Only starts when towed 93 manual

[92exp4x4]

If your 93 has EGR, it also has a cam sensor. Is it possible that this sensor is bad? I have heard it referred to as the crankshaft synchronizer sensor. I'm not really sure how these two work with each other and what happens when one is bad, but it may be another angle to look at the problem. I would think you should get a code for it though if its bad.

 

[2strokenut]

If your 93 has EGR, it also has a cam sensor. Is it possible that this sensor is bad? I have heard it referred to as the crankshaft synchronizer sensor. I'm not really sure how these two work with each other and what happens when one is bad, but it may be another angle to look at the problem. I would think you should get a code for it though if its bad.

Thanks man that would probably be the 211 code the other poster was talking about? We towed it over to my house the other day and we decided to see if it would fire up and run all the way back and it did. Ran like a top just keep revving it haha.

I read about the CMP in the manual and it looks like I have one but its vague as to where its located. I'm going to change that first but I was wondering if anyone knew exactly where its located.

 

[iwannabamedic]

have you checked the intake cause if it has a leak it will not allow it to run. I had to put jb weld over mine cause it was coming apart at the seams on top

 

[2strokenut]

Hey guys just got back under the exploder since my knees have almost healed up. I really want to get this thing running. I just replaced the Crank sensor and it did not start.

so your still having the same issue, crank and no start, have you checked for spark yet, i know i already asked but i dont think i got a solid answer. also have you checked the condition of your injectors they could be fried to the point that they wont fire. im stumped, if your getting fuel at the fuel rail and spark that does pretty much leave the injectors, could be some weird totally un thought of issue. if you havent already try covering the EGR while cranking, or just replace it since it needs to be anyway, i still think the bad EGR could be throwing something else out of whack preventing a start. when was the last time you had it pop started? may want to do it again just to make sure it still does start.

My buddy pop started it a few weeks ago and drove it to my house. It ran awesome he said. I think next Im going to throw on the egr since I have one and have nothing else to change.

211 is the no start, cant cid cylinder #1 to start the vehicle, which is why at a certain rpm it runs.

Could you please elaborate on this? I'm almost ready to try a who nother coil pack. Am I looking at the Camshaft position sensor

x2

What were the results of your crankshaft position sensor tests? Is there gunk all over the crankshaft pulley?

I suspect an intermittent ground to the crankshaft position sensor through a tear in the harness insulation. Can be tested by wiggling the harness while it's running with something to keep your hands out of reach of moving parts.

I'm not immediately familiar with the camshaft position sensor equivalent to your year. But the same principle could cause this perhaps.

My engine is pretty much spotless, no leaks or gunk. I checked the connector and it looks alright but I will follow the wires around and check for damage. The crank sensor I put in did nothing.

have you checked the intake cause if it has a leak it will not allow it to run. I had to put jb weld over mine cause it was coming apart at the seams on top

I checked it out but nothing I could see, I would need to get it running and listen I suppose.


Thanks again for all your help guys

 

[Roadrunner777]

First time I saw this thread, a good 20 minute read!

When I read your first post, I thought... gee, this guy has a vacuum leak. Then, I read, you have some interesting codes and a bad egr system.

I have not traced everybody's thoughts forward and back, so forgive me if I go back over something already covered.

1. Can you find a vacuum gauge? If so, compare what you have to this page.

2. EGR bad, bad like it might be sending exhaust back through all the time?

3. In your efforts to fly an Explorer to the moon (which we must have video of, and soon!) is it possible something happened to the exhaust system? If flow were impeded in some way, crushed pipe, something in the cat converter or muffler broke, I could see these symptoms. Nevermind, I remembered it runs perfectly on the road.

4. Fuel pressure - It was low in your initial post, then ok later, I guess after changing the fuel filter. I wonder if you could post KOEO pressure? Do you disable the crash cut-off device in some way?

5. I listed the above because they are quick easy tests. If they don't go anywhere, then I'd start addressing engine codes.

 

[2strokenut]

First time I saw this thread, a good 20 minute read!

When I read your first post, I thought... gee, this guy has a vacuum leak. Then, I read, you have some interesting codes and a bad egr system.

I have not traced everybody's thoughts forward and back, so forgive me if I go back over something already covered.

1. Can you find a vacuum gauge? If so, compare what you have to this page.

2. EGR bad, bad like it might be sending exhaust back through all the time?

3. In your efforts to fly an Explorer to the moon (which we must have video of, and soon!) is it possible something happened to the exhaust system? If flow were impeded in some way, crushed pipe, something in the cat converter or muffler broke, I could see these symptoms. Nevermind, I remembered it runs perfectly on the road.

4. Fuel pressure - It was low in your initial post, then ok later, I guess after changing the fuel filter. I wonder if you could post KOEO pressure? Do you disable the crash cut-off device in some way?

