Crankshaft position sensor replacement on L9H -- some tips

[blairlee]

I just replaced the CKP on my '11 Silverado 6.2, trying to chase down the infamous "stabilitrak/traction control" issue. In my case, I was getting intermittent P0335 codes, which led me to the crankshaft position sensor.

 

Anyway, I was able to access and change the sensor with the truck on ramps. It would've taken me a lot less time if I'd known the following:

 

-While it would be easier to do this on stands with the front right wheel off, you can do this on ramps.

-Definitely disconnect the battery for this job! Electric surprises are bad surprises.

-You will want to remove the front right wheel liner for better access to the starter and harness (you'll see why in a sec).

-The starter itself is held in with two 13mm bolts, easily removed from underneath with a ratchet and extension.

-Once those bolts are out, you will try to move the starter out of the way to get to the sensor. It will take you forever and you'll invent all kinds of new curse words, unless...

-The wiring harness attached to the starter is secured to the frame rail with a metal clip. With the wheel liner out, you can get to it pretty easily from the wheel well. Now you should have enough play to move the starter out of the way.

-If you still don't have enough room, you can disconnect the starter from the harness through the wheel well.

-There is also some kind of metal heat shield that is clipped onto the starter. You can just pull this off to gain more room (but be careful if you haven't disconnected the battery; I made a nice big spark when I was putting it back on).

-Once you get the starter out of the way, the sensor is pretty easy to remove. One 10mm bolt, one wiring harness clip, boom.

 

For a visual on this job, check out this video I found regarding the same job on an Escalade (I don't know how this guy got the starter out of the way so easily, it definitely wasn't working that way on my Silverado):

 

 

 

I wish I'd taken photos of this process, but I thought it would be super easy when I started, and once I figured out what to do, I was so pissed that the last thing I wanted was to take photos, LOL. I hope this helps someone.