Crank sensor?

[WH1]

I've had a real rough idle with my car since I've had it but thought it was due to the 210/205 cam. Yesterday it died in traffic and wouldn't start back. I tried a new battery, ran the other down trying to start it. I cranks but won't turn over, had smoke smoke coming from behind the engine while I cranked it over. Does this sound like the crank sensor or could a bad coil cause this?

 

[Chris McDade]

Pull of of the plugs to see if you have have fire. Then go from there.

 

[scgnx]

The crank sensor wouldn't cause the car to die if it went bad..but certaninly would prevent starting if it was bad. I suspect something else is going on....

 

[6=8]

It is very possible that your crank sensor came loose and finally fell out of it's clamp/bracket. Had this happen to me getting on the freeway... was acting funny for about 5 miles before it finally came completely loose. The engine did quit and it was due to the crank sensor. It wouldn't start after it came out either. Based on my experience, the crank sensor can be responsibe for the engine to die and not restart.

Just do a quick visual on whether or not the sensor is still where it is supposed to be. You might find it "hanging out."

If it is still in there, get a timing light an clip it on any spark plug wire... crank the engine over to check for spark (Quicker than pulling the plugs)

I don't know about the smoke, unless you are cooking the starter motor!

Check the crank sensor out first. If it is still in there, double check the wires to the sensor. Since you have had the timing cover off for the cam change, make sure the sensor wires didn't get pinched behind the cover.

 

[FJM568]

If the crank sensor does go bad, the car WILL stall...It's the cam sensor that if it goes bad while running the car will still run, but in batch fire mode...The car won't start with a bad cam sensor, but in your case, it stalled while driving, so I would think crank sensor more than anything right now...

As Chris said, check for spark...If you have none, then go from there...