Engine will not start?

I would replace the crankshaft sensor but first we should run the codes to see what comes up. Here is a guide and diagrams below to help you get the job done.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

thank you I got a new sensor and its all fixed cost me $76.00 FYI I love this site.

Hi guys. Crank sensor has to be good because that's what the engine is running on. Beginning around 2000 / 2002, the systems were changed to allow the engine to run on just one sensor. Before that the Engine Computer had to see signals from both sensors before it would turn on the automatic shutdown relay which powers the ignition coil(s), injectors, fuel pump or pump relay, and other stuff.

You have two possibilities. The cam sensor is shorted or the valve timing is off. If the cam sensor is shorted, it will kill the 5.0 volt supply for both the cam and crank sensors. Unplugging the shorted sensor will restore the 5.0 volts to the good one but since the computer shuts the power supply down to protect it, you have to turn the ignition switch off first, then back on to reset it. When the power supply is shut down by the computer, you will see "no" listed for both sensors on a scanner that can display live data. If you see "present" listed for one sensor, neither one is shorted but the one listed as "no" is either defective or has a wiring problem.

If the timing is off, there are again two possibilities if you have the single overhead cam engine. About half of the time you're going to find the timing belt has jumped one tooth. At that point the computer will detect the mismatched signals, set a diagnostic fault code "cam and crank sync", and turn on the Check Engine light. The engine will still run but it will be down on power.

If the timing belt jumps two teeth, the computer will shut the engine down to protect it from serious damage. It does that by failing to turn on the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay. That kills the injectors, ignition coils, and fuel pump. By forcing the engine to run when you unplug the cam sensor, it provides a valuable clue, but you risk doing expensive valve damage. When the timing belt jumps three teeth, the open valves will be hit by the pistons as they coast to a stop. Those bent valves can only be repaired by removing the cylinder head to replace them. The additional clue here is at two teeth off, the engine will be running very poorly if it hasn't shut down yet. If it runs fine when you disconnect the cam sensor, most likely it's a sensor problem, not a timing belt problem. If the engine runs poorly with the cam sensor unplugged, it's not wise to force it to do so to get it home or to a shop because when the timing belt jumps teeth, it's usually because those teeth are being sheared off from an entire section of the belt. That means it won't be long before that valve damage occurs; perhaps even in the next few hundred yards.

The second timing issue has exactly the same result, symptoms, and clues, except the timing belt will be in good shape and correctly adjusted. The key between the camshaft and sprocket shears off and over time the resistance of turning the camshaft causes the sprocket to turn on the cam. That makes the camshaft timing late just as if the belt had jumped a tooth. Since the cam sensor is at the end of the camshaft opposite the sprocket, the pulses it develops show up late compared to the crankshaft sensor's pulses. All the computer knows is the valve timing is late and damage to them could occur soon. It doesn't know, (or care), if that is because the cam and sprocket are late due to a jumped belt, or the cam is late because it is turned on the sprocket.

At the mileage you listed you can justify installing a new timing belt. If the old belt is off one or two teeth, the valves should be okay yet. This is the perfect opportunity to install a new key between the cam and sprocket. Be aware the pressure from the valve springs is going to make the camshaft want to turn a little when you remove the belt. A valve might hit a piston but it won't be damaged if you don't put excessive pressure on it. If you start with the crankshaft at TDC, the cam won't turn very far and won't take much effort to move it back to the correct setting when you put the new belt on. Install the new belt and time it correctly by only turning the crank and the cam sprocket by hand.

Car died going down the road like u turned the switch off and when u try to start it it will be cranking but not running. Otherwise its spinning but not running. U can hear the fuel pump come on everytime I turn switch on. Its like its not firing, camshaft sensor or crankshaft sensor please reply if anyone knows

try resetting security system first hre are too guide to help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

Please run down this guide and report back.

2002 pt crusier bought in feb. had timing belt fixed and new battery . 2 months later ran hot 1 time took it back to same shop , said needed water was fine . next morning had a loud clattering sound coming from under hood lost power and steam coming from under hood. took it back and then they said had blown head gasket , i didnt really thinks so but, we tried easy fix of head gasket sealer got it running to do it but not running now it sounds like it wants to crank but just not enough power, what else can be wrong with it?

Remove the spark plugs and check for coolant in the cylinders. That will cause hydro-lock and slow or no cranking. That's a sign of a leaking head gasket.

i was thinking about the plugs, if that is fixed and i tried that gasket reapir did all th steps to, cuz i didnt think it was that bad if it ran hot just once , does that stuff really work? would i have to replace the plugs or do you just clean it out or is going to do it again?

My check engine light came on in my car and now it shutters when I start it after it has been sitting for awhile and has an engine smell inside the car. It has never done this before. What could be wrong with my car?

The next day I went out for lunch and when I came back to start my car it wouldn't start. It took a couple of tries to get it to start.

I have a 2002 pt and was having problems with the battery. We cleaned the terminals and replaced. this seem to help because the car would not start the next day. Then again it might be a sensor underneath the dash broad.

Sometimes the engine light comes on at times, I read somewhere to check your gas cap is on correctly and sometimes if you check your battery. The check engine light does not shutter on my pt cruiser.

I hope this might help you but check your pt cruiser manual or going to a auto shop for more information.

when i turn the key my car does not want to turn on even though my lights and radio is on.

