Howdy folks! I'm new to the Forum, and I need some advice. Cards on the table, I've got a 2000 convertible Chevy Tracker with the 2.0L L4, automatic transmission RWD. I learned to drive in this thing and when it broke down because my mom decided to drive it 5 miles with no oil, it sat for like a year. Well, I decided to fix it because I like the dang thing so much. So my parents decided that if I'd fix it with my own money, I could have it.

Well here I am 2 years later, fully rebuilt engine put in, all the fluids full, battery charged. Time to start it. I put the key in and tried to start it. After about half a minute of just straight cranking it with no spark, I knew I had an issue. I put a scanner on it and it says the Crankshaft Position Sensor isn't giving a reading. It wasn't a trouble code, there just literally wasn't anything coming from the CKP Sensor.

Fast forward to now, I spent a week dropping the transmission, put the new CKP sensor in, and put the tranny back in. Surprise surprise, no start, no spark.

I've got a few ideas on the solution, and this is where I need some input.

1-The PCM could be bad. No clue why, but heck it might be.

2-There's an issue with the wiring harness. We tested the wires going from the PCM to the sensor and vice versa, and they seem to be fine, but maybe there's something we're missing.

3-The dang signal rotor is put on the crankshaft wrong. When I rebuilt the engine, I had to replace the crankshaft, and the new one from AutoZone didn't have it preinstalled, so I had to swap over the old one. There aren't any lineup marks anywhere on either the signal rotor or the crankshaft to indicate a proper position. However, I happened to find a manual from Suzuki, and while it does say it needs to be installed correctly, it doesn't specify what correct is. It DOES have an illustration showing the rearmost piston being up as well as a tooth being up. I suppose if it's not lined up right, it wouldn't work. The illustration is attached.

So that's my issue. I know it's a lot to read and all and I'm sorry but I'm just completely lost. This Tracker is honestly the one material thing that holds any significant meaning to me and right now I've got no clue what to do. If anyone knows anything, it'd be a massive help. Thanks, have a great day!

I have two questions for you - first if there is no trouble code what makes you think the sensor is defective, and second, are you possibly confusing the CKP (CranK Position) sensor with the CMP (CaM position) sensor?

The reason behind the second question is that the J20a engine WILL run without the CKP sensor, the CMP sensor is the one that governs ignition & injection events.

I have two questions for you - first if there is no trouble code what makes you think the sensor is defective, and second, are you possibly confusing the CKP (CranK Position) sensor with the CMP (CaM position) sensor?

The reason behind the second question is that the J20a engine WILL run without the CKP sensor, the CMP sensor is the one that governs ignition & injection events.

Thanks for your response! To answer your questions, I don't think that the sensor itself is defective. I did originally, but after replacing it, I have come to the realization that the sensor itself is not the problem, but there could be an issue with what the CKP sensor is trying to read, what is carrying the signal from the sensor to the PCM, or the PCM itself.

Also, in regards to the possibility that I'm getting the CKP and the CMP mixed up, I honestly might be. I guess I should have clarified, what happened was that while I was at school I had a mechanic scan my Tracker, and what he told me is exactly what I put in the post: There is no signal coming from the Crankshaft Position sensor at all, not even a trouble code. The result is that the Tachometer doesn't move in the slightest while cranking either. So what exactly his scanner said I have no idea, and he may be telling me to explore possible problems with the CKP sensor when I really need to be exploring possible issues with the CMP.

I have tested the CMP circuit though, and it seems to be working fine. I did a resistance test on the CMP sensor itself (Which is new, I broke the old one taking the engine out) and it was within the specifications listed in my Haynes manual. This is the reason I am inclined to believe it is an issue surrounding the CKP sensor.

That being said, the CMP sensor is definitely not off the table, especially now if what you say is true, and it will actually run without a CKP sensor reading. Before I started this project I had very little mechanical knowledge past changing a tire or oil, so I always consider any advice I receive from the more experienced.

And as I said before, thank you for your reply! It has given me much to think about indeed.

Also, in regards to the possibility that I'm getting the CKP and the CMP mixed up, I honestly might be. I guess I should have clarified, what happened was that while I was at school I had a mechanic scan my Tracker, and what he told me is exactly what I put in the post: There is no signal coming from the Crankshaft Position sensor at all, not even a trouble code. The result is that the Tachometer doesn't move in the slightest while cranking either. So what exactly his scanner said I have no idea, and he may be telling me to explore possible problems with the CKP sensor when I really need to be exploring possible issues with the CMP.

