No start, transmission problem?

I am working on a budys 98 bonneville se. The problem is that it won't start. The first time it died he called me and I went and checked it out. I had fuel pressure but no spark. Took the icm into the parts store to have it tested. They ran it through 3 times so it would get hot and it passed all 3 times. It was closing time on Sunday so in a desperate measure I got a crank position sensor. I installed it in the parking lot and it worked. It started repeatedly so he took it home. The next day on his lunch it died again and wouldn't start so he had it towed home. It didn't kick the check engine light either time. I hooked my scan tool up to it and the thing that looked funny was that it says that it is in third gear. I have access to spare known good parts. We have swaped out the trans range selector and even the ECM. It still says that it is in third gear. should I even be concerned with this? I am a diesel tech with some automotive background. I and everyone I have asked are stumped. It's starting to tick me off because I have never had a problem that has taken me this long to figure out. I've tried everything I can think of but I'm sure I'm overlooking something as that usually happens when I stress myself out.

Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mike

Big, got 2 friends with the same name. LOL. Anyway if the range sensor was the issue the engine would not crank. If you have fuel pressure, and no injector pulse or spark, usually the icm or cps is the issue, also check the wiring from the cps to the ign module. Many times the icm will pass but still be an issue. Also disconnect the maf see what happens, I assume you check the fuses. BTW you put the cps in the lot, wow that is no easy feat, how did you get the bolt off the balancer?

I checked over the wiring the first time, but I will take a closer look at it this time. I think I'm going to try the cps again if the wiring checks out. Yes the fuses where the first thing I checked
Btw I used a cordless impact to get that bolt out.

Thanks,
Mike