850 starting problem

[smatt79]

I have a 1995 850 Turbo with around 225k on it. Yesterday morning it started briefly then sputtered out. After that, it would not start.

Fuel is getting to the cylinders, but there does not seem to be spark - I used a plug wire tester. Checked and cleaned the distributor cap - no moisture - its also fairly new. The main wire from the coil to the dist cap also does not register as sending spark.

There is a red and blue wire on the coil, and they both have power. Does this mean I need a coil, or do I have further diagnostics to do here?

Thanks a million!

[Ozark Lee]

Check the codes in port A-2 and post them back. It sounds a lot like a cam position sensor.

...Lee

[smatt79]

Thanks, codes are p0315 and p0232. I suspect one of these however is because I forgot to plug in the maf sensor after I cleaned the distributor cap...

Thanks in advance!

[smatt79]

i guess they read as

232
and
315

I was assuming the p0 as the start of those codes...

[Ozark Lee]

Actually the P codes are entirely different.

Your 232 is long term fuel trim limit at idle and 315 is and Evap code - that could have been a loose gas cap.

Neither of them explain your problem - Clear them and see if they come back after you get running again.

If you suspect the coil you can test it with an ohmmeter. With the key off you should read between 0.3 and 0.7 Ohms between the two primary leads and 8000 to 9000 between coil terminal 15 and the secondary (HT Lead).

...Lee

[smatt79]

Thanks, after I got your first post I was proactive and swapped the cam sensor with a spare I had (helps to have an extra 850 engine and various other parts hanging around the house). It did the exact same thing, so I went and got a new coil. Bingo Bango - it started and runs great.

The other two codes are a headache for another day.

Thanks for your help!