DIS module? No start

[shomtx95]

I was at work last night, i went on break and was headed for the store, i get in my car, turn the switch, it fires up an then goes dead. I try again. Nothing. No fire at all. I can hear the fuel pump, check engine light is bright as can be with the switch on. Tach reads about 800 when i spin the motor over. i wiggle lots of wires and look around with a flashlight a bit and try it again, still wont start. So i ride to the store with a friend, come back 10 minutes later, fires right up. Could this be the DIS module?

 

[Storm-Chaser]

How long had the car been been stting before the no-start?

How was it running when it died - running normally? - sputtering? - stopped immediately as if the ignition switch was turned to OFF?

What did the tach do when it died?

Have you pulled the codes yet?

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Sounds like a typical camshaft sensor except you get an rpm reading when cranking. Typically I think there is no rpm reading when it goes...but it has been known to do otherwise.

If it started, I would say its not the DIS. Maybe the CPS.

 

[shomtx95]

camshaft sensor or crank sensor?

 

[shomtx95]

the car has ran fine for months. It might have sit 4 hours. when it when dead it was idling normaly. Not sure what the tach did. Will pull the codes later.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

CPS - Crankshaft Position Sensor
CID - Camshaft Identification Sensor


Prior to failing, some Crank sensors will become intermittent. During the time that the CPS "temporarily" fails, the tach will read "0" (zero) rpm. Thus it is important to remember to immediately check the tach-display as soons as the failure occurs, as it should rapidly drop to zero if the CPS is at fault. And if it is the CPS, it will set a code for the fault.

 

[shomtx95]

replaced dis module yesterday, no problems so far

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

But you said the problem corrected itself before replacing the DIS. Saying it works afterwards means nothing.

At this point, you know its a sensor on its way out.

 

[ES_8CH_OH]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm having a similar issue.

My 94 ATX died today. The car was running great. Just had a 60K tune up last month. The the motor suddenly started lugging when driving it today and then it got progressively worse over a one minute period of time before it died. I tried to restart the engine but it would not start. The starter cranks and the engine seemed to almost start as it sputtered. I pushed the car to the shoulder and sat for about one minute. Tried to start it again and it started, but ran very poorly. I tried to drive it home and made it a half mile then it died in my neighborhood. I cannot get it to start, even after letting is sit for a few hours. I can hear the fuel pump hum when trying to start it.

I can't tell you what the RPM reading is because my tach suddenly stopped working last week. The car ran fine even though the tach has not been working for a week. I picked up an ignition control module tonight before reading this thread but did not install it yet. I wanted to make sure I replace the part that is causing the problem. Sounds like it might be or might not be.

Could the Cam Position Sensor be bad? The tach read zero least week and the motor ran fine. The tach still reads zero and has not worked since.

 

[frosho]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm having a similar issue.

My 94 ATX died today. The car was running great. Just had a 60K tune up last month. The the motor suddenly started lugging when driving it today and then it got progressively worse over a one minute period of time before it died. I tried to restart the engine but it would not start. The starter cranks and the engine seemed to almost start as it sputtered. I pushed the car to the shoulder and sat for about one minute. Tried to start it again and it started, but ran very poorly. I tried to drive it home and made it a half mile then it died in my neighborhood. I cannot get it to start, even after letting is sit for a few hours. I can hear the fuel pump hum when trying to start it.

I can't tell you what the RPM reading is because my tach suddenly stopped working last week. The car ran fine even though the tach has not been working for a week. I picked up an ignition control module tonight before reading this thread but did not install it yet. I wanted to make sure I replace the part that is causing the problem. Sounds like it might be or might not be.

Could the Cam Position Sensor be bad? The tach read zero least week and the motor ran fine. The tach still reads zero and has not worked since.

Probably the crank position sensor. It runs the tach, which isn't working, so...

 

[ES_8CH_OH]

That's what I think now. I just checked SHOTimes website. This is what I found:

A somewhat common and difficult-to-diagnose problem with SHO's is intermittent stalling, especially at highway speeds. SHOtimers have identified a few areas to check.
Stalling is often caused by failed crankshaft and/or camshaft position sensors. Failures of these sensors are many times heat-related; however, failure of the crankshaft position sensor can also be caused by a leaking water pump. Coolant can leak from the pump onto the sensor, and then down onto the catalytic converter where it evaporates, leaving little evidence of the source of the problem. A textbook symptom for this problem is the tachometer reading dropping to zero while the engine is still turning. The tach gets info from the DIS system. If the engine dies due to a fuel concern, the DIS system will still be trying to run the engine. Since the tach is going to zero, then that tells you that the DIS system is not running the engine. Info on replacing the crankshaft posistion sensor can be found here.


After reading this and what you said, I would have to say the crank sensor is bad. The 60K tune up was initiated because the water pump was leaking. Sounds like it got wet.