Symptoms of a Faulty or Faulty Camshaft Position Sensor
Common symptoms include the check engine light coming on, the car not starting, and a general decline in the driving experience.
The camshaft position sensor collects information about the vehicle's camshaft speed and sends it to the vehicle's engine control module (ECM). The ECM uses this data to determine the ignition timing as well as the fuel injection timing required by the engine. Without this information, the engine will not be able to work properly.
Over time, the camshaft position sensor can fail or wear out due to accidents or normal wear and tear. There are a few warning signs to look out for before your camshaft position sensor completely fails and stalls the engine, making a replacement necessary.
1. The car doesn't drive like it used to.
If your vehicle idles unevenly, stalls frequently, has a drop in engine power, stumbles frequently, has reduced gas mileage, or accelerates slowly, these are all signs that your camshaft position sensor may be failing. If you have any of these symptoms, it may mean that the camshaft position sensor needs to be replaced by a professional mechanic as soon as possible. This must be done before the engine stalls while driving or does not start at all.
2. Check Engine light comes on.
The Check Engine light will come on as soon as the camshaft position sensor begins to fail. Because this light can come on for a variety of reasons, it's best to have your vehicle thoroughly inspected by a professional. The mechanic will scan the ECM and see what error codes are displayed in order to quickly diagnose the problem. If you ignore the Check Engine light, this can lead to serious engine problems such as engine failure.
3. Car won't start
If other problems are ignored, eventually the car will not start. As the camshaft position sensor weakens, the signal it sends to the vehicle's ECM also weakens. In the end, the signal will weaken so much that the signal is turned off, and with it the engine. This can happen while the car is parked or while driving. The latter can be a dangerous situation.
As soon as you notice that your car does not drive as it used to, the Check Engine light is on, or the car does not start properly, the sensor may need to be replaced. This problem should not be ignored because over time the engine will stop working completely.
