In this guide, we are going to focus on the symptoms of a bad or failing camshaft position sensor and many other information you need to know about camshaft position sensor.
The camshaft position sensor keeps track of the camshaft’s rotation, focusing on when valves open and close. The majority of camshaft sensors are located right above the camshaft’s notched ring. The majority of these camshaft sensors will employ a magnet to generate or alter an AC electrical signal, which will be utilized in conjunction with a crankshaft position sensor to determine when a position approaches top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke. This data will aid in the fine tuning of spark timing and injector pulse.
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Symptoms Of a Bad Camshaft Position Sensor
Here are the symptoms of a bad or failing camshaft position sensor:
Poor Fuel Mileage
This is the direct opposite of not giving the engine adequate gasoline. Because of an inaccurate reading from a malfunctioning camshaft position sensor in this situation, more fuel is pumped into the engine than is required, lowering your fuel economy.
Transmission Not Shifting
Certain models of cars with a faulty camshaft position sensor will develop a locked transmission, which will remain in a single gear. The only way out of that gear is to turn off your engine, wait a few moments, and then restart.
This is simply a temporary repair; the problem will resurface, necessitating the replacement of the sensor as a long-term solution. Additionally, your vehicle may enter “limp mode,” which prevents you from shifting gears or exceeding a particular speed.
Poor Acceleration
When your camshaft sensor begins to fail, your vehicle will jerk and be unable to accelerate quickly. In certain circumstances, you’d be lucky if you got past 30 miles per hour. Incorrect fuel supply by the injectors is again to blame for the weak acceleration.
Engine Stalling
Even worse than not being able to start your automobile is having it shut down or stall while you’re driving because the fuel injectors aren’t being told to inject fuel into the cylinders.
We don’t think we need to warn you how perilous the situation is.
Car Jerking
If the camshaft position sensor fails while you’re driving, the engine will occasionally lose power, causing your car to shake or surge forward at random.
These are both caused by the PCM receiving inaccurate information from the camshaft position sensor, resulting in an incorrect quantity of fuel being pumped into the cylinders.
Issues With Ignition
When a camshaft position sensor develops difficulties and degrades, the signal sent to the car’s computer deteriorates as well. This means that the signal will eventually become so weak that the car will not start since there will be no spark from the ignition.
Check Engine Light Illuminates
When your camshaft position sensor malfunctions, the first thing you should notice is that your dashboard’s “Check Engine” light illuminates. Obviously, the “Check Engine” light could signal a variety of issues, not only a malfunctioning camshaft position sensor.
In this scenario, either use an OBD2 scan tool to get the stored diagnostic issue code(s) in your automobile or have a professional mechanic analyze the vehicle’s engine control module to discover what’s wrong. They, too, will scan this module for a series of error codes that will reveal the true nature of the problem.
When your Check Engine light comes on, do not ignore or postpone scanning or having your car tested; otherwise, your engine may suffer catastrophic damage. It’s possible that the engine will completely fail, forcing you to rebuild or replace it.
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Camshaft Position Sensor Replacement
If a camshaft position sensor fails, you may find yourself stranded on the side of the road, waiting for a tow vehicle. Even if the engine is still running poorly, find a qualified repair who specializes in engine performance and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. This fix should take no more than one day in most cases.
In most cases, this is a low-cost fix. Depending on the manufacturer, the sensor will cost between $50 and $100. Depending on the car, installation can cost anywhere from $40 to $200, depending on the area. Other elements of the engine, such as the valve cover, may need to be removed in order to access the sensor. Incidentals, such as gaskets, can cost an extra $20 to $40.
Keep in mind that prices will vary depending on your region and the brand and model of your vehicle. Save time by comparing local rates and scheduling an appointment with a service center in your neighborhood with Openbay.
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How To Test Camshaft Position Sensor
Testing a two-wire sensor
The resistance test is required initially in the two wire system – magnetic type. Set the AC volts setting on the multimeter. Check the connector as well, making sure it’s free of dirt or mud.
Continue with the crank position sensor test by having someone turn on the ignition; do not start the engine.
Take the probe or metal part and place it on the ground, while the other one is connected to the sensor wires. It’s a good sign if the current continues to flow.
Now restart the engine and look for the indication this time. Connect one of the probes to one of the sensor wires and the second probe to the other wire. The result will be displayed by the reader, and it must fit the manual parameters. If there is a signal, you are fine to go; if not, repair is required.
Testing a three-wire sensor
If this is the case, proceed to the three wire signal crankshaft position sensor test. Determine which three wires are the power, ground, and signal wires first. You should be able to readily separate the three wires if you use your vehicle repair handbook.
This time, use the multimeter to measure DC volts. Similarly, start the engine without turning on the ignition key.
You’ll need to touch one of the black probes to the ground and the other to the power line. The reading will appear, and it must correspond to the standard in your manual.
Turn on the engine. Use the red probe to touch the signal wire, and the black probe to touch the ground wire. It’s a bad sensor if the readings are less than the specified value.
How To Reset The Camshaft Position Sensor
Disconnect the battery via the negative battery connection and let the car sit for an hour before reconnecting the battery to reset the check engine light. This will completely drain the devices’ power and erase any short-term memory. A faulty crankshaft position sensor will cause the car to stall while driving or not start at all. Consider contacting an experienced technician, to come out and take a closer look at your rough idle issues and run a few tests to provide a more personalized diagnosis and repair cost.
