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Is my ESS going bad now?

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Old 07-31-2006 | 05:26 PM
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Bobcat698's Avatar
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From: Amherst, WI
Is my ESS going bad now?

You guys may remember This post

I've since fixed THAT problem with a new PCM.

Since then, while on the way to Missouri it was nearly 100 degrees, my Tach started acting really weird. It would drop and fluctuate between 500-1000RPM on the tach.. but if I started accellerating, it would jump to the correct RPM. Sometimes, the tach would drop to zero and kick the cruise control off.
Then the check engine and wait to start light would light up.
This would also kick the AC and alternator off.

I removed the sensor, cleaned the bottom of it, and re-gapped it to a credit-card sized gap, and re-installed it. It worked pretty nicely for awhile, but the next day, when it started getting really hot out again when I was on my way back to WI, it started acting up again.

Does this pretty much point at the Crank Sensor/Engine speed sensor as the culprit?

Thanks in advance!
Old 07-31-2006 | 07:10 PM
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From: Red Deer, Alberta Canada
I would say yes... The magnetic sensor in those can start to get an internal short with vibration and heat. A little more heat will cause the wires to separate and intermittantly not cause contact.

Before really getting into the sensor, try cleaning all the connectors on the sensor and near the fire wall for any chance of a bad connection.
Old 07-31-2006 | 07:12 PM
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From: Amherst, WI
Originally Posted by Lil Dog

Before really getting into the sensor, try cleaning all the connectors on the sensor and near the fire wall for any chance of a bad connection.
The connector for the actual sensor is up towards the thermostat, correct?
Old 08-01-2006 | 01:15 AM
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Yes; the connector for the sensor is around the thermostat, but id say its probably just done for, and that you are better off to buy a new one and be done with it. I just started mine one morning, and it wasnt working. It never did just barely work; but sounds like your problem to me.

Eric
Old 08-08-2006 | 03:15 AM
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From: kelowna
My 97 does the exact same thing,the gen light comes on and the tach bounces around.Truck never dies though.Thats the sensor on top of the balancer right?If you discover the fix let me know
Old 08-08-2006 | 01:18 PM
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From: Red Deer, Alberta Canada
Originally Posted by Bobcat698
The connector for the actual sensor is up towards the thermostat, correct?
Yup, and the harness has some connectors near the fire wall just over the intake manifold that may also get some moisture/debris in them. If the connections being cleaned don't help, then it might be the sensor itself.

I have seen some guys having connections at the PCM giving problems as well. I don't have an electrical diagram with me, but one of the pins for the PCM for the CSS or ESS might be loose or corroded.

Aren't electrical problems fun???? NOT...
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