please help

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

quite a while ago i replaced the timing belt on my 89 2.3l and ended up breaking the crank sensor.

the truck was sitting in the yard for a few months and then i put a new crank sensor on it and it fired right up.

BUT

the problem is it won't idle and it backfires BAD and then stalls, completely un-drivable

i checked the timing 3 times its all lined up. put a timing light on it the timing fluctuates between 25-30 degrees ADVANCE to 5 degrees RETARD then i ended up unplugging the SPOUT connector (putting it into base timing mode)

which made it run nice and smooth at a constant 10 degrees advance.

i put the crank sensor on a lab scope and the waveform looked good until plugging the SPOUT back in and then it went crazy which made it stall.

tried a used DIS module from the junkyard.. no change.. tried unplugging the alternator RAN PERFECT.. CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY!! it never did this before that sensor broke. all i can think of is interference from the alternator, but it runs fine if i unplug the SPOUT or the alternator.

i've been driving it around like this for about 6 months now. can't figure it out

ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY, INSANE LACK OF POWER AND HORRIBLE MILEAGE

PLEASE HELP.

nobody seems to have any idea

 

[gotmudd]

are you sure they gave you the right crank sensor? if it ran ok before you replaced the timing belt and broke the sensor, that is where i'd start. if some parts person was smokin crack that sold you the sensor, who knows what they sold you.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

well i don't see how it could be wrong. it looked the same as the old one and it works fine

 

[gotmudd]

if it works fine why are you posting for peoples help? and just because it looks the same doesn't mean it's the same. the only other thing i can think of would be your spout connector.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

its not the sensor im having trouble with. it will only run good if i unplug the SPOUT or the alternator

 

[gotmudd]

wel i would find out if one of your local parts houses has a way to check for a faulty spout connector, and have your alternator tested as well because even though i'm the first to admit i don't know a whole lot about the newer stuff [ i work mostly on pre-1980], it definetly is electrical. i assumed it was the sensor because that is the one item you replaced, and it's not all that uncommon to get bad parts, i got them myself. so other than checking the spout connector and alternator, don't know what else to suggest, sorry