2.3L ('83-'97) Crankshaft Position Sensor replacement.

[Mach1run]

1997 2.3 2WD

Timing belt broke while son was driving home Christmas Eve.

Towed it home and got the belt replaced. Crank but no fire. Got a TDC tool to make sure I had it set correctly on the compression stroke and all good there. Checked for spark on with one of the plug in lights. It does not light up when key is turned.

Usual culprit in the CS sensor from what I have been able to find online so far.

So I can see it but not how to get to it without taking all the stuff off the passenger side of the block. Is there an easy way I am overlooking? Or something else I should check first?

 

[RonD]

Crank the engine over and watch the CEL(check engine light)
CEL comes on with key on, it means computer is booting up
If CEL goes off when cranking then crank sensor is working
If CEL stays on then computer is not getting a timing pulse from that sensor

1997 crank pulley picture here: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/21MAAOSwOyJX2DNm/s-l400.jpg

That thing on the back that "looks like a gear" is what the crank sensor "reads", each time a "tooth" passes by the sensor an AC Voltage pulse is generated
These is one missing "tooth", that's the timing mark for TDC #1

Crank sensor rarely fail, anything can fail, these just are not a common failure on