No Start and Fault Code 2111

[Russ Southerlin <russell.s.southerlin@lmco.com>]

I had a no start condition last night and thought I would see if the
Q-lists infinite wisdom could help.

Subject:87 5KTQ

Symptoms: Have had intermittant hard starting. No real common thread -
sometimes hot, sometimes cold, sometimes warm.  Engine acts like it
wants to start but it just sputters, idles real low (about 200-300 rpm)
and then dies.  Happens about once a month.

This happened last night - sputters for about the first three cranking
attempts and then would not do anything but crank after that.

Pulled the fault codes after cranking and got 2111. Is this the speed
sensor only or either the timing sensor or speed sensor. My sources are
confusing on this.

I messed with the sensor connectors and after fiddling for about 20
minutes the thing fired up and idled perfect!!!!!!!!!!

I checked both speed and timing sensors and they both read correct
resistance (~1020 ohms) both at the sensor connector and at the ECU
pins. The timing sensor had quite a bit of metal shavings on it (not
quite sure if this is normal) could this cause malfunction?

Can you check sensor gap without pulling the tranny. The Haynes Manual
says you should pull the tranny. Seems like you could do it with depth
gauge/scale etc. How critical is the gap? Haynes gives a nominal gap for
both sensors of about 0.020-0.040 inches is closer better?

TIA
Russ
87 5KTQ
Littleton, CO