I have a 94 850 that had about a gallon of gas in the tank. It was on the side of the street at a parking meter and when I came to start it, it just turned over like it was not getting gas. Although I could smell gasoline, I couldn't get it to start. I added 2 more gallons of gas but had the same result. Could it be the cam sensor? Any other ideas?

 

Yes, it's definitely the cam sensor!!


Seriously, what makes you suspect the cam sensor?

If the car hasn't had other historical issues that you didn't mention, then i would suspect you burned out the fuel pump by running it on "air", probably more than once. The fuel actually lubricates and cools the pump; running on air they will overheat and fry the pump vanes fairly quickly.

 

Why would I smell fuel (like it was the flooded) if it wasn't pumping any?

 

Did you check if you had fuel pressure at the rail? I wouldn't go assuming the cam sensor either. Lots of other things to look at first. What's it doing exactly? Is it cranking, just not turning over? Is it trying to start but won't stay running? Is this the first time it's happened? Did you pull any codes?

 

I can't check fuel pressure at the rail. Sorry, don't know how to do that. It is turning over, trying to start -but doesn't ever run. This is the first time it has happened. When it was parked on the street, it was tilted on an angle with the passenger door at the curb. I could not start it and wondered if part of the problem was the angle I was at- being so low on fuel. It was in a metered space so I had it towed to a garage. Still could not start it when it was level and had a couple more gallons of gas. Mechanic says its the cam sensor, but I don't really trust the mechanic and he wants to charge 400. (parts and labor) Whether he pulled the code, I don't know because I could not be there (but I am guessing he would say he did if I asked) I wanted to rule out any kind of a vacuum/vapor lock issue.

 

There's a valve at the end of the fuel rail, same type of valve on a bicycle tire. unscrew the cap and push in the center and make sure gas comes out of it. I would ask him to pull codes and what they are before he does anything. Also, put the key in pos II and listen in the trunk right above where the fuel pump is to see if you can hear it pumping fuel.