First - get rid of the haynes manual - there is a tech section on this website that should have a downloadable soft copy of the Suzuki factory manuals.

Second - trouble codes are not sent by the sensor(s) they are created by the PCM under specific conditions, for example, if the sensor is missing or sending too low or too high a voltage - the crank & cam sensors are little more challenging because those don't send signals until the engine is turning.

Last - as I mentioned previously - on this engine, the ignition & fuel events are controlled by the cam position sensor.

Start by looking at your dash lights - you should get three lights with the ignition on - CHG, OIL, & CEL (check engine) if that CEL does not come on when you turn the ignition on find out why and fix that - it could be a blown bulb, or it could be no power to the EFI system, although no power to the EFI system should have given a no communication error when you attempted to scan the system.

Another place to check is the connector to your ignition coils - there are three wires - the outer ones are power - one is gnd the other is 12v - test it with a meter - if you have no power there, you will not get any spark, you can also use a NOID light to check for drive to the fuel injectors.

First - get rid of the haynes manual - there is a tech section on this website that should have a downloadable soft copy of the Suzuki factory manuals.

Second - trouble codes are not sent by the sensor(s) they are created by the PCM under specific conditions, for example, if the sensor is missing or sending too low or too high a voltage - the crank & cam sensors are little more challenging because those don't send signals until the engine is turning.

Last - as I mentioned previously - on this engine, the ignition & fuel events are controlled by the cam position sensor.

Start by looking at your dash lights - you should get three lights with the ignition on - CHG, OIL, & CEL (check engine) if that CEL does not come on when you turn the ignition on find out why and fix that - it could be a blown bulb, or it could be no power to the EFI system, although no power to the EFI system should have given a no communication error when you attempted to scan the system.

Another place to check is the connector to your ignition coils - there are three wires - the outer ones are power - one is gnd the other is 12v - test it with a meter - if you have no power there, you will not get any spark, you can also use a NOID light to check for drive to the fuel injectors.

To make it easiest to respond to ya, I'll address what you've said in the fashion you said it.

1- The Haynes manual is no longer in the picture! I found a 730 page manual from Suzuki online that deals exclusively with the J20, G16, and H25 engines.  It beats the heck out of the Haynes. I took a look around in the tech section and will definitely be utilizing it.

2- I hadn't thought about that, but now that I think about it makes perfect sense. Also, I had a chat with the mechanic. This time, instead of telling me there just wasn't a signal, he said "Well, there WAS a trouble code, it just meant no signal from the CKP sensor". Gee thanks.

3- At this point, I'm certain you're correct and will be pursuing the CMP sensor. Even though I replaced the plastic component of the sensor the issue must be deeper than that.

The lights on my dash that are on are the Battery Light (I unhooked the battery last time I tried to start it over a month ago so that may be why), the Air Bag Light, the Oil Light, and the Service Engine Soon Light.

Also, there appears to be power to the coils. They were one of the first things we checked before pursuing the CKP sensor. I don't think that the coils are bad. We checked the harness to them and it seems alright. I can't remember if we checked the coils themselves though; will definitely have to do that. 

The reason I suggested you check the power to the coils is not because I thought they were bad, but more because no power means no spark - also - the next time you're discussing a trouble code, ask for the exact code, rather than just getting the explanation - you can often use the code itself to determine where to look for the fault.

Just as an example - the FSM states that for the J20 engine - DTC P0335 is defined as a CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION and also indicates that the error is sensed when the CKP sensor signal is not input while 20 pulses of CMP sensor signal are input after engine start - it lists possible causes as the CKP sensor, the CKP sensor circuit or the ECM(PCM), and provides specific troubleshooting details.

Basically the engine is started and the PCM has seen 20 pulses from the CMP sensor without seeing anything from the CKP sensor - I'm curious as to if the code was actually a P0335 because Suzuki's explanation suggests the engine has to be started for the code to be sensed.

DTC P0340 is defined as CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION - the error is sensed when the CMP sensor signal is not inputted for 3 sec. even though engine start signal is being inputted.

This is a little more complex - the ECM only knows the engine is running (or turning) when it sees the CMP signals, so if there is no CMP signal it will assume the ignition has been switched on but the engine has not been started - when the key is turned to START a signal is sent to the ECM so it knows the starter is supposed to be turning the engine and if still doesn't see a CMP signal after 3 seconds of cranking, that is when the trouble code is generated.