M59 2006 1.6 Petrol Starting Issue

[Waldo_P_Barnstormer]

Hi all... I'm new here and have been lurking around this last week trying to diagnose a problem I'm having with my 2006 1.6 petrol Berlingo Multispace.

From what I've read on here I thought I'd tied it to a crankshaft sensor, however I'm not too sure and quite doubtful looking at it all so would really appreciate any advice from the knowledge on here.. 

Anyway, here's the background....

Recently bought a 2006 1.6 Multispace as my run around Transit Connect died and I wanted something that was petrol (to avoid diesel DPF/EGR issues) and the little multispace was pretty spot on for my needs. It's got 104000ish miles on it, not a great service history, (every 20,000miles or so and no details of what's actually been changed), but it does have a good MOT history and is in clean shape considering the age.

It's been running fine, starting on the button and I was more than happy with it until earlier this week. 
I went to start it on the way home from work and she wouldn't fire. Engine was cranking perfectly fine, just felt like it either wasn't sparking or some sensor wasn't telling it to go... I thought I'd give it a push in the car park and see if she'd bump start. It was only a small car park so didn't get much speed up and the bump start failed, but then a couple mins later she started as normal! There was a MIL light on and I was tempted to just go anyway but didn't want it cutting out on the road so I turned her off and tried starting again... Still started and light still on... Not wanting to be stuck at work all night I decided to drive on... MIL light went off after about 100 yards so I was happy that she'd just had a funny 5 mins.. 

On the way home I noticed that the tachometer wasn't working and neither was the engine temp gauge. No warning lights were on the dash so I drove on... When coming to a complete stop at traffic lights, (and it had to be a complete stop, not just slowing down) the battery and parking brake lights would both come on, but go off as soon as she moved again.

Got home (about 30 miles) and parked up on the driveway and she refused to start again... I swore a bit and kicked the tyres before going in for food... Came back an hour later and she fired straight up, no issues at all. Next morning, same problem as before, turns over perfect but doesn't start. 

Had a search on the internet and thought I'd tied it down to crankshaft sensor, but in the document packup I have a receipt for a new sensor fitted less than 3 months ago so I really don't see that as being the cause, plus would that throw the engine temp gauge out and do the weird battery light when stopped as well? Are they on the same loom or something?

She refused to start for a day and I had another poke and fiddle, didn't do anything specific, just made sure connections looked good. This morning she started first time and she also got me home in the afternoon. However on the drive home the tachometer/temp gauge/battery & parking light issue happened again so I figured the issue was back - she still drives as per normal with this issue - after 10 miles they started working again for a bit and then a while later they stopped again. 

I didn't want to stop as I figured she wouldn't restart but stalled it reversing up hill into a space. Quickly cranked the key and she started so I thought that was lucky... Left it running while I nipped in for what I needed, drove on home, stopped in the driveway and you guessed it, now she doesn't start again... 

It's obviously an electrical issue and I had assumed the crankshaft sensor, but as that was recently changed I'm now thinking wire/loom/plugs etc but just found it weird in the way it's affecting other systems... 

If anyone here can offer any guidance it is most appreciated!

[Waldo_P_Barnstormer]

We have progress! She's alive again..
Looks like the previous garage failed to install the new sensor correctly..

I started having a poke about and initially got very worried when I saw some of the cable protective wrap had broken off the loom as I assumed the intermittent nature was going to be down to the wires having rubbed through their insulation... Spent ages cleaning and stripping back but couldn't see anything so wrapped them up as best I could and went looking at the sensor itself..

Discovered it loose in the housing, tried to tighten it up but the screw was fully home... Thought that can't surely be right and went back and forth for a bit, in and out, fiddle around and try again, but it definitely wasn't seating correctly.. Went and got a washer for the screw, fitted that, sensor went nice and steady/tight straight away and felt proper... Put everything back together, crossed my fingers and she fired up first go!

I'm hoping it was the loose sensor (90% sure it was) and not that I've just temp fixed a damaged wire by moving it around a bit. OBDII is code free now so I'm pretty confident. She'll get 120 commuting miles under the belt before I have to go to the airport, so that should give a bit of confidence.

Feel sorry for the last owners... according to their receipt they paid £50 for a £10 sensor, and another £50 to have it fitted incorrectly! It's probably the reason they decided to sell???

One last question... When I pulled the sensor and mounting bracket off, you can see into the housing.. I was expecting to see something a lot more 'oily' than I did... Anyone know anything about gearbox oil on these?

[brodfather11]

Well done for finding your fault .
I don't do petrol engines , diesel I prefer.
But I think you'll find the crankshaft position sensor is located into the clutch bell housing, there should not be oil in there unless you've got a leaking oil seal and dodgy clutch.

[Waldo_P_Barnstormer]

That's good news then. She'll probably need a new clutch in a bit too as I imagine it's the original one still fitted.