1992 cavalier crank sensor question

ok i have a question for anyone that can answer, why does the crank sensor have a short wire that goes to nothing comeing out of sensor up the harness about six inches and stop ? and is wrapped in alum. and if this wire is missing or broke will it stop fire ?thanks

The little stubbed out wire is an RFi/EMI shield. It is continuous to ground inside the DIS (Ignition) Module. If the wire doesn't show continuity to ground, the DIS could receive stray signals from the crank sensor and cause a no-start condition. Good connections are a must with all of these wires to and from the DIS and Crank sensor. Also, a good battery is neccesary so that the cranking speed of the engine is 250 RPM or above. If the DIS doesn't see the pilses correctly from the crank sensor, you'll get no spark or fuel. Good luck... I've got a '91 with an intermittant stall/no-start condition too.. I haven't replaced the DIS yet.