Re: CAM position sensors... how to find/check? (archive)

Thanks! This sounds like a real gremlin. I Know what I'll be doing this afternoon (after the engine cools down from this morning's diagnosis). If you could email me the pages, that would be very helpful.... otherwise I'll be left to my own investigative means.

Kevin

Kevin,
The sensors are located in the front of the engine block, inside of the serpentine belt. (Let me know if you need it and I'll e-mail the appropriate pages from the repair manual). I don't pretend to understand the failure mechanism, but I had the same symptoms I actually went through two different sets of symptoms, with the cam sensor being the culprit in either case (which is why I recommend replacing them both), and it took 3 weeks of diagnostics to find out the first time, because it only happened first thing in the morning!

1st time: Cold start - one bank idle (6 cyl). Warm up car, turn off, then back on again without problems all day long.

2nd time: 50+MPH on freeway, goes into Trans Fail-safe mode. Restart, fine.

The 8's electronics are so interconnected, that a failure of one sensor (say the Cam Pos.) will result in an OBD readout of something different (like the Trans Fail-safe). This make diagnostics the hardest part of E-31 ownership, once determined, fixes are usually pretty easy.

You should also check for stored error codes using a Modic (diagnostic computer) at the Dealer or an independent. There may be more clues there.

Stan C.

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