Thread: Helping a coworker

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  1. #1 Helping a coworker 
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    So, a coworkers 2000 Buick park avenue is having idling issues. And running issues for that matter. It’s giving three codes, can’t remember the numbers but it’s random misfire and crank sensor twice. One current and one stored. Just replaced the crank sensor today per their request (what they were told by a “good” shop. I just did what I was told). Here we are and it starts, runs rough, and dies after 8-10 seconds. I checked coils (pulling each wire off). Found coil for 5/6 was putting out no spark. They replaced it and it’s still doing the dying running extremely bad stuff with the same codes. Any and all thoughts are appreciated. They do live an hour away from me, not going back till Monday morning, he can do whatever I tell him, just slowly as he is waiting on a hip replacement on the 29th of November. So moving slow.


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  2. #2 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    If a coil went bad it's possible it cooked the ICM (the thing that all the coils mount to). Had this happen on my 00 GT once. Ran like junk if it ran at all.

    Also, check the harness that connects to the crank sensor as it can get damaged. I believe it comes off part of the ICM harness IIRC.

    I'd clear the codes and then see what new ones set. No sense chasing old info.
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  4. #3 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    I’ll forward this to him!


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  5. #4 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Keep ideas coming!


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  6. #5 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Oh, I will add, it’s very hard starting. Like it wants to sometimes, but doesn’t, then if it does catch, it starts rough and slow.


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  7. #6 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    I could be mistaken, because I've never replaced a crank sensor, but it might need a case relearn. When I did my cam I noted that it was recommended when swapping the sensor. I also always check the temperature of the manifold when having a misfire issue. Carefully touch each cylinder on the manifold when it first starts to see if any are cold. Not a bad idea to check fuel pressure either. Try to get the codes and others can help more here.
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  9. #7 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Okay. Here’s an update. We changed the crank sensor as I mentioned before, it needed a tune up anyway. So did plugs, wires and oil (thought he already did plugs). At this point, the idling got worse, cutting out got worse, etc. So, all signs pointing to the icm, we replaced it. Now, it idles, runs pretty decent, but still rough. Definitely a miss. So, check coils again, low and behold, half a dead coil that was good the other day!!! So he’s going to replace the other two coils, giving three new ones. I’ll post back after he gets to it. I hope that is the final issue. Also, the check engine light went off. I found that very weird consider the miss that it still has. Very weird.


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  10. #8 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    I know this sounds dumb, but also check the plug wire routing to be sure they are on the correct plugs. On these cars you can cross up 2 or more cylinders and it will still actually run somewhat ok, but with a miss obviously.

    Here's a diagram:


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  12. #9 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Quote Originally Posted by FordMan77 View Post
    I know this sounds dumb, but also check the plug wire routing to be sure they are on the correct plugs. On these cars you can cross up 2 or more cylinders and it will still actually run somewhat ok, but with a miss obviously.

    Here's a diagram:


    That’s funny, it’s the first google image that comes up. That’s the one I used. I actually checked that four times, maybe five. Lol


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  13. #10 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Oh, on a side note, I had a cel for Evan purge solenoid, but I knew it wasn’t that. While we were comparing engines to make sure most things were in order and good condition, I noticed a broken vacuum elbow, replaced it the same day. I’m not the type to clear a cel, unless it’s a dumb one. So I changed it, put about 100ish miles on the car, light went out this morning on the way home from work. Good stuff right there, nothing beats that feeling.


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  14. #11 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Alright guys. It’s done, been running since the day after my last post. Turns out the ICM was bad, was the crank sensor bad as well, we may never know, but it has a new one so that’s at least out of the way. Her fuel mileage drastically went back to where it should be as well. She thought the gauge was broke as it wasn’t dropping like it used to. She was averaging 9 mpg before repairs, now a consistent 28.


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  16. #12 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Well done sir

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  18. #13 Re: Helping a coworker 
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    Good deal! Mileage sounds about right as I can get about 410 or so to a tank before empty no matter how I drive it. 420 if I really want to drain the tank but that's rough on the pump.
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