look, here is how it works on BMW's at least, and I have a 1990 300TE so I believe they would do the same relative thing...although not EXACTLY the same..there IS a crankshaft position sensor on these cars.. what it does is detect TDC and tell the computer...GO..start firing injectors and spark and stuff....once the engine fires you no longer need the crankshaft position sensor, unless you turn the engine and try to restart it....your engine will never simply shut down due to a crankshaft sensor problem..no way