Xen0 Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 A month ago purchased a used 06 Cabrio, and drove it from Ontario to Nova Scotia with no issues. It hadn't been driven much in the last 4 years. For the last month it's been working perfectly, surprisingly good given 17 years old and 205,000km. But all of the sudden two days ago, the engine just 'shuts off' while driving, like it's out of fuel. It only seems to do it after 20-30 minutes of driving, so it's at operating temperature (3 blobs). If you try to start it again, it will crank normally, but not start. If I turn the key to on, you can hear the low pressure pump run then stop. You need to wait ~15 mins, then it will restart like normal and work perfectly again. Tonight it did it twice, first time after 25 mins of driving, had to wait 15 minutes, then again after only 5 minutes. Doesn't appear to matter speed or load, it doesn't stumble, just engine stops running. Hoping to borrow a scantool tomorrow (or get the software working for the Delco DS150e clone I purchased on ali) so I read any codes that might be in there. Thought maybe someone else had experienced the same troubles I'm having. Maybe it's a bad sensor? High pressure rail sensor? Crankshaft position sensor? Thought about maybe some dirt in the fuel filter, but it doesn't make sense that the engine needs to be warm, and it takes 15 minutes to restart after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smart142 Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 Sounds like a crankshaft position sensor to me. Not a fun job to replace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xen0 Posted October 13, 2023 Author Share Posted October 13, 2023 50 minutes ago, smart142 said: Sounds like a crankshaft position sensor to me. Not a fun job to replace. The more I read on here, I tend to agree. Looks like they're readily available on Amazon.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 (edited) Hmmm.....how handy are you with tools? As Smart142 has eluded to, it's a nasty job getting to the sensor let alone getting it out. Not impossible but nasty. IF you intend to do the work yourself, start spraying the area with penetrating fluid to help with the single bolt holding it in place. I'd also suggest thinking about removing everything in your way to be able to easily work on it. As that bolt can strip if rusted badly then you are in a world of hurt. OR after getting that bolt out the sensor can get seized in the housing with very little room to work. After removing it the reverse is a breeze...lol. OR....you could be one of the lucky ones who find it almost falls out, it has happened so to speak....also just for shits and giggles check cps connector for issues....you may get lucky? Also if you are capable, take your SAM down and inspect it for burnt connectors or internal cold solder joints...another common issue for fuel problems after it warming up. SAM is a far easier option to check and rule out. And as always check every grounding pin location for bad grounds and that means taking the wires off grounding pin and checking between eyelets as bad as that sounds. One in engine bay upper front left of centre under lip of body work just ahead of hatch cover. Another near SAM, another under drivers seat area on the outside for fuel filter etc, another the left of the batter box on centre console. Start in order of above, CPS, SAM then grounding pins research them all....plenty to read I'm sure. I've just spent days searching for low 12V readings on my GMC Savana 2500 problems with fuel pump issues......ended up being a bad ground pin on the frame rails, multiple rusty connections!!!! Edited October 13, 2023 by Willys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjolinor Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 All of the above + cover it in plenty of copper grease when you put the new one in so you never have the problem again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xen0 Posted October 13, 2023 Author Share Posted October 13, 2023 Picked it up today from where I had to leave it yesterday and drove it to my work were we have a bay and tools so I can work on it. Only about a 15 minute drive so it worked fine. Plugged a cheap scantool in and got P0336, so I guess that certainly points me in that direction. Going to take some time tomorrow and start putting penetrating fluid to the sensor. Another possibility that I will check is the last place in Ontario that the person I bought it from had it serviced, had not put any wire ties back on the looms, and harnesses were jamming the intercooler fan. I fixed that last Saturday, and the problem started on Wednesday, so maybe there's a break or damage in the harness that reacts to heat. The intercooler fan bearing is pretty bad too, rattles and sticks half the time, so gotta replace that too. That being said, anyone have a low cost source for intercooler fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 I can check if i have more than 2 spare and let one go for a fair price...? IF you are interested? They are used not new....If I do they should be in good shape or i would have tossed them. PM me if interested and we can discuss .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 If you can’t find an intercooler fan send a message to Glenn (smart142}. He told me where to get an aftermarket fan and how to make it fit. I think it was about a hundred dollars but that was seven or eight years ago. Also check with the dealer, sometimes they surprise you on pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjolinor Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Personal philosophy: If it can be made then it can be mended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 5 hours ago, Mjolinor said: Personal philosophy: If it can be made then it can be mended. My philosophy is...If a human touched it it can be "F'd" up.....lol But I usually agree, most things can be repaired IF the manufacturing process didn't include some sort of crazy glue to seal plastic housings.....augh! But in today's world it comes down to how much your time is worth to you money wise......some of us older folks still value repairing stuff over throwing it away IF it can be repaired. If you can get the bearings out you should be able to find them somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooseLugNuts Posted October 15, 2023 Share Posted October 15, 2023 my intercooler fan was a chatterbox when i first got it my cheap azz fixed it by drilling a small hole into the center of the shaft support and occasionally spraying a bit of oil onto the bushing or bearing that is in there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xen0 Posted October 21, 2023 Author Share Posted October 21, 2023 Got the crankshaft sensor changed this afternoon. Certainly a pain to do, and my knees are telling me how many times I had to switch from accessing from the top to underneath. I did take the intake hose off to gain a little more room at the top. Biggest problem was the choice between seeing what I needed to do, then trying to do it blind. Took me about 2 hours overall. Old sensor had a crack in the metal tip, likely causing the issues when warm. Seems to idle smoother now, and starts better when cold. Drove from work to home, which I hadn't been able to do. So it seems like that was the culprit, and glad to have my smart back, been driving my work's spare Dodge Caravan.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smart142 Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 Good for you!!! I've had the sensor stick in the shaft and unable to remove! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xen0 Posted October 23, 2023 Author Share Posted October 23, 2023 19 hours ago, smart142 said: Good for you!!! I've had the sensor stick in the shaft and unable to remove! That would've been terrible! Other then the limited space to work, lucky for me it came out without a fight. The screw was not excessively tight, and came out easily with a 1/4" universal joint, T-30 bit, and a 12" extension. It was a bit of challenge trying to get the connector off, as I could seem to get my fingers around both sides at the same time to release. Eventually was able to release each side one at a time. Sensor came out with a long set of needle nose from the top, once I could rotate it back and forth a bit, using the long pliers at the top, and a long wide flat screwdriver at the bottom once I had a gap to work with. I lubed up the new one in oil and after a few attempts actually got it lined up in the proper orientation with the help of those long needle nose. It wasn't easy, but it could've gone far worse as I've read other stories here. Was driving around for a few hours today, definitely starts easier and runs better, and best part is the lack of random unexpected stops! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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