Help Please Code 42

[19CENTURY92]

Hey guys I have 92 Buick Century and 91 Buick Park Avenue yesterday service engine soon light came on so I check it out and code 42 came up (Electronic Spark Timing) Few weeks ago same thing so I changed ingition module which is under coils. I restarted computer and everything was fine for few weeks until yesterday when the same code popped up.

Car keeps dying while I am driving it. I would drive it and all of the sudden it just dies out of no where. This stoped for a while when I changes this module but now it's doing it again. Please help me out!!

[Opps123]

try changing the igniton coil , wires, and plugs give that a go and see how that works...

[pcv]

What size motor do you have in it? Code 42 will lead you to either bad wiring to ecm/module or components themselves. Drop the ecm, run the vehicle hot and tap the ecm with the palm of your hand and if the vehicle stalls, replace the ecm. If it's a 2.8L, more than likely that's your problem.
Good Luck.

[ken_m]

3.8l engine, could be the cam sensor or the crankshaft sensor also. I'd try the plug wires, etc first though. Try to buy lifetime guaranteed parts if you plan to own it for a while.

[parkavenuechrome]

CODE 42!!! ok, it has to do with your CAM sensor, now here is the deal, In most cases its not the sensor that is at fault but the magnet that is attached to camshaft gear that passes over the cam sensor to give timing references to the ECM. no, you can be luck or you can be screwed and he is why i say this, they have 2 style cam sensor magnets that mount on the timing gear, one is a bolt on magnet that bolts to the timing gear, the other is a push in plastic housed magnet that the front of the motor has to be dismantaled and timing cover comes off, timing chain, etc all comes off just to replace the magnet. 500 dollars at a Biuck dealer.. happened to me.. the part cost 11.49.. go figure.. they was you know is, get a big mirror, take the sensor off, and crank the motor and look for the magnet, of you don't see it, then you have a project on your hands. Another glorious rocket scientist engineering by GM... Let me know.. The car will run without the sensor just will stall in some or run rich in others.

[deadring]

parkavenuechrome ,

i hope i don'T have the "inside the chain case you have to remove the front of the engine" type if mine ever dones break..

does it go by years or series on the 3.8? i mean do some years have that bolt on type and other years have the BAD one?

i wonder if the 92 pa has it the bad way?

[parkavenuechrome]

It all depends on what was on hand at the time of manufacturing.. If any of you have the haynes manual you can see the different types and read about them.. I hope you don't have the one I had either.. expensive fix for a 10 dollars item.

[deadring]

well by murphy's law, i must have one.. it's inevitable ... my live evolves around it

i'll have to check