Camshaft Sensor: What It Is, What It Does, and How It Works?

Have you ever taken your car to shop and after listening to mechanic had no idea what he said?

This can be a fairly common experience if you don’t understand the rudimentary elements of how vehicles work.

Knowing a few basic facts about your car can go a long when you have to pay a mechanic. When first deciding whether or not you need to visit that mechanic.

When deciding which elements of your car should understand the camshaft and camshaft sensor should be on the list. They may not need to be the first things you learn about, but they should be in top 10.

The camshaft sensor plays a key role in the correct operating function of the camshaft that works to open. Close the intake and exhaust valves in the engine.

Cars and trucks come with a plethora of sensors that are in place to ensure smooth, fuel-efficient running. The camshaft sensor is one of those and is critical to the overall functioning of your vehicle, along with achieving the best possible fuel economy.

Also called a camshaft position sensor, this small piece of equipment acts as a communicator between the camshaft and the automobile’s onboard computer system (also known as the ECM).

The onboard computer system uses the data sent by the camshaft sensor and regulates spark timing and fuel injection.

The camshaft sensor is a part found in nearly all “modern” vehicles with a fuel injection system. 

The camshaft sensor keeps an eye on the exact position of the camshaft and then sends signals to the onboard computer system. The camshaft has a series of lobes that move up and down to open the intake and exhaust valves. These lobes are monitored by the camshaft sensor.

The sensor works to know exactly where each lobe is in the cycle of opening and closing the valves.

In addition to the camshaft sensor, the vehicle also needs the crankshaft sensor working alongside to ensure the engine operates correctly.

The camshaft sensor tends to be a small piece, so it can sometimes be difficult to find. Additionally, depending on the type of car or truck you have, the sensor can be in a few places. It is usually next to the engine block, behind the cylinder, or in the lifter valley. 

Having car problems while you’re driving down the road isn’t fun for anyone. And, you are most likely going to experience problems with the camshaft sensor while you are operating the car.

There are three primary ways you might know that your camshaft sensor is failing or has already failed. Pay close attention to all of these, because you will want to get your car to a professional fairly quickly. 

There are three main contributors to the malfunctioning or ultimate failure of the camshaft sensor. 

It’s funny to think about the fact that a part that is so small can have such a big impact on your car. If it fails completely, your car won’t work at all.

But, even if your car runs, if the camshaft sensor isn’t working right, the overall performance of your vehicle can really suffer. It’s critically important that you pay attention to the potential warning signs above and get any problems with your camshaft sensor repaired right away. 

If you do have a fully functioning camshaft sensor, you can look forward to your vehicle operating on all cylinders,” as the saying goes. You can look forward to the following:

Check out these videos on YouTube that have to do with either testing or replacing the camshaft sensor:

And, the next time you pay a visit to your mechanic, he or she will be pleased that you’ve done your research and can have an interactive discussion about the potential problems with your car.