QuestionQUESTION: Is there anyway to test the distributor on a 99 Cirrus. Can you test the crankshaft position sensor?
The car shut down while driving at 50 mph and will not start. Has 65000 miles on it.Have power going to distributor but no spark to plugs.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
ANSWER: Hi Lou,
Did you try the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time? Then watch the odometer window to see if the 65,000 reading changes to show four-digit code numbers, preceeded by a P. If you get a 0320 that would indicate a loss of signal from the crank sensor. If you get an 0340 that would indicate a loss of signal from the cam sensor in the distributor. If you find either code and wish to durectly test the sensor then let me know and I will tell you the wire colors/pins of the respective sensor to measure with a voltmeter while you turn the engine over by hand using a ratchet and socket on the crank pulley bolt to do so. The pulsing you observe can't be detected by spinning as fast as the starter motor does, thus the hand 'cranking' is required.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Did not have any luck so far with the key method. OBD2 test shows no codes. With no code showing could the problem be the PCM? I tried replacing the distributor but got it from a u-pull it yard so may not be any good. Can the distributor be tested out of car?
ANSWER: Hi Lou,
One item to check when you have no spark, no codes, and a distributor is the distributor rotor; that could by 'open' between the center spring tab and the tip of the rotor. You should be able to test the cam sensor: put 8v (a 9V battery perhaps?) between pin 2(+) and pin 5 (-), and measure the voltage output between pin 3 and pin 1, all on the 6-pin socket of the distributor. When you rotate the shaft the the signal on pin 3 should change from 5 to 0.3 volts several times per revolution.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Roland, I tried to test the cam sensor like you suggested with a 9v. I guessed that the one to the front of the car is #1. The only response I got was 9v from 1&6 and 3 &6 .Steady reading , no fluxuation.the #4 slot on the plug is empty. This was the same on both distributors. Any suggestions?
AnswerHi Lou,
Did you test the rotor for continuity?
On the test of the distributor you got no voltage measuring between 1 and 3? It could be that you have to use a true 8 volt supply from the pcm after remounting the distributor in the engine. Then turn the engine over by hand using the bolt on the crankshaft pulley with a ratchet. To do the measurement put fine pins through the insulation on wires 2 and 5 and watch for the pulsing between 5V and 0.3V after attaching your voltmeter to the pins. All the measurements of course with the ignition in the "run" position.
Also put a pin through the orange wire on pin 2 and black wire on pin 6 and see if it reads 8V between those 2 wires.
Does your odometer window show any codes whatsoever? or anything different than the miles? If not, then I wonder if the pcm is bad, but ideally something should show up. See if you have 12v on both pins 20 and 46 of the pcm plugs using the engine as a ground, with the ignition in the 'run' position.
It could be that both distributors have bad sensors, but why no code is suspicious.
Roland
