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Hi again. Need your help. Here is the problem. The car just stopped running. It would crank but not start. I checked the spark and it was OK. Then all of a sudden the car started and ran for about a week and died again. In speaking to a local mechanic, he said it was probably the crank positioning sensors. I purchased two used ones from a running engine and replaced them both. I am now not getting spark to the plugs. Both sides of the coil light up the test light. I had the coil tested and it was good but I am not geting spark out of the center to the distrubitor. The injectors are getting power but the darn thing will not start. Any thoughts. If you need more info you can call me at 941-356-9623 Thanks Gene
Answer -
Hi Gene.
Your car must just love to play "stump the masters". First, it baffles its owner, then everyone he talks to, then it sits ever so smugly in the driveway, thinking all the while..."If he ever gets me started again...which I doubt...my next ploy will be the cough and sputter routine...get's 'em all the time".
My experience suggests the first place to look is the air flow sensor...specifically it's 'doorway'. Conceivably, it could have been stuck/gummed up, which would cause the first non-start, then loosened up enough to get a weeks worth of driving, then stuck again. I don't recall if we've been through this exercise, but the Haynes manual is very helpful here.
Let me know,,,
Dave
Don't understand how the air flow sensor will effect the spark to the plugs. Will check it out in the morning. Need to find out why the coil is not producing a spark through the center even thoug both sides are hot. Plugs when grounded do not fire.
Gene
AnswerHi Gene.
You're right to have that quizzical look on your face. All I can say is that if you focus on the lack of spark, which is certainly important, you might spend quite awhile...and I'd bet you would end up analyzing all the factors that have to be aligned for the computer to command a spark. I'm looking at it from the crank-but-no-start view...and you've determined that despite the presence of 12v at both sides of the coil, there's no sparking at the plug.
I'd say the "cause" of your no spark is the computer's reluctance to cooperate...and one of the reasons the computer won't cooperate is sometimes the air flow sensor. If it misreads the "airflow" as close to zero (let's say the doors are stuck closed), any fuel delivered would flood the engine, causing the crank but no start. The computer is either going to allow a spark in that event or not, I really can't say, but I'm assuming it won't.
That's my thinking.
Dave
