Ok...I finally got around to changing out the crank sensor today. Took the old one off...it looked different the the one I got. But, same length, same plug...all looks the same except one GLARING difference. The new one I bought has 2 small metal contacts on the head..what goes into the bell housing. The old sensor does not have those two contacts, and now it won't start. So I called my buddy at advance...he shows the same part for a 5.2 and a 5.9(CSS813)..so i looked on Ebay. Found one that has the contacts on the end, and looked to see if my 5.2 was compatible...NOPE. The next one down shows without the contacts on the end...It's compatible...I am confused as heck...here are the ebay listings so you can look and see the same thing I did..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-03-Dodge-...ht_1296wt_1159

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Ram-Da...t_11305wt_1393

 

When I typed that out yesterday I was in a hurry. Yes, I did buy a crank sensor off of ebay, funds are tight since I got laid off. When I purchased it, I double and triple checked to make sure that the part was compatible with my vehicle. I even looked yesterday at my purchase history, and this dealer has it marked, Yes that does fit my Durango 5.2 V8. So I looked at another part that has the metal contacts on the end...no, is not compatible, only fits the 5.9. bought one that looks like what I took off(I cannot justify $50 if I can get it for $17, maybe I am stubborn).

As for those of you who have not changed out the crank sensor yet. Even with taking out the inner fender, it's still a pain to get to. I ended up using a long extension and feeding it through the bracket for the transmission dipstick tube. Those bolts are both allen and socket head just FYI. I will try to get pictures today and post so you know what I am looking at as far as difference in parts...my buddy at Advance had to go back to 1996 to find a crank sensor for a 5.2 that doesn't have the metal contacts at the end..

 

Did you compare to any other chain stores? Sometimes the law of averages prevails. Advance / Autozone, Oreilly, Napa, and local Mom & Pop stores.

 

I've changed the crank sensor on my 5.2 before and I'm pretty sure the replacement one didn't have metal contacts. I know for sure the oem one didn't.

Don't hold me to this but IIRC the 5.9 uses a different flex plate, and it might need the contacts to work. Just a hunch though.

 

Yeah, I ended up calling Autozone, OReilly, Napa, and Pronto(local mom and pop store). All gave me the same info as Advance...CSS813 is a BWD part number, which most parts stores carry Borg Warner parts, but may be in different packaging per store. All showed the crank sensor having contacts for the 5.2, and 5.9...So now my question is, since my buddy had to go back to 96 to find the crank sensor without the contacts, is there much of a difference between 96 and 99 5.2 V8's?

 

not sure about the engines themselves but that is around the time that the engine controllers (PCMs) went from OBDI to OBDII so the computer may be different (im not sure offhand if 96 was the first year for OBDII or the last for OBDI)

 

Yeah I think the only difference is the computer

 

Ok, I took pictures so you all could see what I see. The one on the left is the new one, the one on the right is the one I replaced. I unplugged the sensor, then unplugged the battery for about an hour, plugged the sensor back, then the battery...still no start...replaced the new one with the old one...fired right up...I must be missing something here..

 

 

I tried making the picture bigger, it obviously didn't work...here is the link, maybe you can enlarge it on your screen3

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...85822x1100.jpg