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Crank sensor questions #2996554
12/18/21 08:08 PM
12/18/21 08:08 PM
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volaredon Offline OP
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96 Dakota club cab 4wd, 318.
to my knowledge still running original crank sensor. 236k miles.
I had it on the lift last week and after replacing every metal brake line front to back, a master cylinder, 2 wheel cylinders front pads and shift linkage bushings, I got a crank/no start out of it. 1st time since last year when it died on me in the Wendy's drive thru line because of the well known splice issue that these trucks were known for. I checked my work from fixing that first, and all looks good.
After wiggling a bunch of wires (including coming out of the crank sensor body) it started like brand new. And has started ever since.

I noticed while cranking and it not wanting to start I had no CEL light and the fuel pump wasn't running. After juggling wires all over under the hood it was then I realized that "oh there's the fuel pump running" and then it started.
At one point I sprayed some Gum out into the throttle body -no dice.
I swapped in a known good coil off the shelf. No dice. But after shaking a bunch of wires near that splice and then around the crank sensor behind the heads it fired right up. Not sure which wires I shook that did the trick.
But I'm sure if I don't do something it will do it again. So if I can prevent it from doing it again by changing the crank sensor I'm in. I didn't have a 2nd person handy to be in the truck to hit the key while I shook wires. And after it came back to life I checked codes and only got 12 and 55 via the key dance. I didn't have my scanner home from work that day to see if it would tell a different story.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2996555
12/18/21 08:14 PM
12/18/21 08:14 PM
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volaredon Offline OP
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Will a bum crank sensor cause the check engine light and the fuel pump not to run on one of these?
This is my 2nd truck, but if we ever get any winter around here it will be my primary driver for as long as the roads are $hitty.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2996619
12/18/21 11:49 PM
12/18/21 11:49 PM
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Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Any time I've had an issue with a crank sensor it set a code. The crank sensor should not have any effect on the check engine light, but it could trigger a fuel pump shutdown if there was no signal from it to the computer with in the time frame the computer requires seeing the motor is cranking.

Doesn't the engine harness plug into the body harness over on the trans dipstick side of the motor, in the back corner? Maybe a bad connector in that plug, or a broken wire there? Another area I would look at is the wiring at the bottom of the under hood fuse box, a bad connection at the auto shutdown relay would not set off a light or a code, it would just give you a crank and no start. With the miles and the fact it has lived in your area this long would make every wire connection, or any place the harness makes a sharp bend a possible problem area. Gene

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: poorboy] #2996677
12/19/21 11:10 AM
12/19/21 11:10 AM
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fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline
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Crank sensor... this part had me chasing my tail for two years. After replacing every other sensor, at least 3 times (used parts from pic-a-part) then buying those parts new, still the Van (2001) would buck-jump all the time. Like turning the key off and on but never a code. Never replaced the crank sensor because it was new when I bought the van (looked new anyway). Last time at the P-A-P getting another throttle body and fuel rail I got the crank sensor (dirty but looked ok) too. Was going to change out all that stuff in their parking lot but being too hot just did the CS. That piece worked great, the problem all along. Found out they make 3 versions, one to just get to auction, 2- marginal and 3 the best. I had number one!! Cheap owner before. I’ve gotten rid of a few vehicles because I never could trace down their electrical problems, now I think this might have been the problem on those. Now the instrument cluster will die driving down the road (doesn’t affect engine running l) then pop back on when I blow the horn, go figure. Dodge has bad wiring big time.

Last edited by cudaman1969; 12/19/21 11:15 AM.
Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: cudaman1969] #2996685
12/19/21 11:29 AM
12/19/21 11:29 AM
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Moparite Offline
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With that amount of miles it would be good insurance to replace it. Keep in mind aftermarket sensors don't always work well so go with Mopar or Delphi. I would definitely go through the wiring if wiggling wires made a difference!

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Moparite] #2996739
12/19/21 02:16 PM
12/19/21 02:16 PM
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cudaman1969 Offline
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Originally Posted by Moparite
With that amount of miles it would be good insurance to replace it. Keep in mind aftermarket sensors don't always work well so go with Mopar or Delphi. I would definitely go through the wiring if wiggling wires made a difference!

Agree ^^^^

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Moparite] #2996964
12/20/21 09:40 AM
12/20/21 09:40 AM
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SALEM1912 Offline
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Just a quick note, if you truck has a tach and it is moving while cranking your crank sensor is not your problem. It maybe hard to see 4 or 500 rpm but it's a quick way to see. I have had sensors that by the time I went to the shop and back to the parking lot with a scanner if would fire up.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: SALEM1912] #2996969
12/20/21 09:57 AM
12/20/21 09:57 AM
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volaredon Offline OP
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Originally Posted by SALEM1912
Just a quick note, if you truck has a tach and it is moving while cranking your crank sensor is not your problem. It maybe hard to see 4 or 500 rpm but it's a quick way to see. I have had sensors that by the time I went to the shop and back to the parking lot with a scanner if would fire up.


