First - hello to the great masters of the Crossfire underworld... I've spent some quality time reading these forums and am amazed at what I've seen. I'm hoping this collection of expertise and experience can help with my issue.

The background:

Sunday night, driving to pick up a friend for dinner, low-gas light comes on. Park to pick up friend, drive to dinner, no problems. After dinner, car won't start - it cranks strong but just doesn't catch. I figure the gas ran out, go get some fuel, put in about a gallon, still won't fire. After praying to the car gods and offering up my first-born, it starts and the CEL lights for the first time in its life. Drive to the gas station, turn it off, fill it up, drive home, no problems, but the CEL is still on. Cycle the ignition a few times at home, starts up fine, and eventually the CEL just goes out - surprise.

Monday morning, cranks right up, drive to work with no problems. I think I feel a few sputters / hesitation while driving, but I'm not sure. On the way home from work, still no CEL, no problems. Slowing towards a red light, the whole thing dies. Engine won't start, cranks like the dickens but just doesn't catch. After the tow-truck guy is on the phone, it starts right back up and the dreaded CEL is back. Finally make it home, pour in a bottle of fuel cleaner (optimistic that I just clogged the filter or an injector) and read the codes - P0410, P0335, and P0335 Pending. I believe the P0410 cleared out and didn't come back, but the P0335s stayed. Car wouldn't start.

This morning, starts up fine, take it to the Chrysler dealer as it's still covered under the certified pre-owned warranty. They can't get it to start up and have to push it to the stall. Call and tell me that the Crank Shaft Sensor Assembly was bad (I already knew that from the code) and that the Cam Shaft Sensor Assembly was bad (this one was new to me) and that it was NOT covered under warranty ... I'm not looking to pay the $800+ price tag they want to rape me for... I'm pretty confident with my wrenching skills, but I'm used to working on far more straight forward applications (other vehicles are a Jeep and a Suzuki motorcylce - very straight forward).

Any advice on where to go with this? Simply replace the CPS and hope things are good? I read a number of the reviews and it seems like that solves the problem for some, and for others it's just a never ending goose chase to find out what is really wrong.

Thank you in advance for your help!

2005 Crossfire Limited Roadster, 36k miles

 

I would just replace the crank sensor. The camshaft sensor could have thrown a code from it stalling out. there's probably nothing wrong with it. I'd wait and see how it is after replacing the crank position sensor.

 

+1, I just had to replace my crankshaft sensor and now everything is running tip top

If you need to do the cam sensor later, you can, but at the stealership, their approach is usually - replace everything that could be the problem.

Also, do it yourself, you will need a serious extension for your wrench and the angle is a little strange, but overall, I consider it a pretty simple fix for the do it yourselfer....

 

Craftsman sells a universal and extension set that after you start using it, you will find invaluable and wonder how ever you did anything before having it. Such a handy addition to any toolbox.

 

P0410 is the secondary air injection system (emissions air pump). Probably threw the code from the engine running rough and stalling.

 

The chance that the cam and crank sensors went at the SAME time is Lotto odds. They are selling---I owned repair shops for over 10 years and NEVER saw it. Ask them HOW they tested the part. Anyone can "code bust"---I want to know if they ohmed it out or what?

 

All,
Thanks for the quick help. I figured it was the problem that has been so frequently detailed, but it never hurts to get the advice of your peers. I fully believe that the dealer is trying to stick it to me, but the stubborn military side of me kicked in and I contacted the Chrysler Warranty HQ.

After getting bounced around between people trying to figure out why these parts weren't covered under the various warranties, my case was elevated to a case supervisor. If I can get this fixed under warranty, then it's a best case scenario: the dealer can replace all the parts they can dream of, and if it turns out to be one of the various other gremlins that people have talked about on these boards, then the dealer owns the problem and they can work to fix it.

I'll keep the thread updated in case the camshaft issue turns out to be anything bigger, or if my case with Chrysler turns into anything worth while.

Thanks again,
-Kevin

 

cps DEVICES ARE TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE AND WHEN COOL THEY TYPICALLY BEGIN TO WORK OR "RECOVER". I BOUGHT ONE FOR SPARE TO KEEP IN THE CAR, BOSCH BRAND. WOODY

 

Woody,
Where did you get the BOSCH CPS? Of the three local stores (Kragen, Autozone, PepBoys), only Kragen had a CPS on their website, and it's part number CSS925 "BWD - Crankshaft Position Sensor". I'm not familiar with the BWD brand and would imagine that having a spare, especially from a reputable company like BOSCH, is a good idea.

-Kevin

 

CPS

or

ebay

 

I got mine from AutohausAZ. I would recommend them.

 

I bought mine from autozone or advanced auto, one of the big guys, and it came in one of their boxes, but had mercedes star on one side and the bosche stamp on the other with the bosche part number on it as well. They usually do not make a 'low quality' one, just repackage the bosche ones I think. My crankshaft position sensor was right around $50-$60 and they had it in a warehouse locally, got it in 1 day.

 

It's done! $45 or so for the CPS, another $20 for a set of torx-sockets (I didn't have a small enough 12 point for the E8) and about an hour of my time to get everything done. Sure as heck beats giving the dealership the $860 in highway robbery they wanted. Many thanks to all of you!
-Kevin