Today I was driving my D2. All was fine and then I heard a THUNK. Sounded like transmission or a rear differential slip but no jolt in the drivetrain. I was only going about 40 mph and don't think I ran over anything and was on a smooth street. Not really sure what it was but definitely from the rear of the car.

Very shortly as I'm wondering what that was I came up on a stop light. When the light turned green I pressed on the gas and while making a right hand turn I noticed I had no power steering and the engine was dead. Coasted it into the gas station and parked it. I've got the red oil temp and battery light on as well as the check engine light. It will not start but the starter is working fine. Cranking just not starting. I ran the scanner and it is not showing any codes. Thankfully I was only a couple of miles away and was able to use a tow strap and get it home.

After I got home I check the fuel rail. I pressed in on the schrader valve and got nothing. My finger was completely dry.

I'm thinking it is the fuel pump. But would the pump make a sound like a THUNK if it broke? The gas tank is about 1/4 full right now.

Any thoughts on this.

 

Well this is weird. I just hooked up my Nanocom to look at the fuel system readings. Everything seemed normal. I don't think I heard the fuel pump start while putting the key into the II position so the Nanocom could communicate with the ECU. I tried to start the motor and it started right up.

Any ideas?

 

Ken -- Maybe the THUNK and the engine dying are coincidental but not related. What do you know about the CKPS? Except for the thunk you report it sounds like the classic CKPS failure. Happened to me.

 

What is CKPS?

 

CKPS = crankshaft position sensor. It plugs in between the firewall and the back of the engine, and is susceptible to failure from heat due to proximity to the exhaust. At first, failure symptoms are random shutdowns like you experienced when the CKPS is hot. Once the engine cools, it'll start and run normally.

It's a weird part to fail, since it's not a wear item and it's basically just a magnet, but it does. You can replace it yourself but the tricky part is fitting your hands in there to fit the connection and the heat shield. When replacing, use only a Bosch part.

 

And a failed CKPS does not throw any codes, plus it shuts down the ignition and the fuel pump, I recall.

 

Thanks Red Rover.

I replaced the Crank Position Sensor and after multiple test drives now I'm not having any issues.