Crank sensor question - i20 CRDI

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PsYTraNc3

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So I took my car in for a service and to check up on my clutch which seemed quite worn out.

They did some tests, found wear and started stripping.
Skipping past the fact that my car has been at the dealership for a week, battling with Liquid Capital to actually cover the cost, the technician noticed that my crank sensor has melted.

This got me thinking...

I've always been wondering why my car takes a bit longer to start than a family members petrol version.
I always thought it was just normal for the diesel but now that I know about my fault crank sensor, this is my conclusion:

- There's always been a slight delay when starting which is a symptom of a faulty crank sensor.
- A couple of months ago, I got a new battery since my last one started losing more and more power until it just stopped working. Could this be due to the car taking a bit long to start? +- 2 seconds as opposed to an instant start on the petrol version i drove.
My car is only 2 years old so a failing battery was quite worrying.
- What bothers me now is that this could very well have been a problem since I got the vehicle.
Would I be wrong for thinking that driving with a faulty crank sensor for 2 years might have caused some engine damage too?

Any input would be appreciated :)

EDIT: I forgot to add that the crank sensor will be replaced under vehicle warranty but was informed that it will take ONE MONTH to get the part from Korea!

--- some info about my clutch ---

liquid Capital are refusing to pay for the replacement due to unfair wear and here's what my problem with that is.
They say that a blue color on the clutch indicates burning or slipping of the clutch, mine is slightly blue.
Since a slipping clutch is a sign of a worn out clutch and the clutch slipping would cause the blue color, how is that my fault??

I spend 3 hours a day in bumper to bumper traffic so my clutch definitely would not last as long as someone who drives a longer distance but spends most of their time on a freeway for instance.

I also took a lot of pride in my driving style and how much fuel I could save driving economically (main reason I got a diesel)
I'm pretty sure I even posted about that on here before and what my consumption is.
Getting 900km off a tank would not be possible if I were the type of person who does burnouts at every chance they get!

Got someone senior at the dealership fighting with them at the moment.
 
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What dealership is the car at? In this kind of situation it's always difficult to get what's promised, but I've seen quite a couple do it by just blasting everyone involved everywhere they can be it in forums, the newspaper, social media, just give them as much trouble as possible.

Does your warranty have any acceptable usage terms regarding clutch use? I mean when the clutch gets worn out it starts slipping, they can't use that as an excuse to not replace it.
 
Good Morning,

Remember that diesel isn't combustible like petrol, in a diesel engine it use compression to make the explosion, and not a spark plug that ignite petrol. In older cars and bakkies, you had a button that you pressed with a glow wire, it heated up and only then you can start the engine.
In modern diesel engines, the car heat the glow plug, and start the car when ready.
You would find this would take longer to start in winter than summer. In my car I turn the key, and release, all the lights and so comes on, but the engine would start when it's ready.
(That is why your diesel car take longer to start than a petrol one)

Because there are so many variables, fuel quality, air intake, turbo boost, and and and, the knock sensor give feedback to the ECU regarding the position of the shaft. Then the ECU adjust the air intake, the amount of diesel injected, timing, and other things to make it run optimally.
When faulty it can cause strange problems, like you switch it off (diesel engine), and the engine keep on running for a while, or you hear the knocking noises.

You can drive without it, but then know that your fuel consumption would go way up, and your engine wouldn't run efficiently.
 
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Thanks for the info :)

With regards to the glow plug, when turning on the ignition, a glow plug heating light shows up and I only attempt to start after the light turns off.
It takes a second in summer and a few seconds in winter but I've always waited for that process to complete :)
 
I've owned two tdis but on both of them they started as soon as I turn the key or press the button. I think it depends from car to car.

As mr Malan says, there are a lot of variables, I had an instance where the starter was on the way out on my old Polo, it struggled when hot but was fine when cold.

I haven't seen many instances where glow plugs give in, but from what I understand that could lead to the same issues. This is very rare though.

Keep us updated on the clutch outcome, it's always entertaining to see what levels of hell one needs to go through to be able to claim these things through warranties.
 
UPDATE:
Crank sensor - my service adviser made magic and they will now have the part by this Friday 15-04

Clutch - Manager gave the go ahead for the repair and that should be done today.
He said he would take the responsibility to make sure that Liquid Capital pays up and agreed that they had no reason not to.

As long as I don't have to pay, I'm happy :)
Will still be making sure I don't reach 60 000km before the whole thing is finalized.
 
1 month for a sensor? thats insane, glad they found it and you wont have to pay,

in cases of things like this, you might be able to find the part at korean auto parts,
had my throttle position sensor replaced by them, works well now, but before was hunting revs.....

traffic will kill clutches, thats why an auto is better for certain cars....

one thing Im happy with right now is my current drive to work has a section of traffic, that's on a downhill...
turn off the engine, and hold the car with the brakes....
 
If the crankshaft position sensor was not working, your car would not be starting.

Engine management cannot work without knowing the position of the crankshaft.
Every single car with electronic fuel injection and ignition needs one.

Sounds like a cover story.
#JustSaying
 
One more thing on the battery, it is possible for a battery to fail after two years, the average lifespan of a battery is 2 to 3 years. So if it needed to be replaced at 2 years you were unfortunate :-(.
 
Gnome said:
If the crankshaft position sensor was not working, your car would not be starting.

Engine management cannot work without knowing the position of the crankshaft.
Every single car with electronic fuel injection and ignition needs one.

Sounds like a cover story.
#JustSaying
Click to expand...

Very possible!


UPDATE AND SUMMARY:
- Took my car in for a service and to check everything.
Specifically specified that brakes, wipers and clutch should be checked.
- Wipers and front brake pads were changed and I was told to return the car for the clutch.
I questioned why the front was changed since that was done at 30 000km and I expected the back to need replacing.
- Returned the car for clutch replacement where 2 issues popped up.
My maintenance plan was causing grief and they found my crank sensor had apparently melted
- The dealer principal offered to fight with liquid capital to pay for my clutch and won after 2 weeks.
- It took a further 2 weeks for my crank sensor to arrive after being told it would up 5 days days in the same week my clutch was fixed.
- Took delivery of the car and then a new problem arose.
A loud screeching noise every now and then that only went away when braking.
- Took the car in yesterday and they found my back brakes needed replacing.
absolutely impossible that I could wear out my brakes in 600km right?
- I questioned why it was not replaced when i brought my car in initially and they then changed it on the spot with no cost to me
By now the maintenance plan had expired since I reached 60 000km.
I think they checked my brakes initially and then replaced the front instead of the back accidentally.
The front pads should have been fine.

So it was a long, tedious process with lots of things Hyundai could have done better but overall, I am satisfied.
Especially since the only thing I had to pay for was a voucher I got to polish my car which expired a few days before I got my car back.
 
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