3.8L Broke Serpentine; now no start

[cesloan]

Our Windstar died yesterday. The serpentine belt broke. I replaced the belt and now it won't start. I am not getting any spark. I've checked:

1. 12 volts at the plug that connects to the ignition coil? yes
2. Proper resistance on the terminals on the ignition coil? .6 on all which is within tolerance per Haynes manual
3. Proper resitance on the secondary terminals (where the spark plug wires plug)? a little over what the manual says. It says no more than 11.5 Kohms, I have 13.5. Would that be it?

I hear the fuel pump clicking on so I don't think it's fuel.

Anything else I should check?

[12Ounce]

There's a good chance that the breaking belt wiped out something critical ... such as the wiring that goes to the crankshaft position sensor ... but there are other "opportunities" for damage

[cesloan]

Thanks. Even if it had wiped out the CPS, wouldn't I still have spark when I pull off a spark plug wire? I may not understand how the CPS works so please explain.

[12Ounce]

I'm wading in deep water here: But I believe you only get (perhaps) one engine revoluion of spark ... then if the CPS doesn't interact, you get nothing. It's definitely a shut-down if the CPS doesn't work. And its located at the bottom-front of the engine ... very close to the serpentine belt ... easy to wipe out.

[catvents]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

I'm wading in deep water here: But I believe you only get (perhaps) one engine revoluion of spark ... then if the CPS doesn't interact, you get nothing. It's definitely a shut-down if the CPS doesn't work. And its located at the bottom-front of the engine ... very close to the serpentine belt ... easy to wipe out.

Here is what a CPS look like on a 2001 Windstar, I Don't know for earliest year. http://info.rockauto.com/Airtex/Detail.html?5S1750.jpg

[cesloan]

I found the crankshaft position sensor. Appears to be intact as well as the wiring. Manual said to check for 12 volts on the plug with the key on but I get nothing. Does that mean the PCM is shot?

[cesloan]

Got an OBDII scanner, hooked it up, and nothing. The manual for the scanner says that it gets it's power from the hookup with the car. I think I've just about realized the control module's bad. True?

[12Ounce]

I doubt it.

What year model are we working on?

[KimMG]

Have you checked all the fuses using a meter or test light to see if the module is getting power?

[wiswind]

Your profile does not list the year for the windstar.
Can you list the year? Reason being, they moved some things around over the years.

I would check fuses as advised, both in the passenger compartment fuse box and the engine compartment power distribution box), and also check the relays in the engine compartment.

You are on the right track, that you have lost power to critical things.
The wiring diagram for my '96 3.8L shows a 35amp fuse '20' in the I/P fuse panel (passenger compartment) to the coil of a PCM power relay in the engine compartment power distribution box......this line is "hot" when the key is in the "start" or "run" position.

There is also a 30 amp fuse 'S' in the power distribution box that is on the PCM relay contacts, and goes to lots of sensors, etc, and the PCM pins 71 and 97.

There is a Fuse 'R' in the power distribution box that goes directly to the PCM pin 55.

The only electrical connections for the Crankshaft Position Sensor are directly to the PCM pins '21' and '22'.
There is a noise shield that is grounded as well.

This could be different if you have a year other than '96.

[cesloan]

I have to give a big thanks to 12ounce and catvents! After finally getting the ODBII scanner working (must have not been plugged in good) and getting no codes, I started poking around down by the crankshaft sensor again. Comparing the pic that catvents posted with mine, I finally realized there was a large chunk of it missing. Replaced it, fired right up!

So, thanks to 12ounce for pointing to the sensor and catvents for posting the pic.

[12Ounce]

You are quite welcome, and thanks for the feed-back!