[kcksaab99]

Does anyone know where to buy a new crank position sensor for 1993 900s ? Ran out of used ones in our inventory.

 

[jvanabra]

I feel like either Skandix or Parts for Saabs had them recently, but in the US you can still buy the sensor itself... as long as you have tiny screwdrivers and a way of splicing wires, it's a solution. Eh, I take that back... everyone is out of stock until at least July.

 

[kcksaab99]

I feel like either Skandix or Parts for Saabs had them recently, but in the US you can still buy the sensor itself... as long as you have tiny screwdrivers and a way of splicing wires, it's a solution. Eh, I take that back... everyone is out of stock until at least July.

Thanks, I'll just have to be patient unless something else pops up. I've gone through a couple used ones in the last couple yrs and now wondering if we may have an ECU or wiring/grounding issue. I should put the time in to trace the wiring to verify continuity,etc.

 

[jvanabra]

There's not much to those Hall sensors, and their specs suggest they're electrically pretty durable. That said, I would not expect used parts to last... I suppose if you get one from some low mileage car that just rusted away you might get some good life, but otherwise they're all just a year or two from failing these days. I'd definitely try and just buy a new sensor... Mouser, Digikey, Newark, Allied etc. all stock them.... but everyone's out for a few months it seems.

 

[c900]

Saabits does a rebuild kit for them. Worth checking out. I've done the repair on the CPS for my 1992 2.1 car. Don't through out any used CPS assemblies as the casting that the hall sensor mounts in is very NLA. Be careful as they're easy to break.

 

[fothoroc]

Saabits does a rebuild kit for them. Worth checking out. I've done the repair on the CPS for my 1992 2.1 car. Don't through out any used CPS assemblies as the casting that the hall sensor mounts in is very NLA. Be careful as they're easy to break.

I've spent the last couple of days surfing the web for a CPS. They are a series 4AV Hall effect magnetic sensor manufactured by Micro Switch USA and marketed by Honeywell globally. I'm in the process of contacting all the Honeywell distributors in Australia and so far nothing available. One distributor said the 4AV12A is no longer listed in the Master Honeywell Price List, so it may be obsolete, he goes on to say the 4AV15F, which looks the same, is listed however comes with a MOQ (minimum order quantity) of 1000, ie US$13800 for 1000 units worth US$13.80 each. Skandix in Germany has them for $185 each with a freight cost of $224.
Any suggestions gratefully accepted while I keep searching.

 

[jvanabra]

You may wish to review:

More Discussion on NA CPS Sensors

I'm gonna try and get this '93 smogged. I'm not sure that'll fly in California because the turbo distributor that's installed has a vacuum module, and one with an unused nipple on the top. I'm pretty sure it'll get flagged as a nonstock part and I'll fail. Been looking around at replacement CPS...

www.saabcentral.com

The TL;DR is that yes, this whole line of sensor is now discontinued. You can search for alternative lengths and maybe find stock. I was able to find the 4AV19F recently, but supplies are dwindling.

 

[fothoroc]

I'd like to know the exact 4AV model variant that Saab used as I see there are 4AV11A, 11C, 12A, 12C, 12F, 15F, 19F, all dimensionally identical with minor differences in supply voltage (4.5 to 16V), supply current (7 to 13mA), output voltage of 0.4V and output current (4 to 20mA). The sensor has the variant number printed on the side however mine is no longer visible, if anybody knows please pass it on. Where did you get the 4AV19F?

 

[fothoroc]

Sorry jvanabra, I didn't follow your review suggestion until just now, that sheds light on the different 4AV variants, thanks for the info.
One of the Honeywell distributors has suggested I try RS Components and/or Element14.....watch this space

 

[jvanabra]

Happy hunting.

 

[fothoroc]

RS Components and Element14 do not list this item at all in their catalogues....the search goes on

 

[c900]

I don't know where Bill at Saabits is sourcing hall sensors from but one would think that complete discontinuance of hall sensors would be odd since a lot of things other that cars rely on them in the industrial process and control domain.

What are the alternatives? Convert back to distributor-based hall sensor which is much less accurate? I don't know much about crank position sensing but there'd be other systems around. At the end of the day, there has to be a signal from somewhere to tell the electronics what rotational position the crankshaft (and therefore position of pistons and camshaft/shafts) is in, otherwise the motor cannot function.

It is even possible to run a 16v engine without fancy electronic controls? ie. with something like K-jet?

 

[jvanabra]

There are plenty of Hall sensors on the market, just not these Hall sensors.

 

[c900]

This guy claims to have them. Saab Crank Hall Sensor C900 9000 85-93 7484546 Honeywell 4AV16F 4AV19F IN STOCK | eBay

Neither Mouser, Digikey, RS or Element14 (formerly Farnell) have them. Only the first two actually list them in their online catalogues. The ones Bill at Saabits sourced aren't 4AV19F's as the leads are much shorter but still the same specs.

 

[c900]

This is the actual Honeywell page for the 4AV19F. Note the only difference in the 4AVxxF's is the lead length. The basic sensor spec appears to be the same.

Home

Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions are designed for increased performance and enhanced protection. Solutions for customers around the globe.

sensing.honeywell.com

 

[fothoroc]

Email from Bill received Saturday 14th August ....."
Sorry to say that, as luck would have it, we received word from our supplier today that the delivery date has been put back to mid-November.
Regards,
Bill....."
Also SKANDIX website says "Refill en route in stock 6/10/21".
And I'm getting similar feedback from various other Honeywell distributors and suppliers.
It seems normal stocks around the world have been used. As with many of these manufacturers, they do "manufacturing runs" of a specific product within a short time (weeks) to supply the estimated annual demand and if stocks run out we have to wait till the next "run", and it appears the next run is coming soon....fingers crossed.

 

[c900]

I know the 4av series is not used by just Saab's CPS's - quite a number of machines in industrial process control use them and similar hall sensors. But I guess with the p(l)andemic etc. logistics of manufacturing electronic parts is a lot trickier now. Quite a bunch of car makers are having trouble getting supplies of electronics and that's making delivery times on new cars a lot longer.

 

[AUSSIE900]

I know the 4av series is not used by just Saab's CPS's - quite a number of machines in industrial process control use them and similar hall sensors. But I guess with the p(l)andemic etc. logistics of manufacturing electronic parts is a lot trickier now. Quite a bunch of car makers are having trouble getting supplies of electronics and that's making delivery times on new cars a lot longer.

Currently working for a well known iconic brand (think Snow regions ) in the car audio arena and they are having huge issues with electronic component supply on an international scale. Its not just supply chain issues that are covid related , apparently 2 MAJOR electonic componenet manufacturers within Asia have had large fires in the last 6 or so months impacting manufacturing to a major extent , Heres hoping that regular suppy of the hall sensor is in the future, disappointing to hear that RS no longer list , they had previously been my source....

 

[theoC900]

Just dropping this in for anyone who may be looking in the future found this website with some stock left : Manufactured by - HONEYWELL MICROSWITCH