The Other Day My Engine Light Went On

[FORD TAURUS LADY]

HE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CAM SENSOR CODE NEEDS FIXING. HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST. HE TRIED GETTING RID OF THE CODE ON THE DASHBOARD BUT IT CAME BACK. HE SAID IT WOULD BE ABOUT $68.00 FOR THE PART BUT HE HAS TO TAKE THE WHOLE MOTOR APART. HE ALSO SAID HE NEEDS A SPECIAL TOOL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH. ANYWAY AROUND IT. IF I CAN'T FIX IT NOW WILL THAT HARM THE CAR IN ANYWAY HELP ME

[Willyum]

You do need to get your problem tended to. Sensors can be replaced without "taking the whole engine apart". I suggest that you shop around for another mechanic. More information about check engine light codes can be found @ www.batauto.com.

[Paul Masley]

Without knowing what code he pulled, it will be a little hard to help you.

[TomV]

The Camshaft Position Sensor is a plastic assembly that is bolted onto the Camshaft Synchronizer. This is bolted onto the top of the engine block. The Sensor is about $35 from local parts stores. The Synchronizer is about $160 from a Ford dealership. If you are lucky the Synchonizer has not been damaged by the Sensor. The Sensor has a magnet that can break off and cause the moving vane in the Synchronizer to be bent over.

The special alignment tool is necessary only if the position of the vane relative to the housing is not recorded prior to the Synchronizer removal.

I have done his myself in less than 2 hours. The alignment tool was not used. I have the instructions written down in a email if you want to perform the work yourself.

I had my 97 Taurus running for months with no noticable performance degradation. I only fixed it to pass our state emissions inspection. After the fix, I noticeed no performance improvement. Gas mileage stayed the same.

[lopolo]

Is there anyway you could send the instructions to replace the camshaft position sensor. I got a P0340 code although the car seems to run fine. I just need to get a new sticker.

Originally Posted by TomV

The Camshaft Position Sensor is a plastic assembly that is bolted onto the Camshaft Synchronizer. This is bolted onto the top of the engine block. The Sensor is about $35 from local parts stores. The Synchronizer is about $160 from a Ford dealership. If you are lucky the Synchonizer has not been damaged by the Sensor. The Sensor has a magnet that can break off and cause the moving vane in the Synchronizer to be bent over.

The special alignment tool is necessary only if the position of the vane relative to the housing is not recorded prior to the Synchronizer removal.

I have done his myself in less than 2 hours. The alignment tool was not used. I have the instructions written down in a email if you want to perform the work yourself.

I had my 97 Taurus running for months with no noticable performance degradation. I only fixed it to pass our state emissions inspection. After the fix, I noticeed no performance improvement. Gas mileage stayed the same.

[TomV]

Do a search for 'Cam Sensor Taurus' on this forum. You will see a post answered by me to a post specifically titled 'Cam Sensor on 97 Taurus'. The specifics are in that response.

I hope that your synchronizer vane is not too damaged or you will not be able to replace it as easily as this procedure describes. My procedure works if you can record the position of the rotating vane relative to various slots on the assembly.