How do you work out "alternative parts"

[Woody]

Hi Chaps,

As per my post on the alternative parts thread, I'm trying to work out if there's an alternative part for the GS rear wheel sensor. Mine has packed up and while its a small wire, its actually attached to a bearing.....the cost of the part alone is the thick end of £400. Ouch.

I thought I'd have a quick look see if there was a clear alternative, such as there is for the front disks, cruise control etc, but I'm struggling. Is it only Alfa whose parts bin Maserati raided? I've contacted a couple of Alfa parts suppliers but all of them have come back blank. How do you identify if I there is an alternative and I can pay a tenner for an identical Fiat part, rather than be financially violated?

Any hints/tips appreciated as I'd like to get it sorted soon and dont want to hold off if theres no point.

Cheers
Woody

PS - the part I need is http://www.eurospares.co.uk/searchResult.asp?find=+&S=197064

 

[MAF260]

This doesn't sound like a Maserati-only part, Woody. Wheel sensors will be made by a third party manufacturer; it's the connection to the bearing which may be the issue. Have you spoken to David Askew?

 

[TridentTested]

I presume you've already spoken to Bill McGraths and they haven't been able to help.

I'm surprised, they are Italian car fanatics and their knowledge across the marques of pretty good. They were able to tell me the resistor they replaced on my cooling fan was a cheap Fiat part.

Somebody must sell the sensor separately, it's probably only fifty quid, surely a new one could be soldered onto the existing wire.

 

[Parisien]

The wire to the sensor is very fragile, have you had work been carried out in that area recently........?

I was told as its an integral assembly...........you need a new one......


P

 

[Woody]

I haven't asked David Askew, no. May give him a bell. Yep, car will be done at McGrath and am confident that if they knew of an alternative, they'd suggest. I don't think its a common fault, so I may be the first to look at alternatives.

Frank, no, don't think I've had work done. It was serviced in Nov but haven't used it much since then - baby and snowy roads have meant its had a rest. Ive read that these sensors can suffer when not used, like the cars in general IMO. Would rather not nave a bill for 600 for having not used it though!

 

[Parisien]

Plus Woody, important to check the new part against the VIN number as they changed from blue to black wired ...which afffects the ECUs ability to recognise new bearing unit


P

 

[TridentTested]

Ive read that these sensors can suffer when not used,

If you suspect that have you tried a quick spray of contact cleaner?

 

[Geofflyn]

Woody, out of interest what does this sensor do and how do you know when it's failed?
Cheers

 

[Parisien]

Your orange warning light light stays on....ergo I imagine the system is not going to work



P

 

[allandwf]

Are you absolutely sure it's the sensor. I had this with the Merc. seemingly quite common on them. Was a chafed wire near suspension.( took an age to find it.) If you can measure across the sensors on ohms they will both read the same if both ok, can't remember off hand what kind of reading they will give, but if different then does point to one being suspect.

 

[Woody]

If you suspect that have you tried a quick spray of contact cleaner?

Hmm...no, I havent. I'm not sure I have the confidence to get involved, but I might ask McGrath's to check before fitting parts.

Woody, out of interest what does this sensor do and how do you know when it's failed?
Cheers

My Dad was explaining this to me today - in laymans terms, they check all four wheels are rotating at the same speed. I know its failed as the ABS/MSP and skyhook warning lights are on, on the dash.

Are you absolutely sure it's the sensor. I had this with the Merc. seemingly quite common on them. Was a chafed wire near suspension.( took an age to find it.) If you can measure across the sensors on ohms they will both read the same if both ok, can't remember off hand what kind of reading they will give, but if different then does point to one being suspect.

The diagnosis was from the SD3 (I think that what it was!). The car wasnt put up on a ramp or anything, so I guess it could be something less severe. Its not a common failure on the GS, so you never know....it might not be a big bill, but I'm not that lucky

 

[TridentTested]

Ah, if the sensor is *in*the wheel bearing in might not be clever to spray contact cleaner into a bearing, I thought it was a separate gizmo on a wire attached *to* the bearing.

 

[Parisien]

If wire/s broken...need a new unit....they go staright into hub unit....not sure they can be dissassmbled...maybe this can be tried Woody...no ones done it to date


P

 

[CatmanV2]

There has been some discussion about this in other places. The consensus view is 'it's stuffed'. It would be interesting to get it to an engineer with a proper shop to see if anything can actually be done
Woody, if you keep your old one, let me let some friends have a look?

C

 

[Woody]

OK, thanks guys. I'll get the old one, for sure. IMO, its pretty shoddy engineering if its a sealed unit, but then its not supposed to fail. Frustrating though.

Will keep you all posted, thanks.

 

[Parisien]

Poor design.....unprotected fragile wiring...................joke!

P

 

[AndyG]

If anybody has a unit that they can send over to me I would be more than happy to take look to see if they can be re-cond. I am a time served engineer with a machine shop, even though I now sell Agricultural, Groundscare and Forestry machinery.

Andy

 

[Parisien]

Andy.....I know I have one......maybe take a few pics of it first to see if worth while sending ok......remind me later, get it done this evening..


P

 

[Woody]

There has been some discussion about this in other places. The consensus view is 'it's stuffed'. It would be interesting to get it to an engineer with a proper shop to see if anything can actually be done
Woody, if you keep your old one, let me let some friends have a look?

C

If anybody has a unit that they can send over to me I would be more than happy to take look to see if they can be re-cond. I am a time served engineer with a machine shop, even though I now sell Agricultural, Groundscare and Forestry machinery.

Andy

Hi chaps,

Part has arrived and has been replaced. Bill McGraths have given me the old unit if either of you are interested?

Its a wuightly little thing so will be a few quid to post, but if either of you are keen to take a look, I'll gladly send on, with the undestanding that any knowledge gleaned gets put on here for the world to see.

Mind, I should take a look myself first! Haven't so much as opened the box yet....

 

[CatmanV2]

Woody, where abouts in Herts are you? Might be easier just to exchange at a meet, or summat.

C