I was driving home and my car sputtered and stalled and occasionally died. I would just hit the gas and it would run again. I have checked everything. Someone please give me some input on this.

Here is what I know for sure.

1. Fuel is good. (I replaced the fuel filter and the spark plugs have fuel all over).
2. Plugs and wires are good.
3. There is voltage going to the coil packs.
4. All fuses and relays are good.
5. The engine has compression.
6. The motor cranks, but there is no spark.
7. No codes are being thrown (or caught ).

I have been doing some searching and heard a lot about replacing the CKP, but none of the posts mention anything about it dying like this.

Would the CKP gradually go out on me like this which cause the occasional sputtering and electronic failure during driving?

If not, what do I do next?

 

If you're not getting spark that could very well be it. The car just stuttering and dying out of nowhere initially sounded like a bad MAP sensor though. However, you're not throwing any codes and you say no spark... so my guess would be a bad cam or crank sensor.

 

Well... ****. I imagine a crank sensor is easier to change than a cam sensor?

 

I haven't personally done it but I believe they're both pretty easy.

 

 

So I have to take the damn starter out and disconnect the solenoid first. I don't see how you could get to the solenoid. I tried taking the two bolts out of the starter and they are on there tight and it is way too hard for a ratchet. Any easy way around this?

 

Not that I know of. Should be able to pull the starter without a problem. Spray some PB breaker on there and let it sit overnight.

 

Bump

I took out the two starter bolts and moved it to the side to replace the CKP. I got everything buttoned up and try to start it.. No luck. Still cranking, but no spark.
Here is what I have now:

1. Fuel is good. (I replaced the fuel filter and the spark plugs have fuel all over).
2. Plugs and wires are good.
3. There is voltage going to the coil packs.
4. All fuses and relays are good.
5. The engine has compression.
6. The motor cranks, but there is no spark.
7. No codes are being thrown (or caught ).
8. CKP has been replaced, but still no luck.

I was thinking about the coil packs. The connector that goes to each coil pack has voltage, but I still don't know if the coil packs themselves are working. Although it would be really weird for both coil packs to die at the same time. I could be wrong though.

 

Pull a plug boot off a plug and see if it's getting juice when you crank it over.

 

We did that test to see if it arced and nothing came out. I tried starting it and I heard the motor fire just twice then it died. So I am thinking more and more that the coil packs gradually went out.

 

I had a similar problem, I would check the the connections to the ecm, also check the fuses inside the car, last but not least i would try running a ground from the ecm to the negiative side of the battery, i did it on my 99 and it ran fine.

 

Where is the connection to the ECM? I can communicate with the ECM with a code reader and it seems fine. But, just to make sure, how do I find it?

 

The ECM is fine for sure. I am running out of guesses here. What could've gone wrong? I don't know what to do and this damn thing won't start.

1. Fuel is good. (I replaced the fuel filter and the spark plugs have fuel all over).
2. Plugs and wires are good.
3. There is voltage going to the coil packs.
4. All fuses and relays are good.
5. The engine has compression.
6. The motor cranks, but there is no spark.
7. No codes are being thrown (or caught ).
8. CKP has been replaced, but still no luck.
9. The ECM is fine.
10. All grounds were checked and are fine.
11. Each individual coil was checked for power and showed OK.

 

Where is the cam sensor located? I have never had to mess with it before?

 

I would try changing the cam sensor then? idk...

 

It's number 31 in the diagram. It's right next to the oil pressure sensor in the back. Should be easy once the manifold is pulled.

 

Would the cam sensor gradually go out like that though? It ran fine all weekend and then on the drive home ran fine for a few miles, sputtered, ran fine for about 40 miles, stalled some more, ran fine for another 50 and then died.

 

bump

I am taking it to a dealer because they have a better diagnostic tool. I hope it does not turn out to be something simple. Thanks for all of the help everyone.

 

Change your Ingnition relay in the fuse panel under the hood first. I fought with my wife's car and changed the cam and crank sensor only to find it was the stupid ignition relay under the hood.

 

Wondering as well?