Vectra - Camshaft Sensor fault ??

[Martin]

Hi,

Can anyone help my old 1996 Vectra 1.8i GLS, please?

The car has been - and still is - running fine (145k miles). But yesterday,
the Engine Mgt light came on and stayed on.

So I pulled the code (there was only one) with a paperclip (thanks to those
who've previously posted how to do this).

The Code = 0340 which says "camshaft sensor". Can anyone tell me what this
sensor does? And does the code mean the sensor has failed or the camshaft
itself is failing? What should I do next?

BTW, I've read that it's better to pull codes with engine running but, when
I try that, the EM light remains on, so I've had to pull code with the
ignition on but engine off. Is that correct?

TIA for any help

 

[mikeFNB]

Hi,

Can anyone help my old 1996 Vectra 1.8i GLS, please?

The car has been - and still is - running fine (145k miles). But yesterday,
the Engine Mgt light came on and stayed on.

So I pulled the code (there was only one) with a paperclip (thanks to those
who've previously posted how to do this).

The Code = 0340 which says "camshaft sensor". Can anyone tell me what this
sensor does? And does the code mean the sensor has failed or the camshaft
itself is failing? What should I do next?

check the connection wires to the sensor, they are notorious for failing on
the crimp join.also as the car is rather old (but wise) it will have had
work done around where the wire to the seensor run, check it has not been
rubbing somewhere.

the cam sensor checks....yes you've guessed it that the cam is rotating & at
what point in the rotation it is at.

if the sensor fails, (i'm suprised yours has not to date) then the car will
not start.

if all of the above are ok, then time to delve a bit deeper.

BTW, I've read that it's better to pull codes with engine running but, when
I try that, the EM light remains on, so I've had to pull code with the
ignition on but engine off. Is that correct?

correct.

mike

 

[Martin]

check the connection wires to the sensor, they are notorious for failing
on
the crimp join.also as the car is rather old (but wise)

Hee hee - but not what I'm calling it at the moment. And it's not wise
enough to avoid going wrong, alas.

it will have had
work done around where the wire to the seensor run, check it has not been
rubbing somewhere.

the cam sensor checks....yes you've guessed it that the cam is rotating &
at
what point in the rotation it is at.

if the sensor fails, (i'm suprised yours has not to date) then the car
will
not start.

Thanks very much, Mike. Haven't had a chance to look yet - but the EM light
has been off for about half the trips today.

Couple more things, if I may...

1) why is the car still working if it's only getting an intermittent signal
from the sensor? Could this mean the sensor and its wiring is OK, but the
"is the sensor working ok?" monitoring thing is faulty?

2) if and when I get it sorted, I guess I'll need to reset the code memory
thingy. The website says turn ignition on and off 30 times to do this.
Wow - is that correct?

Thanks again

 

[mikeFNB]

Couple more things, if I may...

1) why is the car still working if it's only getting an intermittent signal
from the sensor? Could this mean the sensor and its wiring is OK, but the
"is the sensor working ok?" monitoring thing is faulty?

i would doubt the ECU is playing up on 'one' thing only.
as the sensor, by nature, produces a pulse signal, i would conclude that it
is perhaps a mild intermittency somewhere that is being caused, so the ecu
will see that but it might not affect the running.

if you look back on this group (don't ask how long though!) this subject has
been covered before several times with people suffering cam sensor problems
or non-starters.

2) if and when I get it sorted, I guess I'll need to reset the code memory
thingy. The website says turn ignition on and off 30 times to do this.
Wow - is that correct?

i wouldn't think you will need to reset it, it should manage it itself.
as you say the light is going on/off that part appears to work! HI

mike

 

[Martin]

i would doubt the ECU is playing up on 'one' thing only.
as the sensor, by nature, produces a pulse signal, i would conclude that
it
is perhaps a mild intermittency somewhere that is being caused, so the
ecu
will see that but it might not affect the running.

if you look back on this group (don't ask how long though!) this subject
has
been covered before several times with people suffering cam sensor
problems
or non-starters.

i wouldn't think you will need to reset it, it should manage it itself.
as you say the light is going on/off that part appears to work! HI

mike

Thanks for your help, Mike. Have now looked back at earlier threads here,
and other forums (fora?!). Consensus seems to be engine runs after a
fashion in safe made - within 4,500 rev limit - which is what I seem to be
getting. Haven't had much chance to examine wiring etc yet... but will
a.s.a.p.