On my 01 maxima SE 25th ann edition, How can I test the connection? What voltage am I supposed to get at the connection that feeds the sensor? The car just had its crankshaft sensor replaced a few months ago with a sensor from advance auto. The one that reads under the crank pulley..My car has been running horrible but it was running..The other day I bought a cam sensor..

Before I replaced it I started the car..It ran horrible but it started..I replaced the cam sensor and it didnt start at all..So I put the old sensor back in it figuring maybe the new one was defective but when I put the original back the car still did not start so I am leaning toward maybe the crank sensor went bad again but I would like to check the voltage at the socket before I get a new sensor...

 

junkyard and be done with it

 

Dude really? My parents always told me if you have nothing good to say dont say anything at all..Please extend me the same courtesy! I need help not wise @ss remarks!

 

Copy of the FSM in my sig.

Your answer should be in there.

 

Usually cars will start with a bad crank pulley sensor. Nissan calls it CKPS(REF). This sensor is used to determine cylinder one TDC. Read the service manual, section EC page 517.

However, the other crankshaft sensor, the one on the flywheel, is extremely important to starting and running. Nissan calls this sensor CKPS(POS). This sensor is used to determine when to fire the spark plugs. If the engine does not crank over fast enough, this sensor will not produce a strong enough signal to start the car, even if the sensor is good. Read the service manual, section EC pages 343 and 523.

 

You could also try pulling a check engine code. Doesn't matter if you don't have a light or not. It may already have a code stored in the ECU.

 

Let me add that the 5th gen (01) has two crank sensors and one cam sensor. Both crank sensors read engine speed, it's the cam sensor on the 5th gen that will cause starting issues as it's responsible for TDC location reporting to ECM.

 

No, go to a junkyard and get a couple sets of OEM sensors lol. This is most likely your problem. Aftermarket ones are notoriously crappy.

 

I took it the wrong way sorry! I thought you meant to junk the car..lol...I have thought of that but how can I be sure the parts Im getting there are any good?

 

Try going to rockauto.com or amazon.com if you want new ones. I bought mine thru amazon and they were a lot cheaper than any place else.

 

Maybe Im the stupid one and missed something but with testing my crank sensors and cam sensor connectors to the ECM I found I was getting no continuity at all..This just could not be unless by some miracle circuits 75,76, and 85 from all 3 sensors had somehow open within the past few days! As I was getting more and more frustrated looking for what it can possibly be that I was doing wrong I found the answer!

I WAS TESTING THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ECM CONNECTOR!

If you look at the pin layout of the ecm connector on the FSM for a 2001 maxima its very easy to think that the picture they are showing you is the picture of the connector that actually goes into the compter and not the back end where the wires go into the connector itself..

THE PICTURE LAYOUT OF THE CONNECTOR IS OF THE BACK OF THE CONNECTOR WHERE THE WIRES GO IN..

I was losing hope when I finally decided to try the opposite side and sure enough I had continuity on all 3!

Like I said maybe Im the stupid one but for any newjack testing circuits in this car it can easily be confused and drive you NUTS!

Hopefully this can help someone in the future.