Crankshaft Sensor **Please Help**

[giossoj]

I have a 1996 ford explorer 5.0L with about 148k miles.
Truck runs good, but I have a check engine light on.
The code reads crankshaft position sensor.
So I bought one at autozone for about $22.

My question is, how do I replace this? Do I just swap it out, or do i have to have the engine at top dead center?
Also, what is the best way to get to this? It seems pretty tight up in there.

Thanks in advance!

 

[chriswells78]

two bolts and swap it. It is just a magneto pickup telling the PCM where the crankshaft is in it's rotation so it can synchronize it with the cam and timing.

 

[giossoj]

Thanks! That's what I figured, just wanted to make sure.
Any sugestions on easiest way to get to it?

 

[chriswells78]

I did mine while the engine was out so I'm not sure about doing it with it in. Taking the belt off will probably make your life easier but that is about it. It is located at about 10 o'clock to the crank pulley as you look at it.