So driving to class tonight on the highway, get off and go about 6 miles down a local road and I start to hear a funny noise from my engine. I get out, and it almost sounded like a valve was tapping against a piston. The engine was still running though, and it was running fine. So I turn it off, and then it wouldnt start again, Just crank. I have it towed to my school, and we figured out we werent getting spark to the plugs. But we were however getting spark to the coil pack. I hooked up our Snap On scanner and when cranking, the ECU was seeing a signal from the CAM/CRANK sensor. So about 3 hours of testing went by, then randomly after I pulled out the crank sensor and inspected it, I tried starting it. I gave it some gas, and it fired right up and ran perfect again, but no noise.

The noise maybe sounded like detonation, but it was just idling or whatever ya know.

Has anyone ever seen this or heard of anything like this before?

Something has to obviously be wrong here. I swear this car does some GOOFY ass shit sometimes, lol.

This is pretty weird guys, I went back to class last night, walked up to my car, and it started right up, then died after about 30 seconds. Just wont start again, just cranks and cranks. Did some more testing and got a code for the cam sensor, got a new one, and still just cranks and cranks.

Anyone know of any collective info on this goofy scenerio?

Okay, there is no spark, thats all there is to it.

I hooked up my snap-on scope graph and while cranking, i am getting perfect graphs for the cam and crank signal. then i tested at the ecu, and same thing.

This is starting to burst my bubble here.

CAM/CRANK sensor give you fuel.With out the CAM/CRANK sensor your car will never turn on. just buy a new one and i think your hearing the lifters

Originally posted by dsm_talon77901
CAM/CRANK sensor give you fuel.With out the CAM/CRANK sensor your car will never turn on. just buy a new one and i think your hearing the lifters

i already bought the cam sensor and just buying parts is NOT good way to diagnose a problem buddy. you dont just buy parts and slap them on, lol.

thanks for the input though.

Okay, after all testing w/ my snap on diagnostic software, it points to the ECU being at fault.

I picked one up so we will see if I am correct with the diagnostics.

This is EXACTLY why, you just dont GUESS on parts to replace like the guy above me said to do. I would have just wasted $75 for a crank sensor and $24 for a cam sensor.

All you have to do is take your time and diagnose what the true problem is instead of guessing on stuff to replace.

So anyway, thanks for the space 2gnt :)