I got the crankshaft sensor tonight but found it's not the one I took off and measured. This is the one I thought is the crankshaft sensor:



It's located to the right side of the real crankshaft sensor (on the transmission). I will take off the real sensor tomorrow to measure. But anybody knows what this sensor in the picture is? It's broken too...

 

I found it: it's called transmission sensor and costs more (over $100 and hard to find). I guess the computer can't tell if it's this sensor or the crankshaft one that doesn't work properly.

I may have to go to a dealer to buy one since I wasted too much time already.

 

That's not your problem. That sensor doesn't even report to the ECM. It reports to the TCM. Not sure about on the P1's, but that should set a warning message for the transmission if it was bad.

Did you replace the crank sensor and did it fix your problem?

 

But the sensor is broken for sure, right? Since it's a speed sensor, it should have some coil/resistance but now it's open. I will call a local dealer tomorrow to see how much they want for it.

Since I couldn't let the car run long enough, it may not give me all the codes.

I will take out the real crankshaft sensor, measure it, then let you know the result tomorrow morning.

Thanks!

 

Stupid question, but did you make sure your meter is working correctly?

I know that you don't care what I've seen in my experience, but those are certainly not a common failure. Neither are RPM sensors. So to have both fail at once on the same car would be an extraordinary coincidence.

The car shouldn't need to be running to get codes. A lot of generic scanners or readers won't read TCM codes.

 

There are no stupid questions: only stupid answers...

Yes, I am 100% sure the transmission speed sensor has open circuit (infinite resistance), but I am not 100% sure if this means failure.

I just took off the crankshaft sensor and measured its resistance: it's 128.6 Ω and the new one I got has 131.4 Ω. So I think this sensor is OK.

So now the only suspect I have is this transmission sensor. Since there is no one in town carry this sensor, I have to order online. But I want to make sure this time. I don't know how the transmission sensor prevents the car from starting?

I did find something else may not be normal: I replaced all spark plugs and found the #1 (the one closest to the timing belt) has plenty engine oil on it:



I checked inside and found a black carbonized piston head with a wet surface. Since I didn't see oil on the plug tip, I assume this plug is not sealed and oil got into the plug well and that's how the oil got onto the plug.

Can you tell me what else could be wrong and how to proceed? Thanks!

 

That's definitely a lot of oil.

That sensor should not be open as far as I know, but I've never had to test one. And it wouldn't cause the no start.

How about those timing marks?

 

I haven't checked those marks yet and will do right now if I know how.

I already removed the top cover for the belt, I understand I need to remove the side one (vertical), then remove a piece in the wheel well to access a turn nut? Then put the top cover back on to line up the marks?

Please let me know if I missed anything.

 

Yep, you got it. Probably won't be able to see the crank mark, but if the cams are off, it won't matter.

 

I found I can turn those two camshaft wheels by inserting a T-50 into their centers.

There is a white dot on the right one and a blue dot on the left one: are they supposed to be on top to lineup those two notches on the top cover?

 

The dots don't mean anything.

If you can rotate the engine via the cams, that might be a bad sign.

 

I was wrong: I tried to rotate with T-50 but can't. So I have to remove the whole wheel well cover (a whole piece on this car) and turn the engine nut.

The white dot is about 90 degree ahead of the blue dot. Where is the timing mark on those wheels then? I didn't see anything.

 

I also found the belt for the AC compressor is split/shredded so I may need to replace all the belts on this car.

 

Not looking good. The shredded belt likely got caught in the timing. I've seen that many times.

The timing marks are on the cam pulleys. One small line on each.

 

I will double check, thanks!

I don't like the overall belt area design: it's not fully enclosed, so debris will get into it; it's also not fully open so debris can drop...

 

These two dots is the only thing I can find on each wheel:



Are they timing marks? If they are, then they are about 90 degree off from those on the other wheel (same as the two colored dots).

Please let me know...

 

Those are not timing marks. The marks are on the toothed part.

 

I think I found it:



Since this car is so tight, there is no way I can see those marks lineup from top. So I transferred the two marks to the belt, then measured the distance: 170 mm. I then measured the distance between the two notches on the belt cover: they are 170 mm too. So the timing marks are right. But I can't see if the crankshaft mark is on or not because there is no way I can see anything down there.

BTW, the timing belt on this car crosses the engine mount: how can people take it off or put it on without removing the engine/mount?

 

That's the mark. You can see them line up, you have to look from the side. For the crank, you would need to pull the pulley for the best view.

As for doing the belt without removing the mount- you don't. The mount comes out pretty easily.

 

Is there any way I can make this car running while waiting on those belts and the transmission speed sensor?

Right now, I can't see any reason why I can't start this car. Any other ideas?