possible Crank Position Sensor problem ???

[Dave Hess]

When a Crank Position Sensor goes bad, do they fail completely and the car won't start at all....

or can it be an intermittent problem in which the car starts with no problem and the next day the car won't start no matter how many times you try ???

My mom's 2002 Honda Civic LX is acting up and I scanned the OBD and there were no codes, the car only has 30K miles

 

[The Critic]

Take it to the dealer, isn't it still under warranty?

It's possible. Usually when the CPS fails it will cause a no spark condition.

Generic scan tools are near worthless with the newest cars as it won't be able to retrieve all codes.

 

[cmhj]

Like any sensor and with the many vehicles I've worked on over the years, sensors can do either.

Many times I've found that an assumed sensor problem is nothing more than a loose wire connector and no codes were ever found.

 

[bdcardinal]

at my work when we get 7.3 Power Strokes that just stop running thats the first thing we replace. 99% of the time thats it.

 

[Dave Hess]

Factory warranty is over. The sensor is located under the plastic timing belt cover and isn't too hard to replace.

I just don't want her to take the car to the dealer and they charge her $1000 to replace an $80 part.

I did a Web search and the 2001 & 2002 Civic is known to have this problem.

I'm guessing since its located very low to the engine + the humid south FL weather and rain, maybe it went bad even though the car has very low miles.

 

[Chris142]

Honda's have problems with the distributers and igniters.

 

[TallPaul]

I had a crank position sensor fail on a trip. Stopped dead on the side of the highway. Too bad they did not design it so that the vehicle would have a limp mode when the crank position sensor dies.

 

[Merkava_4]

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When a Crank Position Sensor goes bad, do they fail completely and the car won't start at all....

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Yes. . . they are a {Go/No Go} type item. What do you mean by "acting up?"

 

[boxcartommie22]

98 crown vic, when mine failed it was intermittant then failed all together

 

[Dave Hess]

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What do you mean by "acting up?"

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Sometimes the car will start perfectly for 3 days straight, then the next 3 days its 50/50 whether the car starts up or not. I went to AutoZone and bought the sensor, I will replace it today.

 

[mechtech2]

I hope that fixes it.
But there are all sorts of components that could cause the same symptoms.

 

[dwendt44]

Any electronic devise, sensor, thing a'bob, can work one minute and not the next and work again the next minute.
Happens all to often; I've seen it several times; on cars and at work(CNC machines).

 

[The Critic]

Quote:

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Quote:

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What do you mean by "acting up?"

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Sometimes the car will start perfectly for 3 days straight, then the next 3 days its 50/50 whether the car starts up or not. I went to AutoZone and bought the sensor, I will replace it today.

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I'd go with an OE sensor, as the aftermarket sensors are a hit or miss.