Camshaft sensor Help?

[tomogchi]

Woohoo... I love electronics.
Code 41- Camshaft Sensor.
Camshaft sensor went bad, had weird scratches (almost like a belt dug into it) on the magnetic (black) plate. So i replaced it. Put new one in. Left the battery disconected over night. SES light came back as soon as the engine idled for about 1 1/2 seconds. and somethings not right, i know its firing sequintaly, im getting a whopping 8-10 miles a gallon, no kidding. Wires all look fine.

And i dont know if this is the same problem or not. hesitation on acceleration. Extremely harsh shifts uphill (you can actually watch the front of the car bounce when it shifts down a gear (from OD to D).

Went and pulled the codes of the car with a snap-on scan tool.. Has a hard code 41, and a soft code 41; and a QUAD DRIVER FAILURE. Dont know what the quad driver is or what it does, but it failed. (whats is a quad driver?)
Thanks in advanced;
Bill

[HotZ28]

Code 41=Cam Sensor
Check for faulty connections, or a faulty cam sensor, first!

Code 41 can also indicate a problem with the vehicle's timing chain.


Quad/Output Driver Module:

The PCM controls most components with electronic switches which complete a ground circuit when turned on.

When the switches are arranged in groups of 4, they can independently control up to 4 outputs and are called Quad Drivers.

You would need to find out what items are being driven by the Quad Driver that set the code. This code usually sets when there is a voltage fault on the particular Quad Driver due to a bad relay or solenoid for whatever is being run off the driver.

[tomogchi]

Ouch. That sounds like it could hurt. Like problem as in the timing chains streched? or w/e...........
Thanks
Bill

[HotZ28]

It could be chain stretch and worn gears, or the magnet in the cam gear coming apart. It sounds like the chain may be hitting the cam sensor, and as you know, that is not good!
I forgot to mention that the quad circuit failure may be causing your harsh shifts. Quad drivers control trans shift solenoids, as well as other things unrelated to the trans. You need to identify what quad driver is faulting and what it controls!

[tomogchi]

I think it might be a worthy investment to buy a new ecm. The 90$ (or w/e they get for it) would be one of the easiest way to diagnose it, correct?
And for a side note. I unplugged my Idle air control sensor (the sensor in the air filter box), and the harsh shifts went away. (on a scan tool it shows the Degrees of the air being -40*. and it throws a code for that, but that doesnt bother me much, as i know its not bad....)
Okay back on the topic. For the cam sensor magnet coming apart, how much am i looking at for that? and if its not horribly expensive for the combination of em (magnet, gear, and chain), how many hours am i looking at to do this? im assuming im dropping the motor unless theres another way to do it.
Thanks,
Bill
*edit* i checked the wires,(with a Digital voltmeter) they all were within the range. One set was 5.6 volts, and the other was 10.6 volts.

[regalguy]

Not trying to hijack this thread but...I'm also throwing a 41 code. I found that the magnet was/is the problem. I bought a new one and went to replace it, I tried to pull out the plastic retainer piece and it broke. After looking at the new magnet it looks like it is supposed to be pushed in from the inside. If that is the case does the motor have to be pulled or can you access it by removing the timing chain cover?

[HotZ28]

I apologize for not getting back to you guys sooner. I normally check the PA & LeSabre forums daily, however occasionally drift elsewhere.
Anyway, if the magnet is in fact your problem, you are looking at a days work to pull the front timing cover and replace that. While you are in there, replace the timing set (gears & chain), chain tensioner, crank seal, and water pump. It will save you some headaches later. You should be able to buy all the parts for about 150 bucks.

Bill,
I don’t think a new ECM would help you diagnose the problem. The one you have gave you the codes, if I understand your original post correctly.

The sensor you disconnected from the filter box is referred to as the “intake ambient temp sensor”, not the idle air control sensor. I don’t understand how that had anything to do with the shifting problem, unless it is fooling the ECM into thinking it is colder than it really is! That may just confuse the issue.

The quad driver fault is probably due to a bad solenoid in the trans, not the quad switch in the ECM. Keep in mind, the quad driver in nothing more than a switch that transfers a ground, to complete an electrical circuit.

Also, what wires did you test for voltage to get the 5.6 V & 10.6 V?

[tomogchi]

Hmmm, alrighty. I was going to do that this weekend but as of tonight i have a larger more dominet issue. Starter died so i gotta do that first. Lol
And dont hold this one to me, but i beleive the first and the last wire gave me 10, and the 2nd and last wire gave me 5.6 volts. <-- i think.... i remember the numbers, but not the order. lol
Thanks,
Bill