Starting problems

[ENDEE666]

Most likely fuel related, just not sure what. It happens like once a week or so and eventually turns over. But it takes a few minutes of letting it crank a while without turning over. Then today it went way longer & i got stranded. Left the car there a bit & went back later to mess with it. Only common ground I can find is I am usually kinda low on gas at the time. Not like gas light, but low. So I figured maybe the fuel pump pickup wasn't getting gas due to the angle it was on or whatever. So at first I banged on the gas tank from underneath with the tire iron, then while someone else cranked it, but it still wouldn't go. Then I bounced the back end a lot while he tried it, and it turned over.

So is it just the low gas thing & I shouldnt let it get that low? Or is it my fuel pump gradually going? Or maybe something totally different?

Thanks.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I just had my crank position sensor go out ~3 weeks ago. I had a no start situation where all it would do was crank. I'd first check the fuel rail bleeder screw thing to see if you have fuel pressure. I had pressure so I concluded that it was not the fuel pump and was right in assuming the crank sensor was out.

Not long after I dropped it off the shop had found that it was bad. I had it back within a day. If it would have happened at home I would have fixed it myself and saved the money.

 

[ENDEE666]

Its doing it again right now. This time I banged the gas tank & shook the car & it didn't help. So that part was prob just coincedental. Must be that crank sensor or something. Any ideas on how I can get it going now tho? And how much is the crank sensor & how much does it cost if someone does it cause I dont really have the time..

 

[ENDEE666]

Well, I now have time, so I will add detail to my symptoms. It cranks great, sounds strong, but never kicks. Seems to have more than enough voltage, no dim lights or slow cranking. Once it does turn, it runs tip top. It started about a month or two ago, and gradually got more frequent. Yesterday I thought shaking it or hitting the tank was what did it, but its not working this time & I put in fuel injector cleaner once it started yesterday. Then it started fine about 5 or 6 more times yesterday. Now its not starting again...

 

[ENDEE666]

Happened again this morning. But it has been good for months so I never had anything done. One shop I dropped it off at said nothing was wrong cause it started right up for them...

Any link to a how to on the CPS? Or some pics at least? Maybe I can just clean the connector for now or something...

 

[ENDEE666]

And btw, I have a half tank of gas, so thats out...