Chrysler Repair: car cranks but is not starting, 97 3.5L, crankshaft pulley, pulley bolt

Question
I have 97 dodge intrepid 3.5 L. On yesterday dro ve car home from work it was running fine.With in 20 minutes got ready to leave & car would not start it turns over fine.Had a guy tell me it could be fuel pump or ignition module. I called autozone to check price of ignition module but it is not required for my car & fuel pump is clicking on. what do you suggest.  

Answer
Hi Omar,
Getting the code 11 is a good clue. That suggests that the crankshaft sensor signal is not being received at the powertrain module, usually due to a failure of the sensor. It could also be due to a wiring problem or an operating voltage supply problem to the sensor but more likely the hall effect crystal in the sensor has failed. It is located at the rear of the engine (at the seam between the engine and the transmission housing) where it is inserted through the torque converter housing so as to be in very close contact with the flex plate that connects the engine to the torque converter (on the passenger side of the engine). the new one comes with a paper spacer that you would leave in place, just press the tip against the flex plate and tighten the bolt in that position. The paper wears away and so you have after that a very close contact between the plate and the tip without actual physical contact. Let me know if you can't find it or have another issue with replacement. You might want to look at the plug and associated wires just to be sure that is not the cause of the loss of signal from that sensor. If you have a voltmeter and some facility in its use you could also check the voltage supply to the sensor and also check that the sensor is not putting out its pulsing signal by turning the engine by hand with a socket and ratchet on the crankshaft pulley bolt while the ignition is in the "run" position.
Roland