Need a forum diagnosis...

[02GT]

ok heres the deal, every few start ups my car backfires and doesnt start. Its been doin this for a few weeks, through two tanks of gas. Ive checked my CAI and my tb and both are rock solid tight. Not sure what it could be.

 

[greenscobie86]

Cam/crank position sensors.. Might be some intermittent faults with them.. Any codes?

 

[02GT]

yeah im poppn a code, ill go check it out and see what it says. Might be my camshaft position sensor maybe?

 

[greenscobie86]

Once you get the code read, it will definitely narrow down the symptoms/causes.

Hopefully you'll get it figured out quick.

 

[Ninety8stang]

Also whats the mileage on the vehicle? i noticed my car was doing that but only when i downshifted and the car was still a bit cold. I found a little slack in the timing chain so if your car has some miles on it, it may be time to do the timing on it.

 

[02GT]

It only has 35,000 miles on it. Ive read around and it seems like a diode in the alternator goes bad on a lot of new edges and that somehow sends out a magnetic pulse or something to the camshaft pos sensor. So I am going to replace the alternator and see what that does

 

[bigkeeko]

keep us posted dude

 

[NXcoupe]

Also could be the egr sticking open every now and again. Check the code and see what it is.

 

[02GT]

I'm going to autozone tomorrow and I'm going to check the codes. Its been firing up every time for the past few days too, its a confusing problem. Pullin those codes should clear some things up

 

[Willis_98GT]

let us know what the codes are, and we can take the diagnosis further.

 

[02GT]

it pulled a p0340, cam shaft position sensor. Its getting bad gas mileage and its real sluggish

 

[greenscobie86]

Should be easy to replace....

I can't believe I was right, lucky guess on my part lol.

 

[02GT]

well from what ive read that its the alternator thats doing it, something with the diode pattern screwin up the actual sensor. Lots of cases ive seen where people have replaced the sensor and the problem came back. So i'm takin the alternator off and going to get it tested, then go from there.

 

[02GT]

Update: Alternator is bad, the diodes are really bad in it. So I took it to an alternator shop and they are putting diodes in it and new brushes. I should have it on the car on monday and then we will see where I am from there.

 

[greenscobie86]

Glad to hear you've gotten it sorted out!

 

[02GT]

Alternator was fixed for 60 bucks at the alternator shop, then I replaced the battery because it was a little weak. Car runs fine now. So wierd how the alternator could cause all this.