5. I listed the above because they are quick easy tests. If they don't go anywhere, then I'd start addressing engine codes.

I could probably find a vacuum guage, checking it at start might give me insight to whats going on. As far as fuel pressure I think when I tested it the pressure was fine, I may just check it again. I'm also running the thing with a striaght exhaust no cats or muffler.

The fuel cutoff switch is fine, the only time we've been able to engage it was at the Tuff Truck competititon last weekend in Phoenix when my buddy flew his exploder off a table top and pretty much nose dived into the ground. BTW, my buddies in 2 stock 1st gen explorers, one stock 97 explorer and a stock 86 bronco took 1st 3rd and 4th. Google Del mar tuff truck competition if you wanna see what Im talking about. I'll make a thread one of these days with some video and pics.

As far as video of us out in the desert the best we could do would be helmet cameras since we do it all at night so we can see peoples lights and don't run into them lol. Its pretty crazy and would probably inspire some people on here and show what these things are capable of.

 

[2strokenut]

Almost out of options- NO spark

A quick update:

There is NO spark when starting.

I took the truck to my buddies shop and had their electrical specialist try his luck at it. He takes care of any of their mysterious electrical problems anything from Lamborghinis to Camrys. He spent about an hour testing wires and sensors and after it all he could not figure it out. His best guess was either the coil pack or ICM. The ICM I took from the junkyard may have been bad. He said he's never seen anything like this and it would cost a grip of cash to test every pin coming out of the computer to find the problem.

I replaced the coil pack and had my original ICM tested and it was good so I put it back on. Still no spark. I tried to find somewhere to maybe test my PCM but no one does that. I've replaced everything I possibly can. I'm almost ready to put it up on craigslist for 500 bucks. My buddy wants me to take the exploder to a guy who also works on mysterious no start issues and that will be my last hope to get this thing running.

 

[waskly]

A quick update:

There is NO spark when starting.

I took the truck to my buddies shop and had their electrical specialist try his luck at it. He takes care of any of their mysterious electrical problems anything from Lamborghinis to Camrys. He spent about an hour testing wires and sensors and after it all he could not figure it out. His best guess was either the coil pack or ICM. The ICM I took from the junkyard may have been bad. He said he's never seen anything like this and it would cost a grip of cash to test every pin coming out of the computer to find the problem.

I replaced the coil pack and had my original ICM tested and it was good so I put it back on. Still no spark. I tried to find somewhere to maybe test my PCM but no one does that. I've replaced everything I possibly can. I'm almost ready to put it up on craigslist for 500 bucks. My buddy wants me to take the exploder to a guy who also works on mysterious no start issues and that will be my last hope to get this thing running.

give me a few seconds i havent see anything past a 4th gen in a year.... its coming back to me, just slowly.....

 

[2strokenut]

give me a few seconds i havent see anything past a 4th gen in a year.... its coming back to me, just slowly.....

Haha everyone I talk to says the same thing.

 

[2strokenut]

Not to be outdone the Master tech electrical guy came by again and tried to give it another shot. Still could not figure it out. It the 40 years working on cars this is the 2nd time he could not fix a problem.

We have pretty much pinpointed it to the coil not turning off. We know the ICM tells the coil pack to shut off and fire but the coil is not powering off, it stays on with full voltage. We even pulled another icm off a running explorer and still no spark. We got the wires from the icm to the coil to ground and fire one of the spark plugs once but when we tried doing it again the plug would not spark.

We're at a loss and stumped.

 

[rickybobby]

I know it has been mentioned, but it sounds like the cam sensor may be bad. I had a buddy with the same issue after an engine swap and new cam sensor. after some tweaking it would start and run

 

[2strokenut]

I know it has been mentioned, but it sounds like the cam sensor may be bad. I had a buddy with the same issue after an engine swap and new cam sensor. after some tweaking it would start and run

According to the Tech, and here, the cam sensor is not part of the ignition system and the car will run with the cam sensor unplugged, which is what we did.

The cam sensor is also a discontinued part.

 

[Roadrunner777]

The ICM and the ECC work together to produce the coil command.

This is a link to an Autozone page (and the diagram in particular) that may be helpful.

 

[2strokenut]

Success!!!

Well its running again. I ended up selling it to my buddy for 500 bucks and he fixed it. Turns out when my F250 mount broke at the weld and my coil bucket tore it pinched a wiring harness.

My buddy mounted 4 Hellas and we drove it to Rocky point this last weekend and romped the **** out of it. Ran awesome. On the way home the fuel pump started going bad and then the oil filter almost came out and toasted the motor. We ended up towing it back with my buddies 4cyl Camry lol.


I'm in the process of making a video of the footage I got with my GoPro HD I mounted on the dash. It should be interesting.

Here's a few pix: