Hey all-
Used your site for the past 3 weeks religiously, amazing content. Just bought a 1999 A4 2.8 quattro. This thing is high mileage 206,000. Before you go and make judgements, I purchased the car to last 12-18 months. Timing belt and clutch were recently done.

Anyways, from the day i got it the alarms/power locks acted funny. I finally replaced the entire Central locking system on friday, after the car would not start intermintently. After waiting aboutt 20 mins the car would start. I initially thought this was due to a malfunction of the imobiliser in the security system. After replacing the unit which had been damaged by water intrusion into the trunk, the power locks and alarm now work well.

Problem gets weird now. It seems as if i lock and unlock the car thus arming and disarming thet alarm, the car wont turn over. Just cranks strong. Even with the new unit.

Drove the car fine for 3 days, never locked it. Sunday I got in and it started fine but threw 2 codes. P0160 (o2 sensor) and P0322 (ignition distributor engine speed input no signal).

Still started and drove fine with codes, was relieved thatt it wasnt some unknown electrical gremline.

Attempted to locatet the camshaft speed sensor this afternoon, which i could not find due to multiple varying descriptions of the location on this site.

After temporarily giving up on the sensor i wanted to try one more time for ****s, so i locked and unlocked the car with thet key fob. Sure enough, dead, cranks but wont turn over....What am i dealing with here? Am i screwed?


I have heard that the electrical systems in these cars are suspect but i dont want to submit to hearsay. I love this car, great commuter, runs strong when it starts.

I know this was a long first post, and noone has any real incentive to help, but any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance- Brendan

 

Maybe if someone cant help with the overall problem, could someone please tell me where the camshaft position sensors are located?? Would be much appreciated.

 

So I realized how illogical this problem sounds, just went out and did a series of tests, locking,unlocking. It appears that i might just be paranoid thtat my car has electrical gremlins. It didnt start twice, then started about 10 times in a row after locking unlocking etc. The CPS would probablyl cause this symptom. Not sure if the 02 sensor even matters.

 

Could be your coolant temp sensor. Cheap part to replace.

Then cam sensor, or crank sensor.

 

Appreciate the input. Hoping i can find a common problem/cheap fix. What makes you think it would be the coolant temp sensor if it is throwing an 02 and CPS code?

 

You are correct! I missed that part of your original post. P0322 is the engine speed sensor, but it's not your cam position sensor. If either is malfunctioning your car won't start.

 

Just pulled these codes, please help me decipher them. Thanks




VCDS-Lite Version: Release 1.1
Monday, 11 June 2012, 21:30:25.


Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5
Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,16,17,25,35,37,45,55,56,57,67,75,76 ,77

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 078-907-551-ACK.LBL
Controller: 4D0 907 551 AH
Component: 2.8L V6/5V MOTR HS D03
Coding: 06201
Shop #: WSC 06335
VCID: 6CAB47B30F85
4 Faults Found:
18010 - Power Supply Terminal 30: Voltage too Low
P1602 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
16706 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P0322 - 35-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
16544 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P0160 - 35-00 - Please Register/Activate
16825 - EVAP Emission Control Sys: Incorrect Flow
P0441 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
Readiness: 0000 0101

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 8E0-614-111-ABS.LBL
Controller: 8E0 614 111 A
Component: ABS/EDS 5.3 QUATTRO D00
Coding: 0273004284
Shop #: BB 24334
VCID: 1C4B57739FA5
No fault code found.

 

Only the P0322 would stop it starting, crankshaft position code, the power supply is probably because you diconnected the battery and EVAP is just an emission code which wouldn't stop the car starting.

 

Thanks alot. I wasnt to worried about the battery code, and the emission codes are fine. Just O2 sensor and what not. I am pretty convinced i am dealing with a bad crankshaft pos sensor/ engine speed sensor. The symptoms make sense. Intermitently starts, once running is fine.

Problem is i cant find info on two things:

Is the engine speed sensor the same thing as the crankshaft pow sensor????

And where is this locatetd, I have gotten links for potential locations, but there seems to be a variance.

I have a 2.8 quattro. Any help in locating this would be apprecaiated.

 

Based on the response of some friendly posters, I am going to conclude that with the symptoms and codes it is definetly the crank pos sensor (engine speed sensor??)

I am looking for a clarification on the difference between the two and also the location on a b5 2.8.

Thanks.