Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor


  Email This Post



SavyCavy
Novice

Apr 19, 2010, 11:59 AM

Post #1 of 12 (14527 views)
Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

I own a 1998 Chevy cavalier with a 2.2 vin4 engine and it has roughly 141k miles on it. I know what is in fact wrong with the car. its the camshaft position sensor and i need to replace it. now my question is. i have tried to go from up top and from under the car but i can't get at it. I have removed the tire assembly and i still dont see a viable way to get at that damn sensor!

anyone ever replaced this part?


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Apr 19, 2010, 8:32 PM

Post #2 of 12 (14502 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

You get it from the bottom. Haven't had to do too many cam sensors, usually it's the crank sensor goes bad on those and it's in a worse position than the cam sensor....

It's been a while but I believe you can take the tire off and get at it easier that way......The crank sensor you have to get from the bottom and just work around the tranny. It's really not as bad as it looks but the 1st time is a PITA.


SavyCavy
Novice

Apr 20, 2010, 3:48 PM

Post #3 of 12 (14494 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

Ok so i replaced the sensor and i ended up going through the top btw. I still cant get the car to start. The code says Cam shaft position sensor bank A low input. what does that mean? If its electrical is it an easy fix? or is it just time to scrap the car?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 20, 2010, 5:30 PM

Post #4 of 12 (14494 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

I think you need to back up and start from scratch. Don't worry about that sensor for the time being. Your going to have to test the basic functions to get some direction here. I'll give you the standard procedure.

All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.



Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.


2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.


3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



SavyCavy
Novice

Apr 20, 2010, 5:39 PM

Post #5 of 12 (14483 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

ok gotcha. i have tested the spark plugs and it doesnt spark every time but it does spark. what i mean is some cycles it is missing the spark. i have tried to just start the car with starting fluid and it didnt help. so the fuel problem i have no way of know for certain if its a fuel pump and this car JUST passed inspection for an e check. um i havent tested the starter or the ingition module but i am getting compression. does that help any or am i missing your point? cause im not trying to be rude or anything just letting you know what i have done.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 20, 2010, 5:42 PM

Post #6 of 12 (14480 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

Your just assuming way too much. You need to actually perform these tests and get the whole picture of what is happening here.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



SavyCavy
Novice

Apr 20, 2010, 5:44 PM

Post #7 of 12 (14477 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

ok well i have tested the spark plugs, like i said they are missing on a few cycles. so that could be a problem there. i have not tested the fuel... and i really dont know where to start on that.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 20, 2010, 5:46 PM

Post #8 of 12 (14474 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

I gave you detailed instructions. All those tests need to be done simultaneously so we know what everything is doing at the same moment.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



SavyCavy
Novice

Apr 20, 2010, 5:48 PM

Post #9 of 12 (14470 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

ok. ill have to go get a noid light tomorrow then and a pressure gauge. then ill post more results when i preform these tests.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 20, 2010, 5:51 PM

Post #10 of 12 (14473 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

The noid light is under $10 and many of the large parts stores have loaner programs for fuel pressure gauges.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Apr 20, 2010, 7:11 PM

Post #11 of 12 (14464 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

Just out of curiousity........What is the exact code number?


SavyCavy
Novice

Apr 20, 2010, 11:15 PM

Post #12 of 12 (14465 views)
Re: Chevy Cavalier Camshaft sensor Sign In

P0342 is the code that comes up. it says camshaft position sensor bank a low input.






  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap