Engine will not start?

Tiny
SCOTTD
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 94,000 MILES
Wont start with camshaft sensor hooked up, but unhook the camshaft sensor and will start.
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 7:35 PM

61 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
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I would replace the crankshaft sensor but first we should run the codes to see what comes up. Here is a guide and diagrams below to help you get the job done.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 7:38 PM
Tiny
SCOTTD
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Thank you I got a new sensor and its all fixed cost me $76.00 FYI I love this site.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Hi guys. Crank sensor has to be good because that's what the engine is running on. Beginning around 2000 / 2002, the systems were changed to allow the engine to run on just one sensor. Before that the Engine Computer had to see signals from both sensors before it would turn on the automatic shutdown relay which powers the ignition coil(s), injectors, fuel pump or pump relay, and other stuff.

You have two possibilities. The cam sensor is shorted or the valve timing is off. If the cam sensor is shorted, it will kill the 5.0 volt supply for both the cam and crank sensors. Unplugging the shorted sensor will restore the 5.0 volts to the good one but since the computer shuts the power supply down to protect it, you have to turn the ignition switch off first, then back on to reset it. When the power supply is shut down by the computer, you will see "no" listed for both sensors on a scanner that can display live data. If you see "present" listed for one sensor, neither one is shorted but the one listed as "no" is either defective or has a wiring problem.

If the timing is off, there are again two possibilities if you have the single overhead cam engine. About half of the time you're going to find the timing belt has jumped one tooth. At that point the computer will detect the mismatched signals, set a diagnostic fault code "cam and crank sync", and turn on the Check Engine light. The engine will still run but it will be down on power.

If the timing belt jumps two teeth, the computer will shut the engine down to protect it from serious damage. It does that by failing to turn on the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay. That kills the injectors, ignition coils, and fuel pump. By forcing the engine to run when you unplug the cam sensor, it provides a valuable clue, but you risk doing expensive valve damage. When the timing belt jumps three teeth, the open valves will be hit by the pistons as they coast to a stop. Those bent valves can only be repaired by removing the cylinder head to replace them. The additional clue here is at two teeth off, the engine will be running very poorly if it hasn't shut down yet. If it runs fine when you disconnect the cam sensor, most likely it's a sensor problem, not a timing belt problem. If the engine runs poorly with the cam sensor unplugged, it's not wise to force it to do so to get it home or to a shop because when the timing belt jumps teeth, it's usually because those teeth are being sheared off from an entire section of the belt. That means it won't be long before that valve damage occurs; perhaps even in the next few hundred yards.

The second timing issue has exactly the same result, symptoms, and clues, except the timing belt will be in good shape and correctly adjusted. The key between the camshaft and sprocket shears off and over time the resistance of turning the camshaft causes the sprocket to turn on the cam. That makes the camshaft timing late just as if the belt had jumped a tooth. Since the cam sensor is at the end of the camshaft opposite the sprocket, the pulses it develops show up late compared to the crankshaft sensor's pulses. All the computer knows is the valve timing is late and damage to them could occur soon. It doesn't know, (or care), if that is because the cam and sprocket are late due to a jumped belt, or the cam is late because it is turned on the sprocket.

At the mileage you listed you can justify installing a new timing belt. If the old belt is off one or two teeth, the valves should be okay yet. This is the perfect opportunity to install a new key between the cam and sprocket. Be aware the pressure from the valve springs is going to make the camshaft want to turn a little when you remove the belt. A valve might hit a piston but it won't be damaged if you don't put excessive pressure on it. If you start with the crankshaft at TDC, the cam won't turn very far and won't take much effort to move it back to the correct setting when you put the new belt on. Install the new belt and time it correctly by only turning the crank and the cam sprocket by hand.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 10:12 PM
Tiny
JERRYLEE49
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  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 2.4L
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Car died going down the road like u turned the switch off and when u try to start it it will be cranking but not running. Otherwise its spinning but not running. U can hear the fuel pump come on everytime I turn switch on. Its like its not firing, camshaft sensor or crankshaft sensor please reply if anyone knows
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try resetting security system first hre are too guide to help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAIDEN8
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 4 CYL
2002 pt crusier bought in feb. Had timing belt fixed and new battery. 2 months later ran hot 1 time took it back to same shop, said needed water was fine. Next morning had a loud clattering sound coming from under hood lost power and steam coming from under hood. Took it back and then they said had blown head gasket, I didnt really thinks so but, we tried easy fix of head gasket sealer got it running to do it but not running now it sounds like it wants to crank but just not enough power, what else can be wrong with it?
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Remove the spark plugs and check for coolant in the cylinders. That will cause hydro-lock and slow or no cranking. That's a sign of a leaking head gasket.
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAIDEN8
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I was thinking about the plugs, if that is fixed and I tried that gasket reapir did all th steps to, cuz I didnt think it was that bad if it ran hot just once, does that stuff really work? Would I have to replace the plugs or do you just clean it out or is going to do it again?
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MORRISONAR
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  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
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My check engine light came on in my car and now it shutters when I start it after it has been sitting for awhile and has an engine smell inside the car. It has never done this before. What could be wrong with my car?

The next day I went out for lunch and when I came back to start my car it wouldn't start. It took a couple of tries to get it to start.
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRITIP
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I have a 2002 pt and was having problems with the battery. We cleaned the terminals and replaced. This seem to help because the car would not start the next day. Then again it might be a sensor underneath the dash broad.

Sometimes the engine light comes on at times, I read somewhere to check your gas cap is on correctly and sometimes if you check your battery. The check engine light does not shutter on my pt cruiser.

I hope this might help you but check your pt cruiser manual or going to a auto shop for more information.
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAUDIAVILLARREAL
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  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 4 CYL
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When I turn the key my car does not want to turn on even though my lights and radio is on.
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Check battery voltage try a jump then have battery load tested. Only takes couple amps to run lights/radio need 250-300 to operate starter
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDHUGHES8413
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  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
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Car overheats after driving for 7 minutes or so, have replaced spark plugs and wires, flushed radiator, replaced thermostat twice. The overflow couldn't tank starts to bubble then that is when the car will start to overheat. We have put gallon after gallon of coolant, because after it over heats it starts to leak the coolant out, it has now started to produce white smoke and condensation out of the exhaust, when the car is running it runs smooth. After the car overheats we have too leave it where it's parked for 3+ hours until it's cool enough to start. Replaced battery as well, but something in car has drained the battery so had to charge the battery, we don't know what else to do.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Have the coolant system pressure checked for an internal leak like ahead gasket
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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Other than the battery, everything you described points to a leaking cylinder head gasket. The clue is the white exhaust smoke.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PTPAUL
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  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 4 CYL
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Car won't crank at all. Replaced battery. Car died 3 or 4 times while driving but immediately restarted. Last time it died it would not do anything when key is turned.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Charge battery
start engine check and suspect charging system
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JJIMENEZ8891
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  • 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 112,000 MILES
Hi I am working on a Chrysler PT 2.4l Crank no start had codes for Cam sensor and crank sensor both sensors are good. I do have spark and fuel. Timing belt is intact any ideas. I know its possible belt has slipped timing but any ideas that I can try before having to take cover off to chekc marks?
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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How do you know that the sensors are ok?
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.

You may have already performed some of these tests but we need all of them to form any conclusion

Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.

2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.

3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:04 AM (Merged)

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