As I write this, I'm still sitting in my Disco stuck in the parking lot.

My Disco has always started on the first crank since I've had it.
After a 20 minute drive to the park, and sitting parked for 10 minutes or so, it won't start.
It cranks.
The starter is getting plenty of juice from the battery and is turning the engine with gusto but there's no combustion.
Either no gas or no spark.
With the key in position 2, I can hear the humming of what I assume is my fuel pump.
I don't have any of my tools with me to check for sparks and voltage etc. However, I do happen to have my OBD scanner and Torque on phone. I'm connecting to the ECU and not getting any codes.

I've been stuck here for about an hour now. I've been trying to start every 5 or 10 minutes or so, hoping it'll cool off enough for something magical enough to happen that it'll start and let me limp home.

Do crankshaft position sensors fail with no warning?

Right now I'm getting ready to call AAA and get towed home.

 

Yes, they do, about $70 part, 2 hours labor to swap out. Sometimes can be re-vived by pouring cold water on it (driver side rear of block just before bellhousing to transmission).

 

something magical just happened... it cranked and started.....

I'm limping home....

I think the engine sounded a little noisier than normal as it started though....

anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

um.... never mind.... my engine just stopped running after idling for a minute or two.... guess I'm calling AAA afterall.....

 

is a crankshaft position sensor something I can get at the local autoparts store?

or should expect to pay an arm and a leg from a dealer or buy for $70 online?


How much of a PITA is replacing this part?

cheers,

Thomas

 

Happened to me last summer on the way to the beach. Truck stops, restarts 20 minutes or so later, starts, stops again in a few miles. Royal pain when you're away from home, but a simple enough fix. I've seen this problem posted a dozen times, and the CPS was invariably the culprit. Good luck.

DRW

 

Mine died while driving through Richmond. I got towed to a Goodyear, suggested the diagnosis (thanks to iPhone and forum). They were able to find the part somewhere locally (and it wasn't a dealer), and had me and daughter on our way in about 3 hours, as I recall. I think I paid about $250 total, which I considered a deal at the time as I was otherwise royally screwed...

I'd make a few calls to see if the part is available locally. There is a great sticky post about this fix on the forum. I think as a DIY, it requires some patience and small hands.

 

Another post today for $150 repair at local shop.

 

Until somebody can beat 978.00 for a cps replacement I hold the crown for being rammed.

 

Would love to hear that story, if it's not too recent (and therefore painful) to tell...