Thread: Belts took out crank sensor now no start

Alright, after reading this: 3800 GM Ignition System Description and Operation I learned that the ignition module should be giving me spark during cranking if it's getting signal from the crank sensor independent of the pcm. I had both ignition modules I have checked (good) at O'Reilly's but I'll be taking them both somewhere else to be checked out tomorrow. If they both still check good I'm pulling the new crank sensor back out. It has to be bad.

From what I understand, a bad ICM will test good even if it is not. So the best bet is to swap one in there that you know works, if you suspect that's the problem.

I think I'm on the right track now. I was convinced that my new crank sensor was DOA. Had previously checked the wiring and had continuity between connectors. So I replaced the sensor with a Borg Warner part. Still nothing. So, I decide to find a way to test to ignition module on the car. Part 1 -GM 3.8L Ignition Module Test and Crank Sensor Test (3X, 18X) Everything was checking out fine until I got to the 3x signal from the crank sensor. No signal to the ICM. The wire does have continuity but I can also light a test light touching it to + on the battery. I'm guessing that the light blue/white wire is grounded to the block or a bracket somewhere. I'll know tomorrow night. At least I'm getting an education on the ignition system...

Forgot to follow-up with this but figured I should put this out there to be sure someone doesn't make the same dumbass mistake I did. When I put the balancer back on apparently I didn't torque it down. Usually I just use the impact wrench and crank it down. This day was in the cold & dark, for whatever reason I never came back to torque it down. The triggers in the balancer were too far away from the crank sensor to make a signal which is why I was getting no spark or injectors firing. Fought wiring & testing the ICM forever before I finally let it sit & drove something else for awhile. Cranked the balancer down once I figured out that was it & it fired right up. It's a miracle! One of my dumbest mistakes ever...