B5 2.8 30v eating crankshaft position sensors

[Orion541]

It started after cleaning my throttle body, the old CPS was broken at the mount and held in place with grime and luck. When I was getting at the throttle body I pulled on the wire enough to move it out of position and when I started my car up it ate the end of the sensor.
So I bought a new one, made sure it was installed right, including the spacer! And the second I started the car I heard the sensor getting smacked by the crank. Shut the car off, pulled the sensor...and sure enough it was chewed up....not as bad as the first one but enough to ruin it I think (yay for wasting $45)
I dont have money to buy another one right now...but I want to know why this is happening so I can prevent another sensor massacre.
And like I said, the spacer is on there.

[elduderino200]

There's a few different versions - not if they differ on length though.
There exist some for automatics as well as manuals. There was also a change by year at 1998 - before or after 8D-W-000483.

[Orion541]

I have the an automatic, and this is the part I ordered, same red O-ring as the one I pulled.

[elduderino200]

I have a manual and I've ordered that exact part from amazon. The first one I ordered scraped the flywheel but I think that was just because I forgot the spacer. The second one I didn't torque down all the way and it works fine.

[Orion541]

Does that mean I purchased the wrong one? Idk if they differ from Auto to Manual, amazon said it fit...and it looks exactly the same as the one I pulled the first time.

[elduderino200]

I'm not really sure. Amazon also said it fit mine even though it's a manual. I've noticed amazon isn't perfect about those things.
I really cant answer that sorry.

[noob5]

If your car is auto or manual up to VIN 8D-W-000482, you need 050906433B.
If your car is auto from VIN 8D-W-000483, you need 06A906433C.

You may have torqued down too hard. I think torque spec is pretty light...7 ft-lbs or something.

[Orion541]

If your car is auto or manual up to VIN 8D-W-000482, you need 050906433B.
If your car is auto from VIN 8D-W-000483, you need 06A906433C.

You may have torqued down too hard. I think torque spec is pretty light...7 ft-lbs or something.

What do those vin values mean? And how do I verify mine?

[elduderino200]

For example, my full VIN is: WAUED28D3XA080859
But in this case we're only concerned about the numbers from 8D and on so: 8D3XA080859
The first and third digit after the D are insignificant for this situation so mine is: 8D-X-080859

The VIN can be in a few places but mine is 'underneath' the windshield:

[Orion541]

Well it looks like I ordered the correct part, I didn't torque it at all really, just enough for the sensor to sit snug, and it still ate about a quarter inch off the end of the sensor then the car ran like garbage for a few seconds and died.

[elduderino200]

Do you have a different or an aftermarket flywheel? I would still think the diameter would be the same.

[Nollywood]

I would be looking at the spacer. It's only made of soft aluminium, so don't rule out the fact it could be deformed / squashed.

[Orion541]

Flywheel is stock, and the spacer seems to be in spec, doesnt look deformed, and matches the sensor in diameter.