Cam Shaft position sensor

[Brrrknstock]

Does anyone know what a cam shaft position sensor is? I wasn't sure where to put this thread so if it's the wrong place sorry. Anyway I have the little code book and the computer thingy that you plug in under your hood and it reads fault codes and resets service lights etc. So I was resetting my oil change light or something like that and I noticed a fault code came up, and it was cam shaft position sensor. My car runs fine so I don't know if my car can tell soon it's going to go bad or what, I just don't know what it is and if it is something MAJOR to fix. I would appreciate anything you guys might know!

[ZeroG]

Does anyone know what a cam shaft position sensor is? I wasn't sure where to put this thread so if it's the wrong place sorry. Anyway I have the little code book and the computer thingy that you plug in under your hood and it reads fault codes and resets service lights etc. So I was resetting my oil change light or something like that and I noticed a fault code came up, and it was cam shaft position sensor. My car runs fine so I don't know if my car can tell soon it's going to go bad or what, I just don't know what it is and if it is something MAJOR to fix. I would appreciate anything you guys might know!
It is located on the front of the crank case just above the thermostat housing.

-Chad

[cali-ti]

wow, a chick who was all under the hood with the computer reset thingy and stuff! ;) lol ...

ok, now that i'm done picking on you, what year is your ti? i'll find and post the diagram from the ETK to aid you in finding the sensor (and the part number). you should replace it before too long.

[bmwpwr]

Hey,

Check this post out. http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5019 I just went through the same problem. Its under the manifold. I was told its kind of a pain to get to. I didnt want to mess with it so I took it to the shop. It was a 180 buck job.

My car was fine at first but the got then got worse after a week to two weeks. I noticed some hesitation and lack of power. Good luck.

[Brrrknstock]

wow, a chick who was all under the hood with the computer reset thingy and stuff! ;) lol ...

Yep, I can even tie my own shoes too!! LOL I have a 97 TI and talk about upset...I went shopping yesterday with a friend and when we got back to her house I loaded all my purchases in my trunk and couldn't wait to get home. I got in my car and it wouldn't start!! And I thought man, I just posted that thread about the cam shaft sensor and now my car won't start! So I spent the night at her house on the damn couch and this morning my dad came over and was checking things out and it was just one of my battery connections that was not connected very well. So what a relief! I just thought for sure it was going to be that sensor.

[cali-ti]

ok, for those who replaced the cam shaft position sensor, which one of these diagrams has it? also, anyone who has replaced it on their m44, what's the part number?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CG73&mospid=47506&btnr=11_0156&hg=11&fg=10

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CG73&mospid=47506&btnr=11_2685&hg=11&fg=10

[Brrrknstock]

I have a 97 TI

I meant to type 1996 not 1997 :rolleyes:

[CirrusSR22]

I've done it, and it's the bottom link. Although PelicanParts.com lists the camshaft position sensor as 12 14 1 247 258. But, if you search the part number that RealOEM gives (12 14 1 743 072), Pelican gives you the correct part as well.

I'd give www.eap4parts.com a call. They don't have it listed on their website, but I'm sure they have it. They're usually the cheapest.

If you want to know what's involved in replacing it, let me know. :)

[cali-ti]

c'mon cirrus, list what's needed here for all posterity ;)

[CirrusSR22]

EDIT: I put it up on my website: http://www.geocities.com/threeiswee/cam.html

I'll try, it's been about a year though :biggrin: M44 engine BTW. Do at your own risk. I might have missed steps as well, but I think it's pretty complete.

The job isn't really hard, but it's sort of involved.

Parts:
Camshaft Sensor: #12 14 1 743 072
Intake Manifold Gasket(s): #11 61 1 247 478

Along with the new sensor, you'll need a new pair of gaskets that join the upper to the lower intake manifold. (See pic #1, part #11) There are actually two of them needed and I belive the part number will give you both. I think this is the case because I was surprised that there were two gaskets in the baggy from the dealer. Later to find out I actually needed two.
------------------------------------------------------

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable

2. Unplug electrical connector on throttle position sensor (Pic #2, Part #2)

3. Unplug electrical connector on idle air control valve (Pic #2, Part #9)

4. Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the small vacuum hose running from the fuel pressure regulator, to the upper intake manifold.

5. Unscrew throttle cable cover (Pic #2, Part #8

6. Disconnect throttle cable.

* Note, my car does not have ASC+T, or cruise control, if yours does, you might have to unhook and extra throttle cable or something :)

7. Unscrew main intake hose from throttle body

* You might want to clean the area where the two intake halves meet, so dirt/debris doesn't fall into your intake. Compressed air would work great.

8. Unscrew nuts/bolts holding upper to lower intake manifold halves. (Pic #1) There might be an extra brackets somewhere holding the upper half.

9. Pull the upper half away, I believe there is a vacuum hose still attached to something, so just let it bend a bit and set the upper half somewhere out of the way. Actually I think it's attached to the crank case vent valve (Pic #3, Part #16)

*Note, doing this caused the large vacuum hose running from the valve cover, to the crankcase vent valve (Pic #3, Part #13) to break. It was already very brittle, so I had to buy another

*Look at Pic #1 and you can see how there are layers in-between the two halves. It goes: upper half, gasket, flange (Pics #1, Part #12), gasket, lower half.

10. Gently stuff some clean rags into lower intake manifold openings, to prevent debris from falling into the intake manifold.

11. You should now have access to the plug on the old camshaft sensor. