Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: 1992 Olds 88 3.8L, camshaft position sensor, camshaft sensor

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Followup To
Question -
Billy, I have a 1992 Olds 88 3.8L.It stalls at any speed of the engine after about 2 minutes,& won't re-start until it cools.I,ve checked the feul pressure  at the pressure regulator & it is at 40psi at idle.I checked to see if the pressure changes when stalling & it doesn,t.It will try to start but never does until cold.I checked the self diagnostic test & got the code 41(camshaft sensor circuit).Can this sensor cause the car to do this?I have changed the spark plugs but that didn't help.I pulled a spark plug & it's black like too much gas or not enough fire.There is still fire from the plugwires after it stalls.Is there a way to test the ECM or the ignition module with a digital multimeter?Any help will be appreciated...Thanks......Ernie
Answer -
hi ernest .first of all good job on diagnosing the fuel injection you done exactly what i do every no start i get.so we can eliminate a fuel prob.module yes there is a test procedure for this.however we need to divert back to that code 41 you have.this is where your prob is going to be.this sensor is located in the top of the timeing cover case.there is a wire harness going to it check this harness very careful .if harness is ok replace the sensor.you can get this code anytime the ecm get,s a false reading from this sensor.now this sole purpose in life is to watch the cam sprocket and tell the ecm when it is at top dead center.if it tells the ecm it cannot see the tdc mag the ecm will then advance or retard timeing.which is why plugs were black the ecm is setting the timeing wrong due too the incorrect signal from the cam sensor.change that and if it don,t work get back with me and we will figure it out..ty  please take a minute to rate my service it is important to me.billymac



Billy, sorry I haven't gotten back with you until now.I installed the camshaft position sensor and it runs better and the "ckeck engine" light doesn't stay on now(forgot to mention that eariler),but it was running before the present problem started with it on.I still have the same problem even though it runs a little longer before stalling.The repair book I am using keeps referring to the PCM(Power Control Module)as maybe the cause.I don't want to keep replacing & hoping as that gets expensive.Can you give me any possible way to check the PCM to see if it at fault,or can the Dealership do a "bench test" to check it?If you have any other test I might can do,please let me know.I can't drive it to a repair shop & I live in a rural area(to tow it would cost at least $95.00 & $65.00-$85.00 to hook up to an anilizer.That doesn't include the cost of the repair.Please help!!!!    Thank You ......Ernest Pippin.

Answer
hi ernest.well the power control module is a possibility.but normally you will have a code mfor this or multiple codes.but as you said you have fuel pressure and you have spark.but it will not start the only thing you can be loseing when it don,t start is injector pulse.the cranksensor actually has this job.so from the crank to the module you should be getting a 5 volt signal.in one of the wires from the cranksensor to the ignition module.leave sensor plugged in and back probe while cranking.if you are getting a 5 volt signal from any of the wires.this is called a reference signal.if you are getting that signal.the only other possibility is the ignition and that is also the most common.it is possible that it could be a bad pcm.but since the pcm seems to be doing most of it,s job that is prob not the prob.can you test the puter yes but this is a very complicated test and can not be done unless in the vehicle.parts are expensive but if you subtract the labor you would be paying not that bad.good luck   billymac