Car wouldn't start at work today. v. cam shaft position sensor

Myco

Myco

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This has happened several times where it cranks and wants to start but doesn't and I've even had it towed once and it started once the towtruck put it down in my driveway. About 4-5 times a year this has happened since I got it.

Today I unplugged the sensor and plugged it back in and no go. I also:
unplugged the battery
w/ the sensor out pushed the car around.
w/ the sensor in pushed the car around. ( rocked it)

All to no avail.

BESIDES replacing the sensor does anyone have any tricks to get this thing to work. I'm thinking maybe letting it sit overnight might help (temp change).

Last night I was working under the steering column. Is there anything I could have unplugged under there?

It did start this morning and I drove it to work so I'm guessing it's not this. I checked the rail for gas and it squirts out pretty well. It cranks and sounds like it wants to start but doesn't.

Checked the MAF plug, air intake tube, can't think of anything except maybe a fuse somewhere.

Any ideas?
 
What are the symptoms, does it just crank and crank but no start? Does it just click or nothing at all? I had a no start about two months ago, it just kept cranking and cranking but no start. Read about disconnecting the CPS on here. I unplugged it, sprayed liberal amounts of MAF cleaner inside the connectors. Dried them and then put a liberal amount of dielectric grease in the connectors. She started right up and hasn't acted up ever since.
 
I agree with all the above posts too. My CPS's on both my Marks 1st Gen and 2nd both have done this 2 me twice.

I just did the unplug and plug back in and it would start. No Dielectric Grease cause I didn't have it at the time of the fail but it's to the point that I can just do it cause I recognize it now :rolleyes:
 
Cam sensor is for injectors. Crank is for spark. At least that is what was explained to me. Either can go back, crank usually does due to oil and crud in that area messing with connector. Then you have it getting contaminated by lots of oil. Double whammy.
 
That didn't work. It's in the process of getting towed home. :-( Wonder what to do next.?? Any ideas? Last time I had it towed b/c of this it started up once it was dropped off. lol
 
unity said:
Cam sensor is for injectors. Crank is for spark. At least that is what was explained to me. Either can go back, crank usually does due to oil and crud in that area messing with connector. Then you have it getting contaminated by lots of oil. Double whammy.
Click to expand...

Where is the crank sensor?

Car was towed home and still doesn't start. I did try MAF cleaner in the connector but it didn't help.

I had the Injectors cleaned last week and I was working on it all day the day before putting an audio system in it but I didn't disconnect anything OR connect anything. I did punch through the boot under the steering wheel but I'm pretty darn sure I didn't cut wires ( plus it started the next morning).

Little bit more info: the day it didn't start I did drive it to work but that morning starting it up it sounded like it didn't want to start up well. What I mean is It started and then ran rough for about 15 seconds and then ran normally.

I know I have a leak between the exhaust manifold and engine block ( or somewhere in that are ) because when I had the injectors cleaned smoke was coming out of that area. Don't know if that could cause a leak. Can't think of anything else. I'm going to pull the intake tube off and reseat it just in case it's not seated where I can't see and hope for the best. Really relying on you guys to help w/ this one. No engine light, but haven't checked codes. ( can't really )

Also: I"m going to check the fuse box under the hood. They took the relay out for the gas pump, maybe something is loose. I did check the rail plug and gas was shooting out.
 
I AM SAYING MANY MANY BAD WORDS RIGHT NOW. I WAS MESSING WITH THE WRONG DANG PLUG!!!!!!!!!

One little wiggle on the sensor and BAM started right up. Now i'm 80$n in the hole until insurance reimburses me for the tow.

I was unplugging/replugging in this plug in green.
notcranksensoringreen.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Man, I was gonna tell you to make sure you unplugged the right connector but I did not want to insult your intelligence. I unplugged the compressor clutch connector at first and did the clean and grease trick and it still just kept cranking. I said to myself, no way in hell that didn't fix it. So I took off the engine beauty cover, its amazing how much more room you get when you remove it. In addition, there is a lot more room to work with with the cover off. I then realized, doh, I cleaned the wrong connector because they are so close to each other. Once I cleaned the right connector, she started right up.
 
OchoMarko said:
Man, I was gonna tell you to make sure you unplugged the right connector but I did not want to insult your intelligence. I unplugged the compressor clutch connector at first and did the clean and grease trick and it still just kept cranking. I said to myself, no way in hell that didn't fix it. So I took off the engine beauty cover, its amazing how much more room you get when you remove it. In addition, there is a lot more room to work with with the cover off. I then realized, doh, I cleaned the wrong connector because they are so close to each other. Once I cleaned the right connector, she started right up.
Click to expand...

I know. I was saying to the end "this is def. the pos. sensor".. that's why I went back to make sure it was the right plug. I remembered there were two plugs in that area. Got underneath. All I needed to do was wiggle it a bit and started right up. Have yet to take it off and clean it... In the middle of a project but I'll do that also.
 
I have a '97 Continental and the same thing happened to me. I had the Conti out in cold weather overnight (I live in Alaska) and the battery lost all of its charged from trying to start a frozen engine ( this will not happen when it is -40 outside). A separate problem: I dropped the socket into the engine compartment and ended up frying the starter to solenoid strap with the socket! Anyway after I replaced the starter the Conti wouldn't start. Two things that may have been the problem: The battery has to be 100% for the car to start and I cleaned the crankshaft and camshaft sensor with electrical cleaner and it started up! Hope this helps
 
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