Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Engine quits/restarts for split second

[bmorrison]

About 5,000 miles ago (truck has 42k/mi total) my engine began to have an intermittant problem of quitting/restarting at generally any speed. The whole cycle takes about 1 or 2 tenths of a second.



No codes have been generated and I've performed a wiggle test on all of the connectors that I can reach. About a week after this began the VP44 went south, I thought that may have been the problem but a new inj. pump didn't fix it. Took it in to the dealer for a transmission flush/fill and had them attempt to locate the problem but, of course, it wouldn't do it for them.



Any ideas?

 

[Mundgyver]

Pull the covers off the steering column and look at the wiring to the ignition switch. You are looking for any wiring that is cracked at the back of the spades on the electrical connectors. This is base on experience. I made three repairs and then had the dealer replace the whole dash harness under warranty. My truck was made in 2000 and the factory harness has gone through 3 improvements. The problem is caused from the harness not having enough flex in the steering column and it pulls on the connectors eventually breaking at the backs. Good luck.

 

[bmoeller]

Bad cam position sensor?

 

[bmorrison]

Thanks for the info about the steering column wiring, I haven't checked it yet but sounds like there may be a chance of duplicating the problem by moving the tilt wheel up and down.



Can someone tell be what the cam sensor is and what it does?

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by bmorrison

Can someone tell be what the cam sensor is and what it does?

Basically, it works the same as the magnetic pick-up for the speedo on some vehicles. There is a toothed gear that spins, and as the teeth pass the magnetic pick-up, it creates a pulsing voltage that it uses to determine engine position, or speed depending on the sensor' useage.



This will give you the general idea- http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h36.pdf