Where is the Camshaft Position Sensor Located?
The camshaft position sensor is always near the camshaft, usually at the top of the valve cover, but it can also be mounted on the cylinder head’s side. You’ll almost certainly discover the camshaft position sensor if you look around the head or valve cover and follow any electrical lines.
What makes a Camshaft Positions Sensor Go Bad?
When your camshaft position sensor fails, you’ll notice a variety of signs and symptoms. It’s critical that you figure out what’s wrong and what’s causing the sensor failure right away. The following are some possible causes for your personal camshaft sensor failure:
Poor Wiring
When the wiring harness on your camshaft sensors fails, it can cause a lot of problems. According to the torquewrenchcenter blog’s extensive study, this occurs when the voltage is incorrect or when there are issues with the return circuit or ground circuit.
If your wiring harness has a lot of loose wires, grease, dirt, or debris on it, it will disturb that very inappropriate voltage, causing the wiring to be damaged or rip up to the point where the entire wiring harness is worn out and worthless.
When the camshaft sensors fail, you’ll have to start your vehicle over and over again because it won’t allow your vehicle’s engine to run continuously for long periods of time.
Crank Walk
This occurs when the crankshaft of your engine begins to slip into the belt region. This crank walk occurs when your main or core thrust bearing becomes old and worn out.
The crankshaft will continue to stay in its new position over time, and the metal plate inside the crank sensor will strike a side of the sensor continually every time the engine or the engine’s belt spins.
Sharp clicking sounds will be heard with each engine belt revolution or rotation. The crankshaft will eventually wear down and split into pieces if this continues. You might not realize it until one lovely day when you’re driving your car and your engine entirely shuts down. Check the crankshaft right away to discover if the camshaft failure was caused by a crank walk.
Overheating
Your camshaft sensor can be damaged if you drive your car for long periods of time on a hot sunny day or if you park your car in the open sun with no shade. Excessive heat can also cause a slew of issues for the rest of your engine.
Not to mention the fact that the engine generates a lot of heat. If your engine doesn’t have adequate ventilation or lubrication, or if your radiator isn’t working properly, you might anticipate it to overheat more than usual.
When this happens, the crankshaft sensor’s plastic shell or covering will eventually shatter or melt due to the heat. Because the camshaft sensor is unable to deliver fuel or ignition data to the engine, your car will not start after that.
Impurities
Dirt, oil, moisture, or any water damage to the engine’s camshaft is equally as harmful as overheating since these things accumulate over time inside the engine and surrounding it. They are simple to clean, but they are also difficult to notice. So, unless your engine fails and your scan tool warns you, you won’t know this is the reason of your camshaft sensor failure.
Accidents
Any minor incidents or accidents that may have occurred in the past, when parts of your engine may have been damaged despite the vehicle appearing to be in good condition on the outside, could be a cause.
Any type of accident is enough to damage or shred cables, loosen oil caps, and cause oil tanks to leak, among other things. Because your camshaft is associated with other sections of the engine, all of these issues will cause your camshaft sensor’s signals to be disrupted.
Timing Belt
It’s likely that your engine’s timing belt has ripped or been damaged as a result of an accident or collision. If the belt does tear or snap, it will wrap around the crankshaft, causing damage to other parts and sensors.
This snapped timing belt will most likely impact the camshaft sensor when it first tears from the damage. This will also cause harm to the wiring harness and sensors.
You can repair the timing belt, but that won’t fix the other problems that resulted from the ripped belt. The entire camshaft sensor will eventually be ruined unless it is repaired as well.
What happens when a camshaft position sensor goes bad?
Poor Drivability: When a camshaft position sensor fails, it loses its capacity to relay data fast. Even a few milliseconds of mismatched fuel delivery and ignition timing will cause your car to splutter, accelerate slowly, lack power, stall, or even shut down.
Can one drive with a bad camshaft position sensor?
Yes, driving with a defective camshaft sensor is safe. If you don’t fix a camshaft position sensor, you’ll probably have more problems with your vehicle’s ignition system, which might lead to highly expensive repairs.
How much does it cost to change a camshaft sensor?
How much does it cost to replace a camshaft position sensor? In most cases, this is a low-cost fix. Depending on the manufacturer, the sensor will cost between $50 and $100. Depending on the car, installation can cost anywhere from $40 to $200, depending on the area.
What does a bad camshaft sound like?
Backfiring and popping are common indications of a damaged camshaft. At low and fast speeds, you may also encounter cylinder misfires. You may also hear tapping and ticking noises from the upper engine if your camshaft lobes are worn.
What does camshaft sensor do?
The engine control uses the camshaft sensor to detect the exact position of the crankshaft drive. This data is used to figure out the ignition and injection points, among other things.
Is Camshaft sensor easy to replace?
The camshaft sensor can be removed and replaced from underneath your car, but it can also be done from the top by removing the air filter housing. The signal from the sensor to the engine control module could be affected by oil and rust.
How long can you drive with a bad camshaft?
If there’s an issue with your camshaft ignition sensor, your automobile won’t break down straight away. You can still drive without one, but your vehicle’s overall performance will deteriorate with time.
Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed reading this article on Camshaft Position Sensor. We have tried our best to cover all grounds on this topic. If after reading this article you still can’t find solution to your Camshaft sensor problem, kindly visit a good mechanic who will help you fix it.
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