Chrysler Repair: p1391 code, crank sensor, intermittent loss

Question
i am working on a 2001 pt cruiser 2.4l. i had to replace the front seal and reseal the oil pump which means i had to take the timing belt off.  once i got the car back together and drove it when given a little gas it sputters and the check engine light came on with a code of p1391.  so i just replaced the crank sensoor and the cam sensor is only a year old and that did not fix the problem. i thought it might be the timeing but it seems to idol just fine and when i open the throttle up while driving it no longer sputters.  i did ow ever while working on the car grond out the starter pretty good wonderig if that may have something to do with it.  looking for any advice on what it may be because i am lost at this point.  thanks for any help or advice.

Answer
Hi Robert,

The 1391 says there is an intermittent loss of cam or crank sensor signals.
While there is a four page/14 test procedure that also involves using the diagnostic readout box III, it appears to boil down to:
inspecting the harnesses of the two sensors (cracked/chafed/pierced/pinched or broke wires, and also inspecting the plugs/pins
inspecting the rotating surfaces that the sensors view (more importantly the cam's)
Inspecting the positioning of the sensors to be sure that they are in proper separation distance from the surfaces that they view (this would be good to do with new paper spacers applied to the sensor tip, available from a dealer). Be sure to hold them in contact and tighten down the screw to maintain that position.
The analysis is of course more efficient with a diagnostic visual scope that displays the pulsing of the sensors in real time but I would believe that the traditional approaches listed above will reveal a cause for the code.
I wouldn't expect the starter incident to impact the sensors.
Rolant

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