Hello all,
After 10 years of uneventful and blissful ownership, my 85 Carrera (107k miles) left me stranded for the first time at a red-light a few weeks ago with the dreaded "no start". It has been running fine for years. Got her home and did research here a lot. I am now suspecting the speed sensor, but unsure if that really will cause a no start/spark? here is what I've narrowed down:
Car turns over fine, not starting at all
Possibly a very little fuel smell after cranking but not really strong
No spark at a test spark plug, or off of coil wire to a ground.
New dme relay installed, feel it softly click once on start
ICV valve vibrates when ignition on
Fuel pump runs (I hear it) when fuse is jumpered at fusebox
12 volts gets to coil when ignition on
Can't see a pulse from coil though across posts with test light when starting
Tach is not moving when cranking
so unless I'm missing something based on research, I am suspecting reference/speed sensors are not letting spark/fuel happen.
Just checked resistance across bottom two posts of the reference/speed plugs in engine bay. Reference sensor I get 1k ohms (bottom I think), speed sensor (middle) I get no resistance at all. And the rubber around the plugs started crumbling when I unplugged them, imagine from old age and heat, obviously making me suspicious (pic below). Question: does a bad speed sensor stop any spark/fuel like a reference sensor (which reads ok I think)? am I missing something else to check before I make an order?
gratuitous pic
