, broken, and full of oil. Surprisingly the short to positive was still there after clearing the old code and starting the car with the new plug. The wires were all in good shape and I didn't see any breaks or splices. I am currently getting 2.5 volts (exactly equal) on both the positive and signal wire which is the cause of the short to positive but don't have any continuity between the two. I'm going to trace the wire back to check the upstream connection.

Last edited by RockyDave; Apr 3, 2025 at 06:42 PM.

Apr 3, 2025 | 11:59 PM

Q7Kopfschmerzen

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Clear the fault. Plug in the old sensor. Check for fault codes.

Apr 6, 2025 | 05:56 PM

RockyDave

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Q7Kopfschmerzen

Clear the fault. Plug in the old sensor. Check for fault codes.

UPDATE:
Gave me a good chuckle so I decided I should share. After three weeks of messing with this fault and driving myself a bit crazy my wife asked me to walk her through the problem. I showed her the sensor and the error. I then pulled out the wiring diagram and traced the wire back to the ecu. I then circled the sensor (G28) and was planning on running jumper wires direct from the main connector when she said "Why does it say G163 on the computer if you are looking for G28?".

I nearly fell over. What!? G163! no, that is the camshaft sensor, this is the crankshaft sensor................uhhhg. She was right. I had no problem with the newly replaced 'crankshaft' sensor. Camshaft sensor was just replaced in the rain and had some water in it. Problem solved.

Moral of the story, check and double check and don't assume you know what you are looking at even if crankshaft and camshaft both have a 'similar' name.