ok i didnt get much help with my last post but have checked quite a few more things. ill restate my problem. its a 98 sunfire 2.2 179800 miles

cars been giving problems when starting. basicly 1 of 2 things happen either 1. when i turn the key it will start to crank but then stop suddenly then start cranking again but takes several seconds befor starting and run rough for the first few secs then it runs like a dream. or 2. will just plain take several seconds of cranking to start.

now i do have a CEL i dont know the actual numbers but its saying low output for both the crank and cam position sensors. now the wierd thing is i replaced the crank sensor and had the code cleared but now its back and now cam sensor along with it.

ive had checked battery,alternator,replaced plugs wires and of coarse the crank sensor. i also checked the wires leading to the sensors for physical damage and nothing.

i pulled off my coil pack tonight to check for damage and to clean the conectors and everything looked good except for one thing and im not sure if its an issue or not. one of the coils on the back side where it meets the ignition module there was a crack in the plastic of the coil, not a gap just a crack.

as another note my car had 2 recalls fixed about 2 years ago they were the ignition one that put the relay on the starter and some shield for the pcm. and now im wondering if the ignition recall may be part of my problem because in situation 1 from above its like the starter cuts out. but i dont understand for the life of my why the scan still says the crank sensor is bad even after i ut in a new one??

i hope some one can help me because im stumped other than replacing the cam sensor now. i guess i should be happy that it does eventually start and run well...

[there was a crack in the plastic of the coil, not a gap just a crack.]--If it were mine I would replace it, cracks can lead to arcing etc.

[1. when i turn the key it will start to crank but then stop suddenly then start cranking again but takes several seconds before starting and run rough for the first few secs then it runs like a dream. or

2. will just plain take several seconds of cranking to start.]

This sounds like a bad connection, probably on the Negative Battery cable (Assuming you have physically disconnected and checked the Positive cable at the Battery and the Starter terminal posts)



I would first disconnect the Battery and then the Negative cable where it connects to the chassis and/or Block. Make sure the cable ends and the points they connect to are really shiny clean then reconnect everything and test it.

If the problem was the Negative connections the high resistance there may have lowered the effective voltage to the cam/crank sensors giving you "Low Output" for both the Cam and Crank sensors (Even the new ones) i.e. there is nothing wrong with the Sensors but they are receiving a low input voltage during starting.

There were some problems with the ignition recall relay failing (Both closed and open) but as your car works when it works I don't think that is the problem, in your case.


Alont

thanks for the tips. i haveent actually taken off the batt and ground connections but i did make sure they were tight but i will take them all off and clean them so see how that goes. the ignition recall was done IMO was done very sloppy, as there are wires just hanging allover and by no means dont "neat and clean". i did talk to the dealership about it and they seemed reluctant to want it back in to look at it. if i bring it back in do they they have to redo it again and not charge me. or at the very least check it all and again not charge me.

Yep, those connections need to be removed to check them properly, with all connecting surfaces "squeaky clean".

I have seen quite a few photographs of the ignition recall as performed by some dealers and I have to agree that the standard seems low for a supposedly "professional" job.


[i did talk to the dealership about it and they seemed reluctant to want it back in to look at it. if i bring it back in do they they have to redo it again and not charge me. or at the very least check it all and again not charge me.]

Morally, they should, but in practice it may be more difficult to get them to comply.


If you were to photograph the recall, with the "not neat and clean" showing clearly you would be well prepared if you did follow up on the job.

All said and done they are supposed to be professionals.

Please post back after you have cleaned the connections


Good Luck


Alont