Camshaft Positioning Sensor Symptoms
When the Engine is Hard to Start or Won't Start to Consult a Mechanic
The camshaft position sensor (also called a crankshaft position sensor) tells the engine control unit (ECU) the camshaft position in relevance to the crankshaft position.
When this fails, the ignition timing can be thrown off, and you may experience poor performance or lack of power from your engine.
-This article will show you how to determine if this problem is causing issues with your vehicle and what to do about it.
The Most Common Reasons Cars and Trucks Fail To Start
- Dead battery, If your car battery is low or dead, it won't be able to turn over the engine or power up the ignition system to make it run.
- Listen for the starter because the starter is what turns over your engine when you try to start it. Listen for the famous clicking sound as you turn the key.
- If something's wrong with this component, your car won't turn on despite having a working battery and ignition system.
- Check the alternator and ignition system. Both of these components are necessary for starting a car; if they fail, you'll have difficulty starting it and keeping it running after startup (because there will be no power).
- Make sure that all your spark plugs are in good condition by testing them with paper clips or other tools from home depot and replacing any broken/blocked with oil/gunk etc.
- Also, check fuel injectors for blockages that may cause problems starting and idling smoothly (replace them if necessary).
Improper Maintenance will Cause Poor Engine Performance
Poor engine performance is one of the most common symptoms of a camshaft positioning sensor failure, and it can cause your vehicle to:
- Not start at all. If the computer cannot determine how far the engine has rotated, it may not be able to tell when to start cranking it.
- Run sluggishly or roughly. The computer needs accurate timing information to make sure everything's working as it should be.
- Without this information, your car will feel like it's choking out on you—making acceleration difficult and causing other problems with performance, too (like stalling).
Accelerate too slowly or quickly (depending on your gear). This can cause problems for vehicles with electronic ignition systems because those systems rely on precise timing information (which comes from the camshaft positioning sensor) to operate appropriately. In other words: if the timing is off even by a little bit, things won't work right.
Common Reasons Why Cars and Trucks Can Stall While Driving
Engine stalls can be caused by various issues, including a faulty camshaft positioning sensor. When accelerating, your vehicle's engine should respond immediately by increasing RPMs. If the engine fails to do so, or if it suddenly speeds up when you're not pressing on the accelerator pedal, this could indicate something wrong with your camshaft positioning sensor.Similarly, if your vehicle tends to stall at low speeds (such as when turning) or when decelerating (such as coming to a stop), this may indicate an issue with your camshaft positioning sensor.
If you have these issues intermittently with no apparent cause for them and want more information about diagnosing the problem before replacing any parts on your car yourself, please contact us today.
Rough Idling Vehicles Could Leave You Stranded on the Highway
If your vehicle is running rough and idling poorly, this can be caused by several things.
- When diagnosing the cause of a rough idle, the first step is to check for air leaks and vacuum leaks around the intake manifold, throttle body, or engine intake system. You may need to replace a gasket that has failed or malfunctioned.
- You should also ensure there isn’t any dirt or debris in your fuel system that would prevent the proper operation of your engine.
- If you have an air leak or other fuel system problem, it will likely result in irregular idling and difficulty starting up cold.
When the Check Engine Light Comes on it Can Mean Many Different Things.
If your check engine light comes on, there's likely some kind of problem with your car. It could be as simple as a loose gas cap or as severe as a faulty catalytic converter.
If the check engine light is staying on and not flashing, that means something is wrong with the car, and you should show it to a mechanic online immediately to avoid possible damage to your vehicle.
If your check engine light is flashing, then there may be an issue with one of the sensors or wires leading from them to other parts of the vehicle. If it's just flashing after a period of idling it may possibly go away.
When the Ignition Timing is out of Sequence Your Car Will Break Down.
The engine will not run smoothly if the ignition timing is out of sequence. It may stall or vibrate and not start or run at all. You may experience rough idle and shake in the steering wheel.
Suppose your Camshaft Position Sensor causes the check engine light to stay on while other symptoms like rough idle accompany it, shaking steering wheel, and stalling. In that case, you could have a camshaft positioning sensor issue that leads to other more expensive problems.
Malfunctioning Camshaft Position Sensors Can Cause Engine Noise and Drivability Issues
A camshaft position sensor is a sensor that measures the position of the camshaft. The ECU uses this information to signal when it's time for ignition timing.
A malfunctioning camshaft position sensor can cause your car to be challenging to drive and may create engine noise.
Talk to a Mechanic Online or Hire a Local Auto Repair Shop to Fix It
Camshaft positioning sensors are essential to your vehicle’s engine control system. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above in your car, you should check it out with a professional to avoid a costly breakdown.