Colt L4-1795cc 1.8L SOHC (1994)
Crankshaft Position Sensor: Description and Operation
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
LOCATION
The Crank Angle Sensor and the Top Dead Center Sensor are located within the distributor housing.
CONSTRUCTION
Both sensors are incorporated into one unit; a disc and a pick-up unit. The disc is affixed to the distributor shaft and the light-transmitting unit is
mounted stationary to the distributor housing.
Crank Angle And #1 TDC Sensor
The disc contains 4 large slits around its circumference to indicate the crankshaft angle. An additional light-transmission slit located inward from
the edge is used to indicate number one cylinder's top dead center position. The pick-up unit assembly uses two luminous diodes and two photo
diodes, in order to detect the two different slits.
Photoelectric Signal Pattern
OPERATION
The disc rotates within a very slight clearance between the luminous diodes and the photo diodes. As the distributor shaft rotates, the slits at the
discs edge pass between the light and the optical reading part of the unit. The light emitted from the luminous diodes pass through the slits to the
photo sensing diodes. When the photo diodes receive light, they become conductive and generate a signal, which is sent to the Control Unit.
The Control Unit is able to detect number one cylinder TDC by the signal generated through the single inner slit on the disc. The sequence of the
fuel injector firing is based on this signal.
