Ford Focus Mk1 1.4 Speed Sensor

Mervyn Skidmore

Anyone got any tips on how to replace this? There is a retaining clip in the sensor. When trying to remove, the top broke off and now there is just a bit of the pin sticking out. I've tried lubricating it and have been clamping the vice grips on it but it doesn't budge. Been trying for hours now over the past two days. The pin's been there for 15 years and doesn't seem to want to move out.

dooroy

Not very encouraging but may give some ideas :
http://passionford.com/forum/ford-focus/322681-focus-speed-sensor-removal-issues.html

Mervyn Skidmore

Cheers, have pretty much read everything I can find online at this stage. It really is a pig of a job. I really don't want to have to crap out and bring it to a garage. I might try to get some penetrating oil and see how that works, so far I've just been using 3 in 1 oil.

dooroy

A good penetrating oil would be preferable - they do , as the name suggests , tend to penetrate better as they are thinner .
And they also need time to work I have found.
I would have very little faith in the 3in1 in this situation.

Mervyn Skidmore

dooroy wrote: »

A good penetrating oil would be preferable - they do , as the name suggests , tend to penetrate better as they are thinner .
And they also need time to work I have found.
I would have very little faith in the 3in1 in this situation.

Recommend any particular brand? This pin is sword in the stone stuff.

dooroy

Have used different ones - get them from motor factors , new products come on the market from time to time so I just read what it says it can help with .
Can't think of brands offhand but you could go to a motor factors and read 'what it says on the tin' or ask for advice at the counter (they can draw on the experience of others).
I have also been told that diesel can be very effective in cases but takes a while to work.

George Dalton

Heat and penetrating oil and plenty of swearing will get the job done eventually.

Did you get the remains of the sensor itself out of the gearbox?

Mervyn Skidmore

George Dalton wrote: »

Heat and penetrating oil and plenty of swearing will get the job done eventually.

Did you get the remains of the sensor itself out of the gearbox?

Haven't even got the pin out yet, looking forward to the sensor itself. It's such a bloody awkward thing to remove for a DIYer like myself. I think i'll soak it in penetrating oil for the next week and have another go next weekend. There was plenty of swearing done and I'm sure next weekend will be no different.

CJhaughey

Mix Acetone with ATF fluid 50/50, I use this as a penetrating fluid and it works much much better than most so called penetrating oils.
Cheaper as well.

kirving

It's a bit tricky alright, but your only real problem is access since its awkward. A garage could have it out in 10 mins with the right tools. Yeah you'll be down a bit of cash, but could save hours of heartache under the car. Replaced two of these and I was lucky, fortunately!

Stoolbend

I usually screw a wood screw in a bit and lever it out with a side cutter pliers. Don't screw in too far as you'll just make it tighter.

Mervyn Skidmore

Stoolbend wrote: »

I usually screw a wood screw in a bit and lever it out with a side cutter pliers. Don't screw in too far as you'll just make it tighter.

Into the sensor? Its the pin I'm having trouble with now.

Stoolbend

Into the pin. The pin is hollow.

Mervyn Skidmore

Stoolbend wrote: »

Into the pin. The pin is hollow.

Will definitely give this a try. I would have thought it would have collapsed if it was hollow, had the vice grips on it as tight as possible.