Stall / Crankshafr Position Sensor code

[1999parkave]

99 Park Ave Ultra. Increasingly it will stall. I throw it in neutral and it starts right back up. After the stall i get a "crank shaft postion sensor code.

For other reasons, I believe I have an electrical short somewhere (pre dating this stall issue). So once this stall issue arose, my admittedly ignorant assumption was that it was really just this electrical gremlin that caused the car to stall, and the sensor code was just a result of the car stalling (not the cause).

Well I've now done some reading about the crankshaft postion sensor and how critical it is. So I'm wondering if that's actually the cause of the stalling.

Questions:
A) Can an electrical short cause a car to stall? Specifically a short that is non-engine related?
B) Would i get that crankshaft code if it stalled for another reason? Or does seeing the code basically gaurantee that either the sensor or the harness is faulty?

 

[MelsRegal]

What code are you getting?

 

[1999parkave]

I Dont remember the code for certain, i just remember it said crankshaft position sensor. And i kept clearing the same code everytime. I will note the code next time it stalls.

 

[HotZ28]

You need to do some testing! If the problem/code is intermittent, it may be hard to diagnose! 3.8L Ignition Module Test and Crank Sensor Test (3X, 18X)

 

[timoch]

In my limited experience I have found that crank pos sensor is used only for starting. Problems with it manifests in that it will start when cold, but not when hot, but when running will act normal. I have replaced a crank sensor only to find the problem was with the wiring and connector between the sensor and the icm. I pulled the connectors off both the cps and icm and checked the continuity between the two to insure no problem there. I then applied a generous glob of dielectric grease to female connectors, moved connectors in and out of their mates a few times and reinstalled them. Viola, the old boat runs great. As a further precaution, I repeated the procedure on all the other sensors i.e. maf, cam etc. I also replaced any damaged flexible wire conduit.

 

[imidazol97]

I haven't checked my 1998 leSabre factory manual for codes related to the CPS. I thought that
the CPS didn't deliver a code for the usual failure. That's when the heat causes the aged
CPS magnetic field to become too weak to be sensed as the crankshaft teeth pass through it.

The engine loses that input, and it dies. Because the sensor is hot, there's usually a time period
of many minutes or more before it cools enough that the magnetic field is sensed correctly and
the car is able to restart. Pouring cold water on the sensor was a way to cool it quicker and get
the engine to restart, also verifying the CPS as the problem.

In this owner's case, the car restarts immediately. Hmmmm.

Many of the failures were broken wires or poor connections, instead of the sensor itself having failed.

Good luck. Hope you can isolate the problem.