Why aint it staring

Tiny
WORKINMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 130,000 MILES
My car had been turning of when you would stop at a red light or when you went up a hill and stops at the top of hill it would turn off and wouldn't start back for 1 to 2 mins and the other day it stopped at a red light like someone turned key off so I changed cam shaft position sensor still nothing got auto zone to check and it said cam. Shit pos. But I just put new one on so unplugged battery and plunged it back up and now auto zone says it saying nothing is wrong. Test ignition coil on just one pole and their was no spark so I put new one on and still no spark but I smelt gas will trying to start it and I didn't smell gas with old ignition coil plz give me answers
Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 6:04 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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You've introduced some more problems by randomly replacing parts and it sounds like that is part of the problem. Was the battery disconnected or run dead shortly before the original stalling problem started?
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
WORKINMAN
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No the battery was fine
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
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Also I still have the old ignition coil hooked up I just used the new one to see if it was the problem and since the car didn't start I dis not buy new one the car is trying to start but it won't turn over like its not getting fire
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
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Also the engine light is on and it sometimes flashes when trying to start it and took off cover of timing belt and its not turning but if the spark plugs are not getting spark to crank motor the trimming belt turn
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 8:25 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You have something that failed in the timing belt whether it is the belt, tensioner, pulleys or the belt broke.

You need a shop to help you with this repair.

Roy
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
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Ok let me ask this would the timing belt not turning cause the ignition coil not to spark
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 9:06 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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No, it has to do with the belt failing for a reason.

Roy
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 9:14 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Absolutely. You need signals from the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor for the Engine Computer to turn on the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay which powers the ignition coil and injectors. You didn't state which engine you have but whether it has a distributor that turns with the camshaft or it has a separate camshaft position sensor, no signal will be coming from it if the timing belt broke. Some engines are "interference" engines too which means if the timing belt broke or jumped more than three teeth, a valve job and head gasket will be needed too. At 130,000 miles the timing belt is overdue to be replaced if it wasn't already.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
WORKINMAN
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The motor is a 2.4L 16valve duel head and if their is something wrong with timing it will not send a signal to the ignition coil to spark.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 9:46 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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I think you have the right idea but there's more to it. The crankshaft position sensor signals tell the Engine Computer which piston is coming up on the compression stroke so it knows which spark plug to fire and when. The camshaft position sensor signal tells the computer to synchronize the injector pulses to coincide with the opening of the intake valves.

The reason neither the ignition coils or the injectors will work is the ASD relay is not turning on. That happens when the signal from either sensor is missing.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 9:54 PM
Tiny
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So it could be a knock sensor a crank shaft sensor or even a ignition with this is my only car and not a lot of money to put in it I don't know what to do
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 10:49 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Nope. How did you jump to a knock sensor? You already found the timing belt is not turning. No need to look at anything else.

There is a very small chance there has been no valve damage done. If the belt broke just as you were trying to start the engine, or as you said the engine stalled at idle, there is a tiny chance none of the valves were opened fully and got hit by a piston as it coasted to a stop. Turn the crankshaft by hand and turn the camshafts by hand to line up the timing marks, then install a new timing belt. If you encounter any resistance when turning one item, stop, back up just a little, then turn the other one. Alternate as necessary until everything is lined up, then install the new belt. If you get lucky, the engine will start and run, but expect it to have no compression and need to have the bent valves replaced.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 11:12 PM
Tiny
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K thanks for your help
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Thursday, July 5th, 2012 AT 2:02 AM

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