Engine died, no start, no codes

[94shodriver]

I've had no recent issues with the car. I pulled the intake tonight to install BBBs, replaced the intake and started the car up. It started and idled normally. I let it warm up for a few minutes while I put the rest of my tools away, then took it our for a test drive. After about a mile, and some part throttle acceleration when completely warmed up, I did a full throttle pull in second gear from about 3500 to 7000 rpms. At 7000 it died, the tach went dead and the CEL came on.

I coasted over to the side of the road and the car never restarted. When cranking the CEL was on and the tach was reading ~500 rpms. I disconnected and reconnected the battery thinking that the car may have been in limp mode - in hindsight this may have been a bad idea. The CEL went away and the tach still showed 500 when cranking. I tried disconnecting the DIS, CID, and MAF individually and trying to start the car, with no success. Only twice in 30 minutes of trying did the car barely fire. Maybe one cylinder, not even close to starting or even sputtering. Could have even been my imagination at that point. I checked for fuel at the rail, and got plenty. I checked for movement of the camshaft through the oil fill hole when starting, it's good. I checked for codes after I disconnected the battery and got none.

This engine was completely rebuilt 30k ago. All 60k maintenance was done at that point, meaning the CPS and CID sensors are new. The DIS has been replaced with a good used one. The waterpump only has 30k on it and there have been no signs of leaking. The fuel pump is even newer.

I'm thinking it's the CPS, but don't know if one can go out so suddenly. Ideas?

 

[sperold]

You are thinking correctly.

Crank Position Sensor is my guess at this point.

Wiggle the small wire off the battery positive post on the 1000 to 1 chance it is corroded and the battery can move, but it is a real long shot.

Take a plug wire off and put another plug on the engine top and see if there is a spark.

 

[Irish Pride]

30K miles on a CPS or CID is not a new sensor. Ive had a CID go out with less than 10K on it. If you are getting fuel pressure at the rail and can hear the pump priming then I would rule that out. Since you say the tach was/is reading 500 rpms when cranking I would rule out the CID too. Even with a bad CID it will still start every third or fourth try. My guess would be the CPS. It sucks that you pulled the battery. The answer was probably right there.

 

[Irish Pride]

Since you did have the intake off you might want to check for bad grounds at the DIS. Pull the two bolts at the crossover tube and swap them. Make sure they are good and tight.

 

[SHOdded]

And check for pinched/trapped wires during intake re-install.

 

[AREA 91]

Check your connections going to the crank sensor.
Check the big ground wire on the back of the intake, passenger side.

 

[94shodriver]

I'll recheck all the items listed above. Still stumped as to why it would run perfect, then just die. I keep coming back to the CPS, though as instantaneous as it was, I'm surprised it's not the timing belt.

 

[94shodriver]

Found it!

Turns out it was the connector on the side of the coil pack. Came loose and the dust boot rolled on the bottom. Must have been from moving the throttle body.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[SHOdded]

Way better than having to replace the CKS ...

 

[tery]

that's so nice when ya find it and it is something that simple, Kinda amazing how one little thing can **** everything, kinda like if our electrolytes go out of balance...you can croak in just a few minutes..congrats and thanks for reporting, it'll help someone someday...maybe even me!!
T

 

[94shodriver]

I can't tell you how many dead end threads I came across in my searching...

 

[SHOdded]

Ya it is unfortunate. Hope that doesn't mean the OP gave up or did not find a solution!