How difficult is to replace Camshaft Position Sensor

[darryls]

How difficult is it to replace a Camshaft Position Sensor on a 1993. Any one know were to find a how to?

Thanks

[HotZ28]

Click Here for more info.

[darryls]

Thank you very much HotZ28. Do you know what they mean by "Remove the right front wheel and tire assembly". Tire assembly, please tell me they just mean remove the tire and not the brake rotor and strut.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by darryls

Thank you very much HotZ28. Do you know what they mean by "Remove the right front wheel and tire assembly". Tire assembly, please tell me they just mean remove the tire and not the brake rotor and strut.

This is correct, just remove the tire and splash shield for easy access.

[darryls]

Thank you, love the work you do here.

[spinne1]

Originally Posted by darryls

How difficult is it to replace a Camshaft Position Sensor on a 1993. Any one know were to find a how to?

Thanks

The sensor is fairly easy. The difficulty is the fact that most camshaft sensor problems on these cars are not because of faulty sensors but rather disintegrated magnets on the cam sprocket under the front cover. You can fix it without removing the front cover by using JB Weld and following instructions found somewhere on the web (Google it). I would check this first before doing anything else. To inspect it, remove your sensor and rotate the engine until you can see the magnet and then note its condition. If it is gone, well you know it is in pieces at the bottom of your front cover/oil pan. It also may LOOK okay but if you touch it it may fall apart.

[HotZ28]

Good point spinne1, Click Here for more info on the magnet.

[jehiatt]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Good point spinne1, Click Here for more info on the magnet.

This reply was great. I spent 2 hours on the internet looking for any part number for the magnet and here you had it all. I already got the timing cover off. My 89 Olds @ 200k miles runs good but cranks onery in the mornings. After 2 years I decided to replace the missing magnet and see if that clears the code, cranks better, and improves the gas milage. The worst problem I had was nothing said I had to remove the crankshaft sensor bracket and the water pipes have to be "pulled" out to get the cover off.
Idea? Are these interrupter magnet destroying themselves because of poor construction or because the camshaft gear button spring may be weak and allows the magnet to hit something on the timing chain cover. There was only a small piece of plastic sticking out and the
hole still has something in it where the magnet should have been.

[spinne1]

Originally Posted by jehiatt

This reply was great. I spent 2 hours on the internet looking for any part number for the magnet and here you had it all. I already got the timing cover off. My 89 Olds @ 200k miles runs good but cranks onery in the mornings. After 2 years I decided to replace the missing magnet and see if that clears the code, cranks better, and improves the gas milage. The worst problem I had was nothing said I had to remove the crankshaft sensor bracket and the water pipes have to be "pulled" out to get the cover off.
Idea? Are these interrupter magnet destroying themselves because of poor construction or because the camshaft gear button spring may be weak and allows the magnet to hit something on the timing chain cover. There was only a small piece of plastic sticking out and the
hole still has something in it where the magnet should have been.

Poor construction or design quality IMO. It sounds like yours is gone. You have two choices. Either remove your front cover and then the gears, etc. and replace the magnet that way, or follow the instructions in the link HotZ28 provided for you and glue a magnet to the plastic piece left from the old magnet. The key to getting this to work right is to clear away all leftover material from the old magnet without ruining the plastic piece. If it were me, I'd remove the front cover and replace the timing chain and gears while I was at it. You DID say it had 200K.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by jehiatt

The worst problem I had was nothing said I had to remove the crankshaft sensor bracket and the water pipes have to be "pulled" out to get the cover off.
Idea? Are these interrupter magnet destroying themselves because of poor construction or because the camshaft gear button spring may be weak and allows the magnet to hit something on the timing chain cover. There was only a small piece of plastic sticking out and the
hole still has something in it where the magnet should have been.

The positive side of the missing magnet is, that the engine will continue to run, however, the injectors will fire out of time with the opening of the intake valve. There is one chance in six, that the injector timing will be correct! That explains why the engine will have a “stumble” upon initial acceleration and gas mileage will be compromised.

If you follow the instructions in the link above, it describes how to replace the magnet WITHOUT removing the front cover. If you choose to replace only the magnet, you will notice that ALL the plastic from the old magnet in the cam gear needs to be removed ! The new interrupter, (magnet) needs to have the tabs ground down in order to insert it in the cam gear from the “front ” with JB-Weld. (Normally, the magnet would be installed from the backside of the cam gear)

Of course, any car with over 150K should have the timing set replaced and that would require removing the front cover. If you do the job right, you should replaced the timing set & magnet, chain tensioner, water pump, hoses and all gaskets & seals in that area. In addition, be sure to check, or replace, all the belt tensioner and idler pulleys while the front side of the engine is disassembled. You do not want to do this job more than once!