Looking for help with this issue- car would not start- just turned over and over- then a loud grinding noise occured, and then the grinding noise stopped, car still would not start. Fault code 214 intermitent rpm sensor output- took old sensor off, the end was chewed off- pulled small covers from bell houseing and three small parts fell out- two looked similar to roller bearings- parts appeared chewed up slightly-

no damage visable on ring gear or starter drive
replaced sensor with new, car started right up however it is now rough idleing and rpm gauge jumps below 2000 rpm above 2000 it runs smooth.

could the metal parts be from flywheel rpm sensor triggers?

any ideas before I pull tranny??????????

Dear R J,

Good p.m. and hope this finds you well. It sounds as if you pulled the metal brace in front of the oil pan (secured by six hex head bolts). That exposed the bottom section of the ring gear.

You might use a narrow magnet, to grab any metal fragments at the bottom of the ring gear enclosure. If you don't have a magnet, you can use a shop vacuum to suction the area. By these methods, you might be able to remove any RPM sensor fragments. If either method works, you save yourself pulling the tranny. You can test the results, before replacing the metal brace.

If there were damage to the thin sheet metal ring that allows the RPM sensor to work,the engine would cut-out, as the RPM sensor signal would be lost.

The inconsistent/rough idle might be the coincidental result of a dirty idle air control valve. It is right below the intake manifold. See the FAQs for the procedure to clean it. If that doesn't work - and the roughness continues - one has to conclude that the sensor sheet metal ring somehow was damaged.

Hope some of this helps.

Yours faithfully,

spook