Didn't pay attention to the tach, yeah the truck has one.
The last truck that I had, where the crank sensor went out was a 97 1500 4wd again with the 318, shut that one off at the gas pump, and wouldn't restart but with that one I did get a code 11 out of the key dance.
I pushed it up out of the way, called for a ride home for tools and my scanner, went by car quest and bought a sensor, then back to the truck and it fired right up, so I had my ride follow me home with it, to be sure I would make it, (it did) and dealt with it there. Better place to maybe be stranded than at a gas station parking lot. I went ahead and put the new crank sensor in anyway and that truck never gave me another no start the rest of the time I had it.
When I replaced the engine in my wife's Durango at 260k (360/5.9) I put a new crank sensor in it at the same time just because I had it out and apart.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2996973
12/20/21 10:11 AM
12/20/21 10:11 AM
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Moparite Offline
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The cam sensor is used to tell the pcm where the motor is on start up. If that has an issue it will not start either. Pcm uses both sensors to start the engine after start it runs off the crank sensor.. And stay away from aftermarket junk sensors unless you like replacing them.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Moparite] #2997067
12/20/21 02:47 PM
12/20/21 02:47 PM
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volaredon Offline OP
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Will that cause the check engine light, no spark, and fuel pump not to work while cranking?

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2997112
12/20/21 07:02 PM
12/20/21 07:02 PM
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Guitar Jones Offline
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The fuel pump should run for a few seconds when you turn the key on. If it does that and doesn't start then possibly a crank sensor. If the pump doesn't run then it's not a crank sensor.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Moparite] #2997117
12/20/21 07:10 PM
12/20/21 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Moparite
The cam sensor is used to tell the pcm where the motor is on start up. If that has an issue it will not start either. Pcm uses both sensors to start the engine after start it runs off the crank sensor.. And stay away from aftermarket junk sensors unless you like replacing them.

I agree, the crank sensor tells the pcm when #1 & 6 are at tdc. The cam sensor tells it whether it is #1 or 6 firing.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Guitar Jones] #2997268
12/21/21 11:57 AM
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Moparite Offline
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The fuel pump chargers the system, It may run but not get to the psi needed. Fuel pump does not stay running till after the engine starts. You need to do some testing to see what the psi goes to on initial key on. Also see if pressure stays or drops off quick(could be a leaking injector). If ok then look into ignition.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Moparite] #2997358
12/21/21 05:27 PM
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volaredon Offline OP
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Well when it acted up I had no sound from fuel pump. When it runs I hear the pump run while cranking.
Pump runs truck starts. Every time. Don't hear pump won't start.
Hear pump also see Check engine light while cranking. Every time.
Don't hear pump run check engine light is dead while cranking.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2997416
12/21/21 08:17 PM
12/21/21 08:17 PM
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poorboy Offline
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Might be time to look into the wire part of the ignition switch. They don't fail often, but they really mess with you when they do fail. I had one that would occasionally not crank the motor over, then one day it quit completely. I ended up changing the entire switch, the key part and the wire part. That solved a lot of strange problems in one action.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: poorboy] #2997645
12/22/21 05:23 PM
12/22/21 05:23 PM
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volaredon Offline OP
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Yeah I've changed a couple for different problems. So far this issue has only happened once, hate to think I might have to have it act up again to be able to figure it out for sure.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2998137
12/24/21 09:49 AM
12/24/21 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by volaredon
Well when it acted up I had no sound from fuel pump. When it runs I hear the pump run while cranking.
Pump runs truck starts. Every time. Don't hear pump won't start.
Hear pump also see Check engine light while cranking. Every time.
Don't hear pump run check engine light is dead while cranking.

That doesn't address the issue, if the pump runs when you turn the key to the run position but doesn't run while cranking you can eliminate the ASD, pump, and probably the ignition switch as a problem. Something is not telling the PCM the engine is turning over.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: Guitar Jones] #2998158
12/24/21 10:57 AM
12/24/21 10:57 AM
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volaredon Offline OP
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I didn't really notice whether the pump did anything when I first keyed up before cranking, I didn't leave the key in "run" long enough to pay attention, I was going straight from "off" to "start".
I hate such issues as since I originally posted about this it has started and ran every time. I was hoping to have some kind of code even if it was a history code and not current. Though I know that the computer "forgets" some codes as soon as everything is good again, while others it takes something like 40 starts without a problem for the computer to forget other codes.
So at this point I'm at a point of waiting for it to act up again.
I did see a couple of wires down by the trans that had Nick's in the insulation but none went to anything that would keep it from starting,
That is next to do is to fix those cuz they need fixed anyway.
MY just lather those with some "liquid electric tape" since the defects are no more than simple Nick's in the insulation, nothing more. As I remember there were 2, and one went to the "4wd" indicator light down by the shifter.
I don't drive it all the time any more like I used to even though I actually like driving this one better than driving my 99 2wd one, the suspension, road feel of real gearbox steering vs a rack and more. Given its age mileage and the fact I live in the worst of the salt belt (south Chicago suburbs) as much as I still like this truck I'd like to keep it around a while longer, and the best way being as how it isn't my only ride is to give it a rest when I can. I do wish I could find a nicer bed for it.

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2998398
12/25/21 03:05 PM
12/25/21 03:05 PM
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Moparite Offline
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I did see a couple of wires down by the trans that had Nick's in the insulation but none went to anything that would keep it from starting,


I had one of the wires for the 02 rub on the transmission and ground itself out. This caused the engine and dash to die(while driving). It was a task tracking it down!

Re: Crank sensor questions [Re: volaredon] #2998399
12/25/21 03:07 PM
12/25/21 03:07 PM
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Just get in the habit of turning the key to run and listening for the pump before you crank it.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.






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