a brother from autozone was cool enough to come up to my car (2000 max SE 3.0L) and read my code. its not starting, but turning over. The code that came up was P0340 and it said crank angle sensor and some garbage about bank 1 circuit error. The problem is, there are 2 crank angle sensors, one on the front of the tranny, and one below the main belt on the oil case. Does anyone have any idea which one the code would mean? To me, they both look like little magnetic pickups, and theres not really too much that could go wrong with them, but it would bea nice easy fix if that were the problem. Any ideas?

thanks in advance
stevo

 

That code is for the camshaft position sensor, which is on the front of the engine(PASSENGER side of car) timing cover right below the Oil Cap.

FSM recommends loosening and retightening the ground screws right next to the oil cap. Also, disconnect the plug and check resistance between the two terminals:

HITACHI is 1440-1760ohms
MITSUBISHI is 2090-2550ohms

That's just for starters. They also recommend checking for shorts/opens on the harness/ECU connection.

 

muchas gracias mi amigo!

stevo

 

No problemo.

 

well.... i tried it out, i checked the resistance and came up with 2330 on the mitsu, so that seems about right, and i retightened the ground screws. now i am somewhat disconcerted because that would make it appear that the sensor is ok and now i have no clue what is wrong i really cant wait to get it runnin so i can trade it up for an ol school 300z..... any more ideas?

stevo

 

any ideas?

 

Check the crank sensor at the flywheel (near the trans as you described). It will not run if that sensor is not working. Check over the wiring to that one as well.

Don't bother with the sensor at the front pulley (PS side of car). The engine will run without that one.

 

let me know if you figure it out. I have the same problem and I've tested everythign the FSM has. BTW Thaniel, my car does not start with that sensor unplugged. I've also replaced the sensor, but no luck.

 

Using any competent OBDII tool or a CONSULT you should be able to monitor while cranking the engine, crank sensor and cam sensors should come up (high signal) while cranking teh engine and while the engine is running -- it will be a line like Crank sensor signal voltage (Present/Lost) or whatever.

Usually crank/cam sensors are optical and read off a toothed ring or magnetic and read off a metal ring. If the ring breaks, the sensors will test out ok, resistance-wise, but not have any reference.

BTW -- i don't think the VQ engines will run with cam or crank sensors disconnected. It depends on the sensors to control timing and spark, to the best of my knowledge