Hi!

I've just replaced the head gasket and therefore had pretty much everything above the block out of the car and have now reassembled it. The car currently cranks just fine, but doesn't get spark (or fuel?) (at the right time?), so won't start up. I bought one of those code readers, and it shows P0340, which means "Cam Position Sensor Circuit". It also shows other stuff, like "MIL: ON" and some monitor events, but that's the only error code.
I did make a couple of mistakes during reassembly, so I'll list that here, maybe it helps in finding the culprit:

First and dumbest thing I did wrong was mistake the main power line that comes out of the big fuse box and is supposed to go to the alternator as a ground cable, and wired it to the chassis. So when I connected the positive cable, it melted a piece of the pole of and spewed hot metal everywhere (I know...)

After I fixed that I had a fuel leak because the injector closest to the driver wasn't sealed right, and then a coolant leak from the thermostat.

All fixed now, just saying, maybe one of those caused to the problem somehow (if any, probably the mis-wire)
I also rotated the crankshaft in both directions when I re-installed the pushrod, and not just clockwise as the book says (read that too late ). Didn't have the chain off, so I don't think I could have messed up the timing.

And finally, I have one unconnected plug, a grey 3 pronged one, lying on the drivers side fuel rail. There's also a blue and a yellow one there that definitely weren't connected before (I assume AC, because I don't have one and it usually is around that area?). But I can't remember if that gray one goes anywhere.

Alright, sorry for the long description, but I thought I'd get all the info in the first post Anyone of the pros out there have a good idea where to start looking?

Any help appreciated,

Thomas

 

Verify that the cam position sensor is plugged in. If it is, check and see if you are getting the 5v signal to it.

Does the fuel pump prime?

 

Look in the back and make sure you didn't pinch any wires under the heads, valve cover or intake manifold. Make sure the crank and cam sensors are plugged in. Take pics of the plug (s) you are talking about. I think the cam sensor plug is gray.

 

Well that'd be cool, if I just forgot to plug it in
The CPS is with the distributor, right? That's about that area for the plug... I'll check.

 

Yup, thats the only gray plug I can think of on that side. You didn't remove the distributor or turn it did you?

 

No, I didn't.

 

Ok, that's a good thing. Check the wire for damage and make sure it's not pinched and plugged in.

 

Ha! That was it, the gray, missing plug was the one that goes to the cam angle sensor. Plugged it in and it started right up. Seems to run a bit rough at the moment, and some smoke coming from the general engine area, but that's to be expected after taking everything apart (burning off some WD40 etc).
I'll take a closer look when it stops raining, but so far it looks good.

Thanks for the help!

Thomas

 

Awesome, and unless there is some other problem, you'll need to drive it and let the PCM relearn all the info from the various sensors.