Check battery voltage try a jump then have battery load tested. Only takes couple amps to run lights/radio need 250-300 to operate starter

Car overheats after driving for 7 minutes or so, have replaced spark plugs and wires, flushed radiator, replaced thermostat twice. the overflow couldn't tank starts to bubble then that is when the car will start to overheat. We have put gallon after gallon of coolant, because after it over heats it starts to leak the coolant out, it has now started to produce white smoke and condensation out of the exhaust, when the car is running it runs smooth. After the car overheats we have too leave it where it's parked for 3+ hours until it's cool enough to start. Replaced battery as well, but something in car has drained the battery so had to charge the battery, we don't know what else to do,

have the coolant system pressure checked for an internal leak like ahead gasket

Other than the battery, everything you described points to a leaking cylinder head gasket. The clue is the white exhaust smoke.

Car won't crank at all. Replaced battery. Car died 3 or 4 times while driving but immediately restarted. Last time it died it would not do anything when key is turned.

charge battery
start engine check and suspect charging system

Hi I am working on a Chrysler PT 2.4l Crank no start had codes for Cam sensor and crank sensor both sensors are good. I do have spark and fuel.Timing belt is intact any ideas.. I know its possible belt has slipped timing but any ideas that I can try before having to take cover off to chekc marks???

How do you know that the sensors are ok?

All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.

You may have already performed some of these tests but we need all of them to form any conclusion


Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.


2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.


3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

I have replaced the sensors.I do have Spark and Injector pulse. also fuel pressure is normal.I will check compression. thanks

2002 PT Cruiser wont start - thought I ran out of gas but it didnt do any sputtering sounds before the engine just shut down...towed the car home - no pressure in the bleeder valve for the gas so we replaced the fuel pump ...still wouldnt start...ran the codes from the odometer P0340 - no camshaft position sensor signal at PCM - so we replaced the camshaft sensor - P1684 Battery was disconnected within last 50 starts - fuse error - burnt out IOD - so replaced that - also replaced the battery after it died from trying to start it so much - STILL WONT TURN ALL THE WAY OVER - it tries but never gets there....Please help -

i am havein the same problem same code dome some of the same things been told it was the timeing belt goin to break down and take it to the shop monday if you e mail me or look me up on here i will tell you what they say or if you have fixed it let me know how please user name scottndanielle posted the fule pump question on this same page

replaced head in 2001 pt cruiser and now it wont start. it tries but got no fire

Everythink hooked up? is there fuel? Tbelt on correct? check engine light on?

replaced camshaft and crankshaft sensors just turn over wont start unhook camshaft sensor and it will start

Check the camshaft sensor wiring for a short and open circuit

Which code no. do you have?

P0340....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit #Bank 1
P0341....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Range/Performance #Bank 1#
P0342....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Low Input #Bank 1#
P0343....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit High Input #Bank 1#
P0344....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent #Bank 1#
P0345....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit #Bank 2#
P0346....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Range/Performance #Bank 2#
P0347....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Low Input #Bank 2#
P0348....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit High Input #Bank 2#
P0349....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent #Bank 2#

Eng. won't crank, starter doesn't click. Ing. wiring good from switch to starter relay and from the relay to the starter solenoid. Grounded the relay trigger circuit. Starter works, eng. cranks but will not start. Traced prob. to no ground for the starter relay trigger circuit. Tan wire from relay pin #86 tp pcm plug. is good.

try resetting your security system first kinda sounds like the problem if no manual look online. if still not starting then check starter relay and grounds from battery

I have repaced the coil pack, negative and positive battcables,crank sensor, still won't fire any sugestions

Do below and give me some results we move from here

Disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs,distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors.

It has fuel nospark does 02 pt cruiser have a ignition module?

I don't see an ignition control module the computer acts as one to tell the coil to fire the plugs.

Check the crankshaft position sensor

i have fuel pressure i have spark,changed cam sensor because it had p0340 code also changed crank sensor,checked power going from plug for injecters only one wire coming from that plug has power also found that plug alittle melted because it was sitting on the postive cable for the starter pulled plug apart and
did not find and internale damage,tried starting the car it cranks, but the p0340 code keeps coming up and the car still will not start and it still says that the current sync is lost.not sure what else to try but a rag and a
liter lol.please help.thanks

Did you check ref voltage-- ground and signal at the cam and crank sensor connector? Our info for p0340 says pcm doesn't see the cam signal. Could be wiring circuit problem?

Did you check spark--fuel pressure and injector pulse, with engine cranking? If all that checks out, I'd have to check valve timing.

i have a 02 pt cruiser i have fuel spark and my timing marks are in line will not start

what do you mean you're timing marks are in line? do you do the timing belt? who did it all of a sudden stop running?

My son called me and stated his car wouldn't start. I tried jumping it with no luck, so I replaced the battery. I was able to get the car to start, but then it wouldn't shut off when the key was placed in the off position. I ended up pulling the Auto Shut Off Relay to get the car to stop running. I replaced the relay and it wouldn't start, so I disconnected the battery cables and touched them together and reattached. After messing around for several minutes turning the key on and off the car started again and again wouldn't shut off. I also noticed that when the car was off some of the dash lights (odo, air bag, etc) was still illuminated. The radio, AC, etc. did not operate will the key was in the off position. The battery and Ignition Switch were both replaced during this process. At this time I'm puzzled and only have been successful in spending money with no improvement. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

have local guy look at this you may have a harness issue with wires burnt together. could be something else as well though

my car wont start, i have a gotten a new battery a new fuel pump new sensors and a new ignition coil. my alternator is good and my spark plugs are fine and i still do not know what will make the car start.