M44 in E30 - Issues...

[Royalratch]

Mine is done like this, the gauge settles at halfway in about 5 minutes, far too quickly to be an accurate reading. If creeping in traffic, it will go upto near red so it will at least show if the tempo is rising but it's very annoying as it could be an issue in hot weather or if there is a genuine problem with the coolant system.

There must be a way get the M44 double-temp sensor to play ball accurately with the E30 DME/gauge.

[Cristian G in Oz]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I was wondering if you guys that have an M44 in your car and used the M42 ECU, did you use the M44 Cam and Crank sensor or did you change "back" to the M44 sensors?

I have just found that my M42 cam sensor doesn't fit in the front of the M44 timing cover (as it hits the cam gear) and want to get an m44 one if it works with the M42 ECU.

Thanks

Cristian

[strypt]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I was wondering if you guys that have an M44 in your car and used the M42 ECU, did you use the M44 Cam and Crank sensor or did you change "back" to the M44 sensors?

I have just found that my M42 cam sensor doesn't fit in the front of the M44 timing cover (as it hits the cam gear) and want to get an m44 one if it works with the M42 ECU.

Thanks

Cristian

I had a M44 in my car but it has been replaced with a M42 turbo now But anyway, the crank sensor is of the same type on both M42 and M44 (VR) and the cam sensor is of VR type on the M42 and Hall type on the M44. M42 ECU will not work with a hall sensor. What you can do is put a spacer in between the sensor and the cam gear cover and use a M42 sensor, thats how I did and it worked. It was also before I discovered that the cam triggers are different and M44 cam triggers will not work with a M42 ECU But it doesnt matter as the engine will run fine without a cam sensor I could have removed it but then I had to find/make a plug so I just left it in there Maybe the CEL comes on if the cam sensor is broken/gone? Test to unplug the cam sensor and youll see

[Cristian G in Oz]

I had a M44 in my car but it has been replaced with a M42 turbo now But anyway, the crank sensor is of the same type on both M42 and M44 (VR) and the cam sensor is of VR type on the M42 and Hall type on the M44. M42 ECU will not work with a hall sensor. What you can do is put a spacer in between the sensor and the cam gear cover and use a M42 sensor, thats how I did and it worked. It was also before I discovered that the cam triggers are different and M44 cam triggers will not work with a M42 ECU But it doesnt matter as the engine will run fine without a cam sensor I could have removed it but then I had to find/make a plug so I just left it in there Maybe the CEL comes on if the cam sensor is broken/gone? Test to unplug the cam sensor and youll see

I understand the sensors are different (hall vs VR) and on the M44 it has a different "trigger wheel" bolted to the Cam gear.  
If you remove that trigger wheel the cam wheels look very similar between the two cars i.e. a round peg in the same location. The peg is the same height and diameter as the M42 cam wheels.
I was trying to not to have to go into making up adaptors for all this but if that is how it's going to work, I've spent too many fun tickets and don't have enough to go back now.

Are the early M42 cam sensors and the late ones the same?

[strypt]

I understand the sensors are different (hall vs VR) and on the M44 it has a different "trigger wheel" bolted to the Cam gear.  
If you remove that trigger wheel the cam wheels look very similar between the two cars i.e. a round peg in the same location. The peg is the same height and diameter as the M42 cam wheels.
I was trying to not to have to go into making up adaptors for all this but if that is how it's going to work, I've spent too many fun tickets and don't have enough to go back now.

Are the early M42 cam sensors and the late ones the same?

According to ETK there was a change in those sensors in 09/1993 but I don't know the difference between the two.

If you have a M42 and a M44 I'd try and fit the cam gear cover from the M42 onto the M44, chances are that it will fit That should take care of the spacing issue. M42 sensor position is also on the exhaust cam and on the intake cam on M44, I haven't measured the position of the peg vs the hole in cover, also has to be considered if you want to do this "right".

[willdy]

I had a M44 in my car but it has been replaced with a M42 turbo now But anyway, the crank sensor is of the same type on both M42 and M44 (VR) and the cam sensor is of VR type on the M42 and Hall type on the M44. M42 ECU will not work with a hall sensor. What you can do is put a spacer in between the sensor and the cam gear cover and use a M42 sensor, thats how I did and it worked. It was also before I discovered that the cam triggers are different and M44 cam triggers will not work with a M42 ECU But it doesnt matter as the engine will run fine without a cam sensor I could have removed it but then I had to find/make a plug so I just left it in there Maybe the CEL comes on if the cam sensor is broken/gone? Test to unplug the cam sensor and youll see

My m44 crank sensor is next to the starter pointing at the flywheel. Would this be compatible w m42 ecu where crank sensors are all mounted in the front?