2002 turns over but won't start

[blaner]

Calling all gearheads. I've got a 2002 Venture that suddenly won't start. This past weekend, I shut it off after backing out of the garage, and it took six or seven tries to start (just turns over). Once I got it started, it ran good but sounded like it was pinging (real light sound, not like a normal ping). I did have a check engine light after it ran a while.

We stopped to eat three hours down the road, and it wouldn't start again. I ran the battery down trying to start it. Towed it to a shop, and they put a computer on it. No code due to low battery. Checked spark, they said it looked weak. Checked the fuel pressure @ ~50 lbs. After messing with it for a while they got it to start. Computer check said it 'might be' the crank sensor. Got one sent in, but they couldn't do it that day. During troubleshooting, we killed it, and it wouldn't start again. After messing with it for hours, got it running again. From there to final destination, it shuddered on almost every uphill it took (sorta acted like bad gas). Got check engine (immediately on start).

ANYWAY, after putting the new crank sensor on, it still won't start. Just turns over...

Any suggestions?

[GregA]

Originally Posted by blaner

Calling all gearheads. I've got a 2002 Venture that suddenly won't start. This past weekend, I shut it off after backing out of the garage, and it took six or seven tries to start (just turns over). Once I got it started, it ran good but sounded like it was pinging (real light sound, not like a normal ping). I did have a check engine light after it ran a while.

We stopped to eat three hours down the road, and it wouldn't start again. I ran the battery down trying to start it. Towed it to a shop, and they put a computer on it. No code due to low battery. Checked spark, they said it looked weak. Checked the fuel pressure @ ~50 lbs. After messing with it for a while they got it to start. Computer check said it 'might be' the crank sensor. Got one sent in, but they couldn't do it that day. During troubleshooting, we killed it, and it wouldn't start again. After messing with it for hours, got it running again. From there to final destination, it shuddered on almost every uphill it took (sorta acted like bad gas). Got check engine (immediately on start).

ANYWAY, after putting the new crank sensor on, it still won't start. Just turns over...

Any suggestions?

Welcome!

I would suggest getting the code(s) out of it before the battery is drained again. That should help identify the problem.

Take Care,

[blaner]

Thanks for the idea, but too late. I ran the battery down again trying to crank it after trying a few other things...

[JJ Newel]

Maybe it's your spark plugs how much miles do you got on it. That shudder you felt going uphill could have been a misfire under load.

[blaner]

Originally Posted by JJ Newel

Maybe it's your spark plugs how much miles do you got on it. That shudder you felt going uphill could have been a misfire under load.

89k. Turns out that the kid that looked at it when we had stopped to eat was mistaken as to the crank sensor configuration. He told me that the engine had either the 7x or the 24x crank sensor. Turns out that it has BOTH. The wire for the 7x was broken. $145 with him, $245 at the second shop, and now it's running...

Thanks for the input. Later!

Peace,
Blane