[V8] RPM sensor (was Mass Air Flow Sensor)

[Buchholz, Steven]

... and that is the main point ... don't consider this more than a temporary reprieve.  It is been my experience and that of others that once one sensor fails the other will not be far behind.  

What you will experience with the faulty sensor in the reference position is that the car will start and run just fine, but you will have problems starting the car when hot.  

The I-5 engines will stop running if either sensor stops working, but since the V8 has an even number of cylinders; once it gets started it will continue to run, even without the reference sender working at all.  The sensor on the distributor also provides a similar reference.

Steve B
San José, CA (USA)
> 
> I like a happy ending!
> 
> Even if you replace both sensors, you are at a small fraction of the cost of
> paying someone else to mis-diagnose, replace parts, re-diagnose, replace
> parts,
> lather - rinse - repeat until the real culprit is found.
> 
> I remember a rumor from a while back that another sensor from an I5 motor was
> physically similar and worked OK but it had a longer cable on it or something
> like that, but it was quite a bit cheaper. Perhaps worth looking into if the
> price difference is big enough.
> 
> Dave
> 
> Quoting Jeff Goldberg <jgoldberg at ntelos.net>:
> 
> > Swapping the RPM sensor with Reference Sensor solved my problem! The
> > sensors were a little dirty on the sides, but not the business end
> > from a distributor oil leak.  I cleaned them up and swapped
> > locations and connectors. The car is running great.
> >
> > I checked the flywheel as well. '91 Audi still has all its teeth:)
> >
> > I am a little curious as to the symptoms of a failing reference
> > sensor as this should now be my problem, however the car seems to
> > run fine and codes 4444.