Crank sensor experts, inside, please....
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Crank sensor experts, inside, please....
I think I may have a bad crank sensor. The other day while pulling into an auto parts store (How ironic!) and with the car running great, as I slowed to less than 5 miles an hour to park, my 2000 C5 suddenly started chugging black smoke out the rear and missing very badly. I didn't get an SES light at that point and all guages were reading fine, so I put it in park and revved it up a little. It started REALLY smoking and backfiring awful! I shut it down and went inside. I re-started it when I came out and no change, except I now had a SES light! Having 45 miles to drive home from work, I kept going and made it, at one point using $8.00 worth of gas in 17 miles!!!! I have a Diablosport handheld tuner/diagnostic scan tool, and the scan says it is the crank position sensor. I licked my fingertip so I could touch the individual header tubes without burning them, to check for dead cylinders, and I had at least 3 of them. Anyone know how much these sensors are and if they fail very often? Thanks.
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I am surprised that so few even viewed this thread, much less not even one response. I have an update: My car overheated the exhaust system and nearly caught fire. It did melt some of the fascia in the rear by the mufflers. I had no idea this was such an engine/ car ruining sensor!! I guess it must have severely retarded the timing, making the exhaust overheat severely, as well. I may have some internal engine damage (exhaust valves/seats) as well. In truth, I may not have view this thread if someone else had started it either, only because I was not aware how serious this malfunction was/is. Hopefully, this thread will help someone out there.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,584
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From: panama city beach florida USA
St. Jude Donor '09
it may fail safe to cam sensor . ya need a lab scope or scanner [snapon] to view wave form. i believe its by timing cover look for a build up of dirt or metal "dust" on sensor . the reluctor may be on harmonic bal. look for broken teeth. 360 x some thing . hey i have to dig out my books,scope man. or scanner books. i gave some hints to look for good luck. if ya get realy jammed i look up all the stuff but ya need test equiptment. let me know
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
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From: Southwest Virginia
Are you still running without cats? If so then it must have been running way retarded the on timing. Check your codes using your DIC and list everything you got, list the entire line that is displayed. Clear all the codes and run the car a little and see what codes re-appear. Also you will want to check to be sure that the crank sensor wires have not gotten into the headers. The crank sensor and wire are located right there near the starter and not too far from the headers. If you still have dead cylinders pull the plugs and see if they are fouled, it sounds like it is running very rich. Also check the coils on any dead cylinders to be sure they have spark. Another thing that may help diagnose a crank sensor is to clamp a timing light on each plug wire and point it at the balancer and watch for erratic timing.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 94
Likes: 3
From: gaithersburg md
crank position sensor
Not an expert but the crank sensor is on the passenger side
of the engine behind starter.
the first thing to check is the connector on the sensor for
proper tension/clean after that, remove sensor and check for
damage.
of the engine behind starter.
the first thing to check is the connector on the sensor for
proper tension/clean after that, remove sensor and check for
damage.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 781
From: panama city beach florida USA
St. Jude Donor '09
my bad .they are right its by starter. think a test by a dvm may lead him to think its ok. it makes a square wave. i can be read by a scanner. all have givin good advise mainly wires near headers
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Thread Starter
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Originally Posted by dpd
what fault do you have exactly? usually a bad crank sensor would case a no start condition.
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Originally Posted by patton
it may fail safe to cam sensor . ya need a lab scope or scanner [snapon] to view wave form. i believe its by timing cover look for a build up of dirt or metal "dust" on sensor . the reluctor may be on harmonic bal. look for broken teeth. 360 x some thing . hey i have to dig out my books,scope man. or scanner books. i gave some hints to look for good luck. if ya get realy jammed i look up all the stuff but ya need test equiptment. let me know
Thread Starter
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Originally Posted by SpeedyZ
Are you still running without cats? If so then it must have been running way retarded the on timing. Check your codes using your DIC and list everything you got, list the entire line that is displayed. Clear all the codes and run the car a little and see what codes re-appear. Also you will want to check to be sure that the crank sensor wires have not gotten into the headers. The crank sensor and wire are located right there near the starter and not too far from the headers. If you still have dead cylinders pull the plugs and see if they are fouled, it sounds like it is running very rich. Also check the coils on any dead cylinders to be sure they have spark. Another thing that may help diagnose a crank sensor is to clamp a timing light on each plug wire and point it at the balancer and watch for erratic timing.
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Originally Posted by patton
my bad .they are right its by starter. think a test by a dvm may lead him to think its ok. it makes a square wave. i can be read by a scanner. all have givin good advise mainly wires near headers
At least here in the north, I would have been parking it for winter storage in about 6 or 7 weeks anyway. Tryin' ta see any positive I can at this point. But it's kinda like findin' the wife in bed with another man, and sayin' that "at least she didn't get pregnant!!
