Symptoms of Bad Camshaft Position Sensor

Camshaft

A vehicle's camshaft position sensor (CMP) is merely one of the numerous electrical components. Without accurate data from the camshaft, the ECU will not be able to ignite the fuel mixture at the correct time or execute injection operations effectively, resulting in a range of issues in the car.

Here are symptoms of lousy camshaft error

  • Long Time to Start

Early indicators of a defective camshaft position sensor are a minor delay in starting the vehicle or increased crank time. As the camshaft position sensor wears out, it may transmit a delayed signal to the engine computer or cause a transmission breakdown, making the engine longer to start.

  • Limp Mode

When the engine control unit detects a false reading from one of the critical sensors, it may enter limp mode, a low-power state. The vehicle's gearbox becomes caught in a single gear or locks up when driving in this state, and although the car may still run, you won't feel any power from the engine.

  • Engine Misfires

One of the most common causes of misfires is an ignition mismatch. When the spark doesn't happen at the right moment, it generates an uncontrolled reaction in the combustion chamber, which makes strange sounds and causes significant internal damage.

  • The Engine Won’t start

Another significant warning sign is if you are having trouble starting your car. When you try to start your car, the crankshaft position sensor instantly starts measuring the crankshaft's position and speed. If this sensor has a malfunction, it may stop performing this function, and the engine may fail to start as a consequence.

  • Engine Stalling

Worse than not starting your automobile is having your engine shut down or stall while driving because the fuel injectors aren't being commanded to feed gasoline into the cylinders.

  • Uneven Acceleration

The ECU may not get the correct information due to a faulty camshaft sensor reading while driving. The defective camshaft sensor may irregularly relay a signal or sometimes deliver a bad reading. This results in an incorrect quantity of gasoline being injected and the timing it is ignited, resulting in poor acceleration and inconsistent throttle response.

  • Black Exhaust Smokes

Incorrect timings and durations for fuel injection may result in black smoke from the exhaust, in addition to rough idles and misfires. A bad camshaft sensor may cause unburned gasoline to leak into the exhaust, affecting not just fuel efficiency but also producing unsettling black smoke from the tailpipe.

  • Poor Fuel Economy

This is the polar opposite of not giving the engine adequate gasoline. Because of an incorrect reading from a malfunctioning camshaft position sensor in this situation, more fuel is pumped into the engine than is required, lowering your fuel efficiency.

  • No Injector Pulse

One of the camshaft position sensor's primary functions is to control the quantity of gasoline that gets into each cylinder. The engine control unit uses the position of the camshaft to calculate the timing and duration of each fuel injection.

  • Check Engine Light 

Lastly, When the camshaft position sensor begins to fail, the Check Engine Light will illuminate. Because this light might appear for various causes, it is recommended to have your car evaluated by a specialist. The technician will scan the ECM and check what error codes are shown to identify the issue swiftly. Ignoring the Check Engine Light may result in catastrophic engine issues, including the engine failing.

The operation of a camshaft sensor is identical to that of a crankshaft sensor. In certain cars, the ECU may adjust for one or the other, but you should always be on the lookout for minor signals to prevent damaging your engine.


Comments