I reckon I should have posted here!
Discussion
I thought I'd introduce myself to the forum with my story. Sorry if it's longwinded, but I want you all to know the facts.
Right,I have a 1993 Mazda MX5 1800 automatic which has given me not the slightest problem in the world until tuesday. It's incredibly thirsty, but that's another matter. So I set off on the day job quite happily, and travelled for something like a couple of miles when the engine cut out and I was brought to a stop. I waited for about thirty seconds at the side of the road, turned the key and away I went. Nothing to report at this stage for an hour or two as I went hither and thither nursing the thing as I suspected there may be a problem. At lunch time or therabouts, I stopped off to get some petrol, as naturally I wanted to keep the fuel level up. That's when the real problem began. Engine turned over but would not fire. OK, so I called out the AA who arrived about three quarters of an hour later. The nice guy did a couple of tests and came up with his report which basically said 'no crank signal/no switching'. He told me the problem was most likely to be the camshaft sensor but further investigation was needed. He pushed me into the nearest garage about a hundred yards away where the bossman there said he'd be able to help. Now this remember was on tuesday, and come thursday afternoon guess what, no progress had been made whatsoever. The garage said that despite their twenty grands worth of equipment they were not able to diagose the problem, and what is more could not find through their suppliers the parts I may need. In all effect, they passed the problem back on to me. Seeing as I was getting nowhere fast, yesterday, I arranged for my car to be transported up the road to a garage I've used in the past. This is where it is now (I hope). I've heard the words 'camshaft sensor' and 'coil pack' mentioned repeatedly here there and everywhere these last couple of days, but taking everything into account I bit the bullet and scoured the net in search of a CS last night and today, I've found one, ordered it, and it cost me £65. Delivery will be made I'm told next tuesday between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Bear in mind here, my initial phone call asking about the parts yielded this. Cambshaft sensor £333.19 and coil pack £200 and something pounds!
What are my chances of being on the right lines here folks? Do you think the replacement CS will do the trick? Any advice would be most appreciated for sure.
Right,I have a 1993 Mazda MX5 1800 automatic which has given me not the slightest problem in the world until tuesday. It's incredibly thirsty, but that's another matter. So I set off on the day job quite happily, and travelled for something like a couple of miles when the engine cut out and I was brought to a stop. I waited for about thirty seconds at the side of the road, turned the key and away I went. Nothing to report at this stage for an hour or two as I went hither and thither nursing the thing as I suspected there may be a problem. At lunch time or therabouts, I stopped off to get some petrol, as naturally I wanted to keep the fuel level up. That's when the real problem began. Engine turned over but would not fire. OK, so I called out the AA who arrived about three quarters of an hour later. The nice guy did a couple of tests and came up with his report which basically said 'no crank signal/no switching'. He told me the problem was most likely to be the camshaft sensor but further investigation was needed. He pushed me into the nearest garage about a hundred yards away where the bossman there said he'd be able to help. Now this remember was on tuesday, and come thursday afternoon guess what, no progress had been made whatsoever. The garage said that despite their twenty grands worth of equipment they were not able to diagose the problem, and what is more could not find through their suppliers the parts I may need. In all effect, they passed the problem back on to me. Seeing as I was getting nowhere fast, yesterday, I arranged for my car to be transported up the road to a garage I've used in the past. This is where it is now (I hope). I've heard the words 'camshaft sensor' and 'coil pack' mentioned repeatedly here there and everywhere these last couple of days, but taking everything into account I bit the bullet and scoured the net in search of a CS last night and today, I've found one, ordered it, and it cost me £65. Delivery will be made I'm told next tuesday between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Bear in mind here, my initial phone call asking about the parts yielded this. Cambshaft sensor £333.19 and coil pack £200 and something pounds!
What are my chances of being on the right lines here folks? Do you think the replacement CS will do the trick? Any advice would be most appreciated for sure.
Welcome 
Not wanting to be funny but some of the regulars will crucify your post for being a block of text, so it might be worth just separating it into a few more readable paragraphs to help get the message across.
