It wont start

[Dsmith362003]

Okay this has been a nightmare .I have changed the following parts Cam Sensor,crankshaft sensor,pressure regulator,fuel pump,alternator,Battery,Plugs,Wires,Tps, And still not running it will crank i am getting spark but my injectors are not kicking any fuel out.Now im thinking that i didnt check to see if there was a magnet where the cam sensor goes .Thats my next thing to check .It is a 95 park Ave ultra 3800 series with power boost.What origanally started was i could be driving down the road and let of the gas pedal and i was lose all power klike the car wanted to die on me my guages would go crazy.
I have had it started i had to fix the wiring on the crankshaft sensor the leads were not going through the connectors i drove it still was wanting to stall on me got back home and now it wont start for nothing it has been six months and i have not driven I need this fixed bad any help would be much appreciated thanks

[wrightz28]

Fuel pump runs? Injector fuse intact?

[deadring]

you could get out the ecm codes to see if it gives u anything.

Deadring

[Dsmith362003]

fuel pump is working anf fuel injectors are intact not giving a code and we checked the computer put a new one in and still nothing

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by Dsmith362003

fuel pump is working anf fuel injectors are intact not giving a code and we checked the computer put a new one in and still nothing

9 of 10 times you're not going to get a trouble code for a basic (non computer related) problem. When I mentioned the injectors, I meant the fuse. Now, IF you were to get a trouble code on a system that would cause no fuel delivery, it would be the cam. But since you're not getting a code for it I would almost elimate it, almost.


And it should start and run like crap on a default value using the crank sensor.


You've had quite a bit of the vehicle's fuel delivery system torn apart here, I'm assuiming you have double checked everything. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten that call at 10 @ night: "All I did was change my plugs, wires, and fuel filter, now my car won't start", and when I get there, the fuse for the injectors is laying on the dash or floor, or something else simply overlooked.

[HotZ28]

The 3.8 has had a lot of problems with the magnet in the camshaft sprocket breaking apart and falling out! The cam sensor is the only way the PCM has of knowing where the engine is during it's rotation. No feedback no output! If the car has over a 100k it needs a timing set anyway.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

The 3.8 has had a lot of problems with the magnet in the camshaft sprocket breaking apart and falling out! The cam sensor is the only way the PCM has of knowing where the engine is during it's rotation. No feedback no output! If the car has over a 100k it needs a timing set anyway.

I don't and do disagree with you.

I don't disagree with you that on all the pcm controlled models (series) 3.8L motors the cam sensor magnet has been a royal P I T A as far as staying intact. And yes on his particular model would pose some problems.

However, I do disagree with you in the statement that it is the PCM's only way of knowing where the motor is in it's cycle. That is the function of the crankshaft position sensor. The vehicle is actually ran for the first 6 - 8 seconds by the ignition module, not the PCM, this is also 'limp mode' shoud the PCM fail. And, the ignition module works solely off the crank sensor. Thus as stated, the motor should start but not run optimal since the cam sensor is the reference for injector firing, they will fire on a default value calculation based on cyl 1's position in it's cycle.

And yeah you should probablychange the set, but really what fails and causes problems is the dorky plastic guide/tensioner gets weak and crumbles.

[HotZ28]

Sounds good to me, I guess I should have gone into more detail, however if the car should run in the limp mode for 6-8 sec before the PCM takes over, the ignition moduel could be the problem. Looks like that is the only part not changed or checked yet and are not that expensive. I have had some that would run, but ramdom shut downs and eratic idle with the magnet in the cam sprocket broken and others that would not hit a lick! I have seen small pieces of the magnet in the sprocket pick up, however the engine would be out or time and cause hesitation, eratic idle and shut down ocassionaly.

[wrightz28]

Yeah, often times when you drop the oil pan on these motors it's like opening a christmas present from a distant relative, you never know what to expect in it. The real fun ones are the 86 & 87's that the cam sprocket had a plastic coating over it, which to this day I still never figured out why.

It very well could be a module problem.

The funny thing tho, after making mention to make sure all the fuses were back in place, the problem poster has not returned? I still can't tell you how many times this ends up being so.

Cheers!

[birchrj]

I have a '94 Park Avenue Ultra that is giving the code that the camshaft sensor is bed. I replaced the sensor, same issue. The car starts and runs, but after a bit it runs extremely rough, and does quit. I was told that this car has the magnet in the cam sprocket as well, and that they do fall out. Can someone please confirm this for me? The car has 121K miles on it, should I change the whole timing set? I am selling the car as soon as it runs, so I don't want to spend too much on it. Any help would be appreciated.

[wrightz28]

Your misinterpreting the code, it doens't mean a faulty sensor, it means a fault in the WHOLE circuit, which could be the sensor, but not neccessarily.

So yes, could be the magnet, could be the set, could be the wiring, could be the cam it'self?

[Loekee75]

Dsmith, you mentioned changing everything except the fuel filter..by chance did you forget to mention replacing this also, because if didn't there's a possibility it could be clogged...

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by Loekee75

Dsmith, you mentioned changing everything except the fuel filter..by chance did you forget to mention replacing this also, because if didn't there's a possibility it could be clogged...

i certainly hope Dsmith has resolved his issue since last June

Other guy picked the thread up, which in other forums is a after a few months of no activity.

[Loekee75]

Oh, I didn't catch that! Disregard my posts