Hey all. I'm from AU and I have an Evo 9 running a link G4 Ecu/Ethanol. A local (expensive) shop normally fixes up any issues I encounter but after a few job demotions I simply no longer have money to throw at performance shops. So I need your help as I have very limited auto mechanical/electrical experience and my car wont start. Again. She cranks over but wont fire up. No pops, no bangs it's as if its not getting any fuel/spark or something like that. No smell of ethanol at all but still hear all the usual pump/injector clicks sounds when i turn the key. Most of the forums I have read suggest it could be the crank sensor. She's only got about 80000k's on her and about 40000 since 2.3 build. Most things on the car are relatively new/very low miles including e85 fuel pump, ID injectors, spark plugs & Sparktech coils, battery. This isn't the first time this has happened either:

First time it happened mechanic said it was the cam sensor. fixed for about a month.
Second time it happened mechanic said it was the other cam sensor. (Both have been replaced now). this fixed it for about 4 months ( i only drive her on weekends fyi)
ok so that's possible **** happens ?

However now it's happened a 3rd time so I think I will just have to have a crack at fixing it myself as I cant afford any more tow trucks. First I have some questions that I couldn't find answers for :

If your cam sensor is bad will this cause the car to never fire up at all ? is this the same for both the intake and exhaust cam sensor ? ie if intake sensor is bad wont start. if exhaust sensor is bad wont start ?

Should I get a check engine light if a crank or cam sensor is failing ? (I don't get any). Does the link G4 ECU override check engine lights ?

so far I have charged battery/checked voltage, swapped intake/exhaust sensor around and measured the signal thats coming from the crank sensor when the engine is trying to turn over. So next question :

I get 2-3 volt then alternating 0ish reading from the crank sensor when trying to start her. It should be 5 volt yes not 3ish ? will a slightly lower voltage confirm the sensor is bad ? every forum i have read says to check for a signal from the crank sensor but no one seems to specify operating tolerances of said signal ? ie does the ECU require a full 5 volt and any less its a case of - go **** yourself ?

anyone got a link for replacing crank sensor on a 9 assuming I'm on the right path ? (I could be going in completely the wrong direction for all i know as I have never really worked on cars).

I think I have the connector to hook up a laptop to the link G4 Ecu. Surely I should be able to plug in with the software and see an error code or some other method to confirm issue using either of the ECU's ?

there's 2 critical things i assume work but have not tested due to lack of knowledge and excess levels of stupidity : fuel and spark. with that said I can hear the fuel pump i think, there's no smell of E85 even after 10 attempts to start her? the whole ignition system is brand new and i had this problem previously with the old stock ignition system anyhow. So i guess it could be fuel pump/injectors but my gut feeling tells me its not ? I do suffer from indigestion though.

Any help/verbal abuse/comment is welcomed.

thanks mates
Sean.

 

i don't know if you have an aftermarket exhaust manifold, or if you have removed your stock heat shield, but its pretty common place for people to add some kinda of thermal protection to the cam sensor because of how close it is to the exhaust. Even if you are stock, with the amount of sensors you are going through, you should probably do something to protect it.

 

this turned out to be the fuel pump hanger. pulled the pump out and the connector on the factory fuel pump housing was all burnt out/making poor connections. Upgraded to a radium duel hanger and all is sweet.