In regards to the problem, a crank sensor may solve the problem, and for the price of it - you'd be daft not to try. It might also be worth getting hold of a pin out for your ECU header, and ensure there aren't any breaks in the wiring from the sensor plug to the ECU header (a cheap multimeter on continuity would make this a breeze to sort).
I had a CAS problem on an old peugeot years ago, but despite the diagnostics saying the CAS was at fault, it was actually the wiring shorting out as it had managed to chafe itself against the block somehow, so it might not be the only cause. Definitely change it though, shouldn't take much more than an hour of spannering and swearing!
Good luck!
Not wanting to be funny but some of the regulars will crucify your post for being a block of text, so it might be worth just separating it into a few more readable paragraphs to help get the message across.
In regards to the problem, a crank sensor may solve the problem, and for the price of it - you'd be daft not to try. It might also be worth getting hold of a pin out for your ECU header, and ensure there aren't any breaks in the wiring from the sensor plug to the ECU header (a cheap multimeter on continuity would make this a breeze to sort).
I had a CAS problem on an old peugeot years ago, but despite the diagnostics saying the CAS was at fault, it was actually the wiring shorting out as it had managed to chafe itself against the block somehow, so it might not be the only cause. Definitely change it though, shouldn't take much more than an hour of spannering and swearing!
Good luck!
A5man said:
Sorry Mr Happy! I'll bear what you said in mind.
The AA man did seem pretty sure what the problem is though. Also, there was a posting a while back on this forum where the writer had practically identical symptoms to mine. A replacement camshaft sensor did do the trick in his case.
No need to apologise!! The AA man did seem pretty sure what the problem is though. Also, there was a posting a while back on this forum where the writer had practically identical symptoms to mine. A replacement camshaft sensor did do the trick in his case.
Generally, a crank sensor dying will stop a car running totally (because the ECU doesn't know that the engine is rotating), but a cam sensor dying will make it throw an EML and go into limp-home mode.
The crank shaft angle sensor on that engine is actually a cam shaft angle sensor. Assuming the belt is OK the two positions are directly related.
Could be the sensor or the coil pack if there is no spark. Did they say there was no spark? The sensor should be checkable with a meter to see if the output changes when the engine is slowly rotated.
Copied this to your MX5 forum thread for more experienced eyes.
Could be the sensor or the coil pack if there is no spark. Did they say there was no spark? The sensor should be checkable with a meter to see if the output changes when the engine is slowly rotated.
Copied this to your MX5 forum thread for more experienced eyes.
Original post:
"I thought I'd introduce myself to the forum with my story. Sorry if it's longwinded, but I want you all to know the facts.
Right,I have a 1993 Mazda MX5 1800 automatic which has given me not the slightest problem in the world until tuesday. It's incredibly thirsty, but that's another matter. So I set off on the day job quite happily, and travelled for something like a couple of miles when the engine cut out and I was brought to a stop. I waited for about thirty seconds at the side of the road, turned the key and away I went. Nothing to report at this stage for an hour or two as I went hither and thither nursing the thing as I suspected there may be a problem. At lunch time or therabouts, I stopped off to get some petrol, as naturally I wanted to keep the fuel level up. That's when the real problem began. Engine turned over but would not fire. OK, so I called out the AA who arrived about three quarters of an hour later. The nice guy did a couple of tests and came up with his report which basically said 'no crank signal/no switching'. He told me the problem was most likely to be the camshaft sensor but further investigation was needed. He pushed me into the nearest garage about a hundred yards away where the bossman there said he'd be able to help. Now this remember was on tuesday, and come thursday afternoon guess what, no progress had been made whatsoever. The garage said that despite their twenty grands worth of equipment they were not able to diagose the problem, and what is more could not find through their suppliers the parts I may need. In all effect, they passed the problem back on to me. Seeing as I was getting nowhere fast, yesterday, I arranged for my car to be transported up the road to a garage I've used in the past. This is where it is now (I hope). I've heard the words 'camshaft sensor' and 'coil pack' mentioned repeatedly here there and everywhere these last couple of days, but taking everything into account I bit the bullet and scoured the net in search of a CS last night and today, I've found one, ordered it, and it cost me £65. Delivery will be made I'm told next tuesday between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Bear in mind here, my initial phone call asking about the parts yielded this. Cambshaft sensor £333.19 and coil pack £200 and something pounds!
