4.2TDi sudden death

[erubus]

It's not looking good. I tested the +5v and earth pins today and both tested fine. I didn't test the signal wire because I can't be sure what the story is with the injectors after disconnecting the ECU.

I stuck my endoscope down the hole the cam sensor fits into and turned the engine over. I can't see anything moving at all. To be fair I can't see much but I should definitely see something moving as a cutout in the camshaft or a raised bit would have to move in close proximity to the hall sensor for it to work. The camshafts on the other bank are turning because I can see the spur gears through the oil filler.

I suppose the next thing to try would be taking off the inlet manifold to see if I can see any of the valves moving to confirm it.

I don't understand how I can't hear anything out of the ordinary. If one of the chains had snapped you would have expected it to be rattling badly for thousands of miles before it snapped. Same or tensioner, you'd expect rattling. Even if the chain had snapped you'd expect to hear it sounding like a box of spanners.

I suppose the sprocket could have come away from the taper on the camshaft. At any rate, it looks like the engine is going to have to come out. Even if I could afford a new cylinder head, the engine will still need to come out. There really isn't any way I can take it out. I don't have the equipment to lift the car off the top. I don't really have the space and I certainly don't have the time. Getting a garage to do it is an absolute non starter. That would be thousands just in labour. I was kind of hoping the car would have lasted the three years it will take to pay for it. Think I got about 5 months.