3200 - anyone heard of this one?

[bad loser]

Remember me asking about the problem I had when my car won't start after one hour but will after 2 - 3 hours?

Well the fault has been assessed as a "crank position sensor" problem.

Is this like a hydrocologolator or a giggly pin?

[v12v8]

bad loser said:

Is this like a hydrocologolator or a giggly pin?

WTF is one of these?

[bad loser]

Exactly!

I wondered if a crank position sensor came in the same category

[v12v8]

If I knew what a Hydrothingummy was, I might be able to hazard a guess

[mr_tony]

giggle pin goes in the laughin shaft I seem to remember from somewher

Basically it's the kind of thing mechanics use to bamboozle people as far as I can see, when they can't be bopthered to tell you whats wrong...

[v12v8]

mr_tony said:

...laughin shaft...

I had no idea that had anything to do with a car. I thought it was a reference to something entirely different...

[David A]

Apparently theres a sensor to tell the car where the crankshaft is in the vertical position (why I don't know) and if something wears out the (don't know waht again!) depressing the clutch can push the crankshaft forwards in the engine enought to cause and error.

Sounds expensive though . . .

Dave

[chris_n]

David A said:

Apparently theres a sensor to tell the car where the crankshaft is in the vertical position (why I don't know)

In simple terms, the ECU needs to know where the crank is so it knows when to squirt the fuel, fire the sparks etc.

David A said:

and if something wears out the (don't know waht again!) depressing the clutch can push the crankshaft forwards in the engine enought to cause and error.

On most engines I guess it would be the main crankshaft bearings that locate the crank longitudinally as well as radially (though on my old Triumph in-line six it is a separate thrust washer that is notorious for dropping out when a bit worn and knackering the bottom end!)

Hopefully it's not your main bearings as that would be expensive, but just a faulty sensor.