What are my chances of being on the right lines here folks? Do you think the replacement CS will do the trick? Any advice would be most appreciated for sure."
Could be the sensor or the coil pack if there is no spark. Did they say there was no spark? The sensor should be checkable with a meter to see if the output changes when the engine is slowly rotated.
Copied this to your MX5 forum thread for more experienced eyes.
"I thought I'd introduce myself to the forum with my story. Sorry if it's longwinded, but I want you all to know the facts.
Right,I have a 1993 Mazda MX5 1800 automatic which has given me not the slightest problem in the world until tuesday. It's incredibly thirsty, but that's another matter. So I set off on the day job quite happily, and travelled for something like a couple of miles when the engine cut out and I was brought to a stop. I waited for about thirty seconds at the side of the road, turned the key and away I went. Nothing to report at this stage for an hour or two as I went hither and thither nursing the thing as I suspected there may be a problem. At lunch time or therabouts, I stopped off to get some petrol, as naturally I wanted to keep the fuel level up. That's when the real problem began. Engine turned over but would not fire. OK, so I called out the AA who arrived about three quarters of an hour later. The nice guy did a couple of tests and came up with his report which basically said 'no crank signal/no switching'. He told me the problem was most likely to be the camshaft sensor but further investigation was needed. He pushed me into the nearest garage about a hundred yards away where the bossman there said he'd be able to help. Now this remember was on tuesday, and come thursday afternoon guess what, no progress had been made whatsoever. The garage said that despite their twenty grands worth of equipment they were not able to diagose the problem, and what is more could not find through their suppliers the parts I may need. In all effect, they passed the problem back on to me. Seeing as I was getting nowhere fast, yesterday, I arranged for my car to be transported up the road to a garage I've used in the past. This is where it is now (I hope). I've heard the words 'camshaft sensor' and 'coil pack' mentioned repeatedly here there and everywhere these last couple of days, but taking everything into account I bit the bullet and scoured the net in search of a CS last night and today, I've found one, ordered it, and it cost me £65. Delivery will be made I'm told next tuesday between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Bear in mind here, my initial phone call asking about the parts yielded this. Cambshaft sensor £333.19 and coil pack £200 and something pounds!
What are my chances of being on the right lines here folks? Do you think the replacement CS will do the trick? Any advice would be most appreciated for sure."
Could be the sensor or the coil pack if there is no spark. Did they say there was no spark? The sensor should be checkable with a meter to see if the output changes when the engine is slowly rotated.
Copied this to your MX5 forum thread for more experienced eyes.
It does sound like a crank sensor problem and it's fairly common for them to fail. You did the right thing buying a 2nd hand one. The coil packs do die fairly often too so I wouldn't be surprised if that was the problem but off the AA man couldn't detect a signal then the CAS sounds more likely. If it does need a coil pack then give Autolink UK or MX5 Heaven a call and get a known-good 2nd hand one.
As for being uneconomical, well they are quite thirsty cars but if it's any less than about 25mpg and you drive sensibly then I'd suggest you also replace the engine temp sensor (back of the block, cheap). If that doesn't improve it then the O2 sensor might be faulty (not cheap).
As for being uneconomical, well they are quite thirsty cars but if it's any less than about 25mpg and you drive sensibly then I'd suggest you also replace the engine temp sensor (back of the block, cheap). If that doesn't improve it then the O2 sensor might be faulty (not cheap).
Many thanks Oldandslow! The garage we pushed the car into said they did not have the equipment to do any diagnostic work whatsoever despite having £20 grands worth of gear. This is why I have had to take a chance and order the camshaft sensor. I just hope I've done the right thing as I have to get the MX5 back onto the road as soon as possible.
Thanks Lazza for your help. I keep getting a bit worried when you all keep referring to a crank sensor when I've ordered a camshaft sensor. From what I've read so far though, it's all in one unit on the MX5 isn't it? You are talking to an imbecile here remember. I'm just trying to gauge the chances of my purchase being successful. I got the part from 24/7 by the way and Autolink said that there was no way that they could have competed with the price of £65 all in that I have paid.
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