Car not starting! Ignition problem.

[silvershark]

Ok, so I own a 2002 ford explorer XLS and I cannot get the car to start.

When I turn the key to the on position I hear the pump prime, I have a gauge and I am getting fuel pressure. I can crank over the engine when I try and start it, but it will not start. So I now know I am getting fuel and my starter is doing its job.

So I now check for spark at the ignition coil pack. I tried checking coil 1 and I am not getting any spark. I pulled the ignition coil and checked it using a resistance test and all coils check out good. I then think possibly the Crankshaft position sensor because this controls spark... I replace it with a new one as well as a new Camshaft position sensor. I try to start it and no spark still.

I pulled the 4 prong plug that goes into the Ignition Coil Pack and make sure I am getting a +12v to the incoming feed. I test it and I get 12v. I have a obdII scanner and I am not getting any codes. It looks like the coil pack is getting enough voltage to the coil pack, but I cant get anything out of it... Any ideas why this would be?

Where do the other three wires go on the coil pack? I assume one is a ground and the other two go to the PCM? How would I test the Crankshaft position sensor wiring to make sure it is getting the voltage it needs?

 

[ricaandjohn]

check alternator, battery or battery connections

 

[silvershark]

Battery is fine. Battery is brand new. Alternator is fine, I had it tested. Even if the alternator wasnt working properly I would still get spark because the power would be drawn off the battery until it drained the battery.

If someone could let me know how the pcm communicates with the icm that would be really helpful in identifying why the pcm possibly is not telling the icm to create spark.

 

[cjones101812]

do you have a PATS alarm system?? if so, what is the 'theft' light doing when you crank the engine??

if no PATS. check voltage at TPS between Vref and sensor ground. should be 4 - 6 volts with key ON.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The ignition module is the part which controls the spark, and communicates with the PCM to fire the coil with the proper timing. If the cam, and crankshaft position sensors are working properly, you could hear the pump prime every time you rotate the engine manually with a breaker bar.

 

[silvershark]

I do hear the pump prime and I can manually turn over the engine. Before I put the key in the ignition the theft light is blinking. Once the key is in the ignition and in on the theft light is gone.

 

[cjones101812]

check the TPS as i said in step # 4.

if voltage is good, check voltage between DLC Pin#13 (VT) and ground. if over 9v then repair short to power. if under 9v then...reconnect scanner and check for RPM signal while cranking.

 

[silvershark]

Where is DLC pin 13 located?

Thanks! I really appreciate all the help.

 

[cjones101812]

Where is DLC pin 13 located?

Thanks! I really appreciate all the help.

DLC - Data Link Connector - where you plug the scanner in to get codes. it should be the VT(violet) wire about center bottom (narrow) row. looking headon with the connector, wide section on top: top row left to right is 1 - 8, bottom(narrow) section left to right is 9 - 16.