What To Do After Replacing Camshaft Sensor – Key Things to Consider

The camshaft sensor is a sensor that monitors the camshaft’s position and transmits electrical signals to the automobile computer to calculate the position of the piston to be operated in the engine cylinder.

This article is for you if you never want to be in a situation where you are waiting for the tow truck to come.

It is not uncommon for your vehicle’s engine to break down in the middle of the journey, leaving you vulnerable to losing time as a result. It’s also possible that you’re aware that your engine isn’t operating very well, but you want to continue using it nonetheless in the hopes of getting some work done before it completely breaks down.

Both of these scenarios are undesirable for the owner of any vehicle. But while you are blaming the engine, there’s something more fundamental that might be the actual source of this problem. It is the camshaft sensor!

Did you lately change the sensor that controls the camshaft? What to do after replacing the camshaft sensor to ensure that this stressful problem does not rear its head again and that your vehicle operates without any hiccups? It is most likely going to be necessary for you to reprogram the sensor.

You’ll learn “what to do after replacing the camshaft sensor” after reading this post.

Before we move on, we have some effective tips to avoid the frustrating glare from oncoming headlights. Do give it a read.

How Does Camshaft Sensor Work?

Are you familiar with the function that the sensor serves? As its name indicates, the camshaft position sensor is concerned with the movement of the camshaft in some way.

The sensor concentrates on the movement caused by the shaft’s valves opening and closing in order to collect data from it. These sensors are situated on the shaft just above a carved ring in the middle of the shaft.

The crankshaft sensor is another component that works closely with the camshaft sensor. Together, they form an integral part of the engine. When the position of shafts approaches the Bottom-Dead Center or the Top-Dead Center, your camshaft sensor creates and adjusts AC signals with the assistance of the crankshaft sensor.

The control modules in your vehicle are able to provide more accurate spark timing and injector pulses thanks to the information provided by these.

When Should We Replace the Camshaft Sensor?

As soon as they see that their vehicle is displaying error codes, some consumers immediately get the camshaft sensor replaced.

Even while it is not uncommon for error codes to be caused by problems with the camshaft sensor, it is not a good idea to have it changed just because there was a little inconvenience.

On the other hand, there are occasions when there are evident symptoms that indicate that there is a problem with the camshaft sensor. Some of them are as follows:

• Your automobile routinely and unexpectedly shuts off when you are driving it.
• When the engine of your automobile cranks but doesn’t turn.
• After a lot of trials, the vehicle starts, but it quickly stops again.
• You are receiving irregular indications from the computer dashboard, typically more than one at a time.
• Your sensor is not providing any signals, despite the fact that it normally would.
• When your engine has reached an unsafe temperature, it is an excessively old model, and its sensors are corroded.

How to Replace a Camshaft Sensor?

It is important to be familiar with the process of replacing your car’s camshaft sensor, even though this is often something that can only be done by a trained professional technician and not at home.

The camshaft sensor is said to have failed when the engine has instability in its functions and operations.

In order to modify or replace the sensor, you will first have to remove the bolts that are attached to the cylinder head where the sensor is located. This will allow you to access the sensor.

The next step is to cut it off from its connection to the electrical system. After that step is finished, the old sensor is removed, and a new one is placed in its place before being linked to the system.

What is the Cost of Replacing the Camshaft Sensor?

If you haven’t yet changed your camshaft sensors but are reading this post to get a head start, the cost of doing so may range anywhere from $120 to $300.

It may be necessary, depending on the make and model of your vehicle, to remove various additional components, such as the valve cover and gaskets, in order to have access to the sensor. In such a situation, you may need to pay an additional $20 to $40 to the total.

If you are interested in purchasing new components, the price might range anywhere from $50 to $200. And with regard to the cost of labor, estimates place it anywhere from $70 to $100, with the exact amount depending on the expertise of the mechanic and the service fees he charges.

However, these are only the average expenses; the actual price of installing the sensors and their components may vary depending on the make and model of the vehicles you drive.

The price will go up significantly if your automobile is considered more of a premium model or if you want to enlist the assistance of your neighborhood automotive dealership in order to have the replacement completed for you.

It goes without saying that the costs will change based on the area in which you choose to have your sensor repaired.

How Much Time It Takes To Replace A Camshaft Sensor?

It’s interesting to note that the camshaft sensor in your car may be removed and replaced with relative ease. Changing a camshaft sensor does not take up a significant amount of time. In most cases, the replacement will take anywhere from five to ten minutes.

While replacing the camshaft sensor, do consider the following points:

• When working with sensors or electrical components, you are required to disconnect the connection connecting the positive battery terminal.
• After it has been removed, the pigtail should be examined for any signs of corrosion or dirt. It is important to keep in mind that rust and grease might interfere with the signal that is sent from the sensor to the ECM.

  In addition to this, you need to thoroughly inspect the sensor to verify that it is not leaking another component of the engine. If you find any signs of damage, you will need to fix the leak in order to avoid causing more harm to the replacement sensor.

• After replacing the old sensor, you will need to press the new sensor into position, then replace the bolt and electrical connection, and last, tighten the bolt according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. However, take care not to over-tighten the bolt, as doing so might potentially cause the sensor’s mounting ear to get damaged.
• After you have finished replacing the camshaft sensor, you need to see whether the engine light of your car is still illuminated.

What is Next After Replacing a Camshaft Sensor?

After you have completed the process of replacing the sensor, you will then have the option of either reprogramming it or not doing so at all.

When Not to Re-Program

The Electronic Control Module (ECM) will decide the correct timing to fire the ignition and injection based on the information provided by both your new camshaft sensor and your old crankshaft sensor.

It will further investigate the amount of time that elapses between the module and the sensor, and it will compare that information to the data table that is already there in order to determine the appropriate time gap that exists between the pulse separations.

When the reading is accurate, the sensor does not need any programming since it is already set to the ideal value. If you still receive error codes after replacing the camshaft sensor, there is nothing wrong with the camshaft sensor itself. Check for any wiring or connecting problems, fix them, and then see if you still get error codes.

When to Re-Program

Depending on the quality of the installation service provided by the expert and the manufacturer, the sensor may need to relearn certain things due to the variance in installation.

This will cause the information that was previously kept by the data table to be reset, and as a result, the ECM will need to learn what the signals from the new sensors indicate. In this scenario, the sensor requires reprogramming to function properly.

Should you decide against doing so, you run the risk of receiving error codes, and in the long run, your engine will perform badly due to the overall power condition being low.

Therefore, the closest auto dealership would be the ideal location for your sensor to undergo re-learning and re-programming.

Final Words

You are aware of the sensor, you are aware of when it should be changed, and you have paid the costs associated with having the sensor replaced. After you have finished replacing the camshaft sensor, what steps do you plan to do next?

You now know from reading this post that you have the option of programming it or not. Reprogramming is necessary, however, if there has been a change in the services provided that has intrinsically altered the signals that are sent from the sensors to be received by the PCM.

You should always choose the one that will restore the regular running of your engine. This is the most important consideration