1990 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 No Fire Please Help

[Bratty]

Hello Everybody,
I'm in need of some advice & help. I have a Pontiac Bonneville with a 3.8 and year is 1990. Out of no where the car would not start, just would crank. Finally took it to the shop. They went and put on a new Module or Modulator the plate right under and connected to the coil pack, then a new coil pack and then a cam sensor. & also checked fuel pressure. After several hundred dollars out of my pocket guess what I still have the same problem. Got home barely, as it shut off, and luckily got it to start after cooling enough to pull in my drive way. Car will start when it is cooled down. After about 5 to 10 minutes of running it sputters and shuts off then it will not start again until it has had a long time to cool off. You would think it has bad gas by actions but isn't the case.
Today we checked the fire from the spark plugs. When cranking there is no spark from any of the plugs and this was checked when the car does not start.
I have called around and someone mentioned possibly a Crank Shaft Sensor. My question is does anyone think that sensor is my problem??? I cannot afford to run it back into a shop plus the cost of having it towed back to a mechanic ughhh. Also for this car where is this sensor located? The guys at the auto parts place said down the back side of motor. I saw a sensor that looks to be going to exhaust and tons of other plugs down there lol. They said some times they will get cracked or damaged and would cause the problem I'm having and if I could pull it out might could see that. I would highly appreciate any advice on this. The mechanics have already drove me broke. Also if we put this sensor on and it does not solve the problem what else could it possibly be?

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF!!!

This certainly sounds like a crank position sensor to me. The fact that it restarts when it cools down is the key. The sensor is only about $30 from rockauto.com and you can install it yourself. Unfortunately, I am not exactly certain where it is located on this particular engine but my best guess would be on the front of the engine behind the harmonic balancer. You may want to purchase a manual, Chiltons or Haynes to get directions on how to replace it before you start to do the job.

[sixsmiles]

You can also go to Autozone.com and get on line repair instruction. I have replaced a Crank Position Sensor, and one of the issues is removing the Damper Pulley Bolt. If you pull the starter and put a break tool (or thick screw driver) between the fly wheel gear and transmission housing to stop the engine from rotating then the damper pulley bolt can be removed. Then a puller must be used to remove the damper pulley.
Once the Damper Pulley is removed the rest of the job is easy.

[Bratty]

Hi Guys & Thanks,
Well sounds like a job and have my better half throwing wrenches and jumping up & down he is thinking he will try to remove the crankshaft sensor first and see how hard that is then go for putting new one in. when you mention the damper pulley he knew where it was but is freaking out over the holding the engine from rotating. And of course why in the heck couldnt the mechanics at the shop we took it to have figured it out. The car is really getting worse it barely will run for 5 minutes now before shutting off. I will let you know how it goes as sounds like a job. The part hear is 37.00 lol what is that on top of the hundreds already put into the car ha ha
We really appreciate you all taking time out to offer advise and help , we kinda were guessing it has to be the last thing left. bratty

[Bassasasin]

Sorry you didnt post first...

Crankshaft sensor remova help possibilities..
Put a breakover bar wrench on the crankshaft balancer pulley bolt and get out of the way and bump the starter to loosen the bolt and you may not have to hold the engine start sprocket hold tool.
Use a puller rented from a Parts store like Autozone to pull the balancer. Put a big rubber band around the pulley timing vanes to use to allign/center the sensor by spinning it on the shaft before tightening down the sensor, it needs a allignment else it will rub and die.

SIXMILES::QUOTE::If you pull the starter and put a break tool (or thick screw driver) between the fly wheel gear and transmission housing to stop the engine from rotating then the damper pulley bolt can be removed. Then a puller must be used to remove the damper pulley.
Once the Damper Pulley is removed the rest of the job is easy.

Good Luck

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by Bassasasin

Sorry you didnt post first...

Crankshaft sensor remova help possibilities..
Put a breakover bar wrench on the crankshaft balancer pulley bolt and get out of the way and bump the starter to loosen the bolt and you may not have to hold the engine start sprocket hold tool.
Use a puller rented from a Parts store like Autozone to pull the balancer. Put a big rubber band around the pulley timing vanes to use to allign/center the sensor by spinning it on the shaft before tightening down the sensor, it needs a allignment else it will rub and die.

SIXMILES::QUOTE::If you pull the starter and put a break tool (or thick screw driver) between the fly wheel gear and transmission housing to stop the engine from rotating then the damper pulley bolt can be removed. Then a puller must be used to remove the damper pulley.
Once the Damper Pulley is removed the rest of the job is easy.

Good Luck

Another and maybe a safer way here is to remove the trans inspection cover and wedge the flywheel to prevent engine rotation.

[Bratty]

Well Guys All this information is great & very appreciated. I printed it all out and handed it to better half who then spent awhile trying to locate the sensor. If we are right it is on right side, straight down the front of motor, like behind the pullies etc. he found it only to throw wrenches and shut the hood. He said he might as well tear the whole motor part. Geeez from what he showed me and knowing a tad about it looks like a nightmare. He mentioned that the starter might have to come off and then of course they compact motors so tight there is no room to work. He backed off of it and debating what to do as throwing the timing off would be a killer. What put the cherry on top is his truck is now acting stupid too with not wanting to start and he is chasing that one, that might be a sensor on the clutch . I'm sure you all are familar with the nightmares of vehicles. being newer cars are so computerized with all the sensors etc we thought we were doing something sending it to the mechanics and the machine they put it on, sadly all that money & time and still down with the car. replacing this sensor is going to be a job and most likely take some time, at this point he pushed it into upcomming week. And when and if he gets it done and the car is still not starting look out as i think he will blow it up lol
i think the auto makers make it complicated so you cant work on them. personally i think they should of stayed with the older styles simple stuff lol

[Bassasasin]

Well the accesss is behind the tire.. you have to take off the wheel. The belts come of pretty easy and nothing has to be removed but the wheel, splash panel, pulley balancer bolt and wheel, and of course sensor..

I think. But.. thats why I paid the $200 and had a shop do it.. I has other things to do..

Good Luck.

[Bratty]

Hello Guys!
Well we ended up with a mechanic at the car putting the crank shaft sensor in, geeeez the nut to the harmonica balancer was severely attached and had to be heated to get off, but finaly they got it. It was the Sensor!!!!!! but of course $600 out of pocket all together it costed us chasing the problem from the get go, ughhhhhhh! But got car today and so far seems fine but our badluck ride hasn't ended, my dodge intrepid died saturday!
all of my vehicles have been kept maintaned and all of this break down stuff just up n appeared with hardly any warning, as they say cold weather can take its toll, guessing anyhow
so now round two lol

[Bassasasin]

Well it appears there isnt enough enging oil in his veins... good to knonw.. avoid the issuses later, by saving for the next time.

Good lUck. .