Cam Shaft Position Sensor Stuck!!!

[bigcoconut]

How the heck do you gate a stuck sensor out?????

This is a real PITA, I was changing the power steering pump and wanted to pull the sensor to simply clean it, and guess what, the top of the sensor came apart WTF!!! Now I have the sensor stuck in the block.

I drilled an 1/8 hole and screwed in a long #8 screw and still no go, 1 1/2 hours later. This POC isn't going anywhere.

Can I drill it out? How far is to far? I am so f*(^)& desparate now, I'm ready to call a tow truck and give up. I'd drive it over a cliff but the dang thing won't start.

Signed, desparately PO'ed...

[bigcoconut]

OK, I drilled out the top part of the sensor, down to just below where the o-ring is. The bottom part of the sensor is still in the hole, the section below the blue o-ring.



This thing has to be really gummed up. I drilled another 1/8th hole into the bottom part and put in another #8 screw, still no luck, this thing isn't budging. The sensor should be a loose fit, the only interference should be the o-ring, since that's now gone, what the heck is holding this thing in.

I give up for the night, I'm way to PO'ed to keep going, I'm afraid I'll just get angry and make it worse. I'll attack it again tomorrow.

Can I get to the bottom of this thing if I take the timing chain cover off and maybe push it up?

Signed: Desparately PO'ed - but now real tired

[merc81]

I wish I had good news for you, but unless you pull the cam out, you can't get to the other side of that sensor. You have to continue to work it out from the top as you are doing. That sensor is partially covered by the LIM normally. How did you even get to the screw to remove it?

If you are drilling down into the sensor, be damn sure you don't go down into the cam shaft! Eventually you won't have much sensor left, just debris that will need cleaned out. I'd use lots of oil for that purpose.

Good luck. . .

[bigcoconut]

When you remove the power steering pump (mine was whinning), the sensor is right there. The cam is what I'm afraid of hitting. The LIM does cover a 'sliver' of the edge but the sensor has a flat made into it where the LIM is to enable installation, and I'm guessing removal. This morning I was able to use a crow bar on the screw and the sensor began moving up, then it got stuck again. Now it is chunking out in pieces. I'm afraid of losing small bits into the engine itself.

Does the sensor sit on top of the cam (how close)? If it does, does it touch the cam? Is there clearance between the cam, sensor and the rest of engine for pieces (plastic and magnetic) to "travel" into the engine?

The top of the sensor was all dirty with road grime since it sits in a pocket underneath the pump. All I wanted to do was pull it and clean it up a bit, it was working just fine until I pulled the black wire out of it. Should've left well enough alone, my dads first rule of auto maintenance, if it ain't broke don't fix it, or in this case don't screw with it.

[bigcoconut]

Got it... I am the master of all things busted (even when I break them)! The very bottom of the sensor was broken and somehow folded over where it made it impossible to retrieve through the hole. Almost like the cam shaft had hit it and bent it (which I don't believe is likely). I don't believe I damaged the bottom with what I have been doing, although in my frustration over the last day it is possible. Somehow the old one was damaged before I started screwing with it.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

BTW, did I mention I had to take my wife to the hospital last night with kidney stones. She's still there and I'm trying to get the van fixed so I have something to pick her up in. My oldest boy has the truck at school.

Now, about those pieces that I'm almost sure are in there. I plan on running the engine for about 100 miles and then change the oil again, to try and clean it out. Any other suggestions?

[rockwood84]

you could try and put a vacumn cleaner hose up to the sensor hole and pull alot of the pieces out. the hesitation you were having could have been the cam sensor loosing the cam for a bit then finding it. the sensor sets really close to the cam and i guess almost touches it. the ones i have pulled out usually are messed up on the end . either cracked or swelled up and split. bet it will quit the hesitating . be sure to coat the new sensors "o" ring with oil or vaseline jelly before you put the new one in.a piece of the old sensor could have came off and the cam throwed it back into the sensor and bent it. but i would try to vacumn them out. the only thing i know to try without going inside the motor and getting the pieces.

[Airjer_]

These do not fail commonly and there is no need to "clean them" for future reference. If its not broke than don't break it!!!

[merc81]

Man, I feel your pain.
My van died the month my dad had a heart attack and I needed to drive 100 miles back and forth to be with him. It was over month before I could get back to fix the van.

Anyway, that sensor is about 1/16 inch off the cam. I changed out three engines now and you need to remove all those sensors and wiring to swap onto the new engines. I've not seen one damaged, but I like your story and I'd stick with it too no matter how much folks questioned me.

I don't think you will need to worry about debris in the engine. Flush the sensor hole out with oil (from a tube--use pressure to force the oil down there) and the bits should drop down into the pan.
Thank goodness you got that sucker out.

John

[base1hits]

BC, my 2000 venture starting throwing codes related to the cam sensor, my parts guy said I needed to install a new one (125K miles). After reading your story, I thought I'd first just check the connector on the harness, cleanded it carefully and made sure the connection was 'good'. Running now a couple thousand miles without problems, so I'm hoping that will do the trick. I don't want to have to pull this sensor out and maybe go through what you did. Thanks for the post by the way, in case I get that far.....