Sensor Problem?
 

Just wondering if anyone can help, I've looked through a lot of threads on starting issues, but mine seems to have different symptoms. BTW, I dont think I have the upgraded starter / battery.


1. it sometimes starts in a couple of seconds, sometimes takes up to 10-12 seconds. This happens whether its cold or hot, it doesn't seem to make any difference.

2. Cranking speed sounds OK.

3. CEL and/or TCS/DCS lights come on when starting, but only if it takes a long crank.

4. No problems when driving.

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It was standing for a while, and on return, the battery was flat. Jump started it, but had to go through the de-flooding procedure in the manual, for a long time.

Had the plugs changed straight after, and due to the difficult start, they performed diagnostics and told me that the ECU was throwing an eccentric shaft position sensor error.


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Does this sound like a sensor error, battery/starter/coil problem, or a compression issue? Sorry, I'm still a newbie when it comes to the 8.

Given modern drive-by-wire ECU controlled systems it's entirely possible that a faulty sensor can lead to a myriad of seemingly unrelated problems. 'Garbage in; garbage out.' The ECU readout is typically pretty accurate as to what its sensory input is.

Sometimes I long for the ol' stick & rudder days of automotives.

Thanks for the quick reply

The reason I'm questioning the CEL position sensor code is because I read another thread relating it to a weak starter :dunno:

It just seems like I could swap out a million parts before finding the root cause.

Is this the type of problem a faulty sensor would cause? i.e. erratic cranking durations, or are there other culprits?

If the ECU thinks the eccentric shaft is not in the proper orientation, due to a faulty position sensor, it might try to retard/advance timing to compensate, among other things.

Sluggish starting when warm is more related to low compression, with the potential solution being the upgraded starter/battery.

Troubleshooting is first and foremost about reducing/eliminating variables. I'm not advocating throwing parts at it, but certainly having the better starter and battery would eliminate some variables, as well as replacing the shaft position sensor.

Sometimes it can be the simple things tho', like cleaning your Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF), a simple do-it-yourself job - and yet another variable eliminated.

first you need to change your battery.

Thanks for the advice.