Chrysler Repair: 00 Neon cranks wont start, pt 2, crank sensor, orange wire

Question
hey Roland, I was speaking with you earlier, I have checked and re-checked all wires , all wires have current and both the cam tests properly, the crank sensor has the spec. voltage until cranked and there are no pulses, with both the old and the new crank sensor i got from mopar... me and 2 other back yard mechs. all think the reluctor ring on the crank is gone, do you think this is possible and is it common at all... ps, all grounds at the pcm are good as well along with all the other wires at the plugs.

Answer
Hi Richard,
If you don't get pulsing between the signal and sensor ground wires of the crank sensor and you do show 8V on the orange wire to the sensor, then I ask have you checked that the sensor wire (gray/black) might be shorted to ground? It is connected to pin 32 of the powertrain controller so I would pull that powertrain plug and make sure that the wire is not shorted to ground.
Other than that, because you have pulled the sensor, you will need to get a replacement paper tip for the sensor and then when you re-insert it make sure that it touches the ring on the crank, then tighten the retaining bolt to 105 inch-pounds to maintain that position. It could be that you aren't close enough to the ring rather than that the ring is somehow at fault. I don't know about how it could fail as I haven't looked into that. If you didn't have such a spacer when first installed it might have damaged the sensor by friction. That spacer is the key to proper positioning to get a signal without damaging the sensor.
Please let me know what you learn.
Roland