with a failed crank position sensor the ECU will take quite a long time of cranking to register a fault of it.

Its not too bad to diagnose as the connector for it is not buried hidden in a cave like most cars, and its not too bad to change it either, its near the bell housing of the block (4 cyl only) - a DMM can test it if you rotate the engine slowly, its a simple hall effect switch.

the mode switch of the transmission (NSS) is pretty tricky and a pain too. I owned one and it would pop the check gearbox error if I shifted the lever quick when it was cold outside. Once warmed up it worked ok.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Thanks guys!

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

does the app & dongle work reading MB codes?

__________________
Сделать Америку великой Снова
"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." Margaret Thatcher

Dongle... FROM MY PANTS!!! (i know, poor joke, but it was begging to be made!)

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I have an torque on a droid and a cheapie dongle, and it will pull codes for a check engine light - but that's it.

Supposedly there's a $30 app for Android with a "special OBD reader" that will pull MB specific codes from modules other than the ECU. A friend has the app for his BMW, and sure enough - it will pull codes from modules other than the ECU, but I'm hesitant to drop that coin on an app that 'might' work.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

thanks

__________________
Сделать Америку великой Снова
"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." Margaret Thatcher

No. NO. NO. They will read codes but they don't diagnose anything. They sell parts.

the codes are never to be considered diagnosis. as mentioned by twitchkitty.

the codes are just flags for systems that reportedly failed or some check didnt pass.

e.g. chevy 3.4 use 2 crank sensors, one to time the engine to start and one to fine tune the system for sequential injection, if you see the fine tune sensor pop an error and you shoot to replace it because "computer said it" - you have a 50% chance of repair.

WHY you ask - lets take an example I had.

This certain car had a very slow coolant leak at the bypass tube which sits right infront of the cam sensor connector, the leak would sometimes spray coolant into the connector essentially drowning the connector. The reference voltage for the cam and fine tune crank sensors are shared circuit, if one sensor leg shorts it (that coolant leak bridged it to ground) out the crank sensor will stop working too, In 50% cases the code shows up as crank sensor - the other half shows up as cam sensor. If the main timing sensor fails or shorts, it gets more interesting and involved to sort out as the engine doesnt fire at all.

The actual fault above was the coolant leak.

another example - toyota camry 2004 2.4 litre motor - code P0171 - system lean - you need to see the long term and short term fuel trims to diagnose this, in some cases its a dirty/failed MAF sensor and in some cases its a leaking intake manifold gasket. The diagnosis will determine what has failed.

similarly cylinder misfire can be misleading - you need to know how it registers the misfire code, e.g. toyota use a feedback system from the coil to confirm the ignition event, messed up feedback signal will immediately light the CEL, it takes quite a lot of fuel related misfire to log a code on a toyota OTOH MB 112 engines dont use feedback but rely on the acceleration events of the crankshaft sensor to determine which cylinder is done firing correctly - so in this situation fuel, spark or even dodgy compression (dirty valves) can trigger that CEL. - Then comes the part if the crankshaft position sensor was calibrated when installed,otherwise it can be throwing a P0304 while the misfire could be anywhere between 0301-0306

There is a fine line between shotgunning parts and diagnosing.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

No, no, no, no!

What about that machine they can just plug in and it tells them everything that is wrong with the car? You're just trying to rip people off with "diagnostics"! $100 just to plug it in? My cousin says you guys are crooks. Besides, I saw a guy on Youtube and he fixed the car just by disconnecting the battery. I bet it's an oxygen sensor. If I buy the part, how much will you guys charge me just to put it in?

And on, and on, and on...

MV

Most of them have a clutch switch, instead of a neutral safety switch.

Yes, Autozone can read the codes, from what I've heard they usually try to sell you the sensor or item pointed out by the code. Sometimes that sensor, or whatever, is the problem and sometimes not. What you should remember is that the code typically indicates a problem in the indicated circuit or subsystem, part of which is the sensor or item.

The code is one of the indications, and is very helpful, but is usually only one clue.

You can buy a code reader for like $40 these days.


The problem with a no start situation is that it might not throw a code. I had a coil go bad on my truck years ago and the same thing. No start, not enough time to trip a code so no code.


Back to old school. Pull a plug and have him crank it, are you getting spark? What about fuel? Typically you will hear the full pump turn on when you turn the key.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I think we lack spark as we cranked with ether in the intake and no fire.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's correct.

If we are splitting hairs, auto zone does perform a diagnostic process in reading the codes which is what the OP was asking, not a diagnosis of a problem... yes yes yes.


Sent from an abacus

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth