Chrysler Repair: 96 wont start, battery situation, cam sensor


Question
I have a 96 Town and Country and i was driving and it just stopped and it wont restart.When i got it home my husband looked at it and it wasn't getting spark.He changed the coil pack,and the cam sensor.Now it's getting spark but won't start.He then started looking into the fuel system it gets 50 psi to the fuel rail.So he don't think it's the problem.My question to you is.What else could it be?Please help my husband work out of town and i'm 8 months pregnant so i could pop any day.Thanks Mollie

Answer
Hi Mollie,
If you have spark and fuel, then the issues are mixture of fuel/air and compression. But may I ask did he read for fault codes? Use the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then count the number of flashes of the check engine light between pauses. Then repeat. Then group in pairs to get the 2-digit fault code numbers. Then go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html for a code list. Then write back if you need more advice.
Perhaps he already read the codes, which led him to the cam sensor (was that a code 54?). If so, then he might want to check the egr valve to see if it is moving freely and not stuck ajar. Let me know which engine you have so I can give the details.
He might also do a compression check just to be sure all the cylinders are about equal. And clean out the throttle body plate (both sides) and the throat and by-pass passageway.
Best of luck.
Roland
PS Use the 'thank/rate' tab below to get back to me without having to wait for me to be available. There is a space for comments.


Hi Mollie,
I assume that he got a 55 code which means 'end of readout'. If not, try it again. You didn't mention which engine. But I would encourage him to check the egr valve and do the throttle body. Also, charge up the battery so he gets a good cranking rpm and spark intensity. If there are no codes then I would believe it has to be a mixture and/or weak battery situation. Did he say whether the code he got with OBD reader was an 0320 or an 0340? The former is the crank, the latter is the cam sensor.
Roland
PS Thanks for the nomination and evaluation.