cam position sensor?
 

What does the cam position sensor do?
Would an oil film on it affect its operation?
Anyone help please
Thanks,
Keith

the cam sensor lets the ecu know when to fire the plugs, as for oil on the sensor im not sure if it would effect it as uses magnetic waves to read, now i cant confirm all of this as im still learning this stuff, just trying to help keith :)

Thanks for the response...
 

Sounds like you are doing great!!
Appreciated,
Keith

hate to be that guy but i believe the cam controls injector timing.. and a film? no not unless its already worn out

If it is already worn out....
 

would it possibly show up on a code?

I would think it would show a code. I just replaced mine in my Outback. The car had no power and would hardly run. It was like it had a clogged fuel filter, but worse. It turned out to be the cam sensor. :o

I just replaced mine in the SVX. All hell was breaking loose, melting cats, killing O2 sensors, you know...fun stuff. Turned out it was a bad cam sensor.

The cam sensor works together with crank sensor #2. By counting the number of pulses from each sensor, the ECU can determine the current position in the firing order, in other words, it can figure out which cylinder is supposed to fire next.

Keith,

Did you pick up a Cam Position Sensor code? This is the sort of thing I was suggesting in your Major Power Loss thread. I was trying to save you the trouble of stripping the cam gear to check the belt, but I'm thinking you probably enjoyed the learning curve anyway. :rolleyes::D

Good work so far.

Joe:)

Didn't get that code but got a 37
 

I have "striped the cam gear" probably a dozen times in the last 3 years so I am learning to love the habit!
I have the car at the dealer since monday and they can't work out the problem!

They say one side of the exhaust system is getting hot, about 500 degrees and the other side is pretty cold... 120?

I already took the cam sensor off my "doner car" and am going to take it to them to try this am!

Thanks for the input
Keith

sounds like a jumped timing belt

Did to me too!
 

When I first start it it runs and drives like a dream!!~
A mile or so later... Another dream... A NIGHTMARE

Could a jumped timing belt drive me for a mile like a dream. I can't find any logic for that:confused:
Wish I could
I need that car to work bad my dd 1t least 100 miles ever:(y day

Yes, it does sound very like a timing problem.

The other thing Keith is a damaged or blocked cat. Sometimes they disintegrate internally with age or they get a thump from a rock or kerbstone. If the gas can't get through the exhaust will get really hot, and the engine can't breathe so it has no power.

Get them to check the cats for throughflow on the hot side.

Joe

Starts OK implies timing is good.

Runs a mile and then gets hot, maybe my blocked cat theory is the one to look at next.

[A cheap way to check would be to cut out the one on the hot side, weld in a piece of pipe the correct diameter, and drive it. If it stays going well, then you have identified your problem. Buy a replacement cat for that side.]

Joe

Definitely
 

Definitely sounds like a cam position sensor, but I don't see where you have ever checked for trouble codes. It should show up. A bad sensor is definitely indicative of your problems--easy start but after running no power and finally dies---and also the difference in exhaust temps on one side--there is a cam sensor for each side of course.

Check the codes---check the codes--check the codes--if you haven't already.

Lee

Have had both a jumped belt and a timing sensor failure. Jumped belt will still run, just sluggish, low power, runs out of steam about 5000-5500 rpm. Did two track days with the jumped belt, before YT figured out what was wrong. Replaced both my pre-Cats before the diagnosis was made. Got passed by everyone, but no permanent damage.

Bad cam sensor is much worse. Probably can't keep it running at all, even at idle. I tried to keep mine going with generous use of the accelerator and set the elastomeric Cat hangers on fire. Needless to say, the main Cat was toasted and starting spitting pieces of matrix out the exhaust tips shortly thereafter.

So, the difference is that with a skipped belt, depending upon how many teeth, it will still run, just poorly. With a dead cam sensor, you won't be able to get to the end of the block.

I did check the codes.
 

The 37 was the only code I got. It is at the dealer since monday and they couldn't wind out what the problem is. Now they say it is the 02 sensor on the right side. They said both my o2's are within specks, but that one one the right is causing the trouble. It seems like a major problem for an o2 sensor that is within specks??????????? I replaced the one on the left (drivers side) when I got the code 37.

After discussing it with them they think that would be a good place to start!
$300 to start???
not in my world. They need to work out what the problem really is and just do that.
They said they took off the cats and they "looked great inside. I know nothing about those contraptions, and maybe looks is how they are tested???

If I cut out the cat on the hot side...
 

will it damage the rest of the exhaust system to put a pipe in and run it?
Do you know if a flexable pipe that could be clamped in might be available. No welding stuff here?:(
Thanks,
Keith

No, it would do no harm Keith. It might be a little louder or a different sound, but no harm would happen to remove the cat.

Yes, if you can clamp on a flexible pipe, or even hacksaw some 3" lines each end of a non-flexible slightly larger pipe, and clamp that on, it would work OK.

However, you will eventually be welding [or brazing] the cat into place if you replace it.

Joe

anybody know the part# for the cam position sensor? I was looking on subaruparts.com. Is it called something else?

Paul

On 1st Subaru parts it is called the camshaft position sensor. You have to drill down their menu to find it, I found it here:
<<
Mechanical Catalog - 1992 - Subaru - Svx
Electrical, Powertrain control, Camshaft position sensor, Camshaft position sensor, svx
>>
for $159.

I could not find it in Subaruparts.com. The WSM calls it the Cam Angle Sensor.

I hope this is a help.

Joe :)

Thanks Joe. I should have tried a different web site. :o