Cam Position Sensor

[scullygal]

I just had my 2000 Rodeo (4 cyl) in the shop to replace the timing belt after about 95,000 miles. The next day I noticed the Engine Light came back on. I had a diagnostic run and they said the cam position sensor had a weak signal coming from it and the sensor should be replaced. (Why they didn't catch this problem when they changed the timing belt is beyond my comprehension!). They quoted me about $350 for the part and $350 for labor and they said it would cost even more if the sensor went completely out and I'd be stuck up a creek with a damaged engine. Are they pulling my chain or can I have this work done cheaper? Do I even need to worry about the sensor at this time?

[2eyefishclaw]

was the check enginge light on before?
did you ask them to check it?
if the engine light was not on it apparantly was working ,so even if it had been checked it would have been fine. electronic parts are not like tires that you can see wear on nor is there a maitenance interval to have sensors removed and tested.

[2eyefishclaw]

oh by the way they should not be charging more than two hours for this repair labor should be cosiderably less and if not mistaken the part from the dealer is around $250

[scullygal]

Originally Posted by 2eyefishclaw

was the check enginge light on before?
did you ask them to check it?
if the engine light was not on it apparantly was working ,so even if it had been checked it would have been fine. electronic parts are not like tires that you can see wear on nor is there a maitenance interval to have sensors removed and tested.

Yes, the engine light was on before, so that's when I had them run the diagnostic and they said the timing belt needed to be replaced. It was only after they had started working on it for a couple of hours that they called me back to tell me about the weak signal from the cam position sensor. This has probably been the 3rd time in 4 months that the engine light has come on (the last time there was a carbon buildup problem). I'm getting kinda tired of all this maintenance coming up around my 100,000 mile mark!!!

[2eyefishclaw]

when you get up there in miles it is a bit expensive to do all of the maintenance work normally when all maintenance is done when it is supposed to be done it is much cheaper later and the issue with the cam sensor is not a maintenance issue it just oner of those things and if it is going to be replaced while the timing belt is already off labor should not be more than an additional .5 for the replacment of the cam sensor

[Nskains]

The part should only be arround 200-250 and should only take about 1-2 hrs to do the job. It sits right on top of the motor and is easy to get to. My rodeo does the same thing but the light comes on and off intermentinely.. So i am thinking its just an intermitent problem because it was doing it with my old Engine and since i just changed mine out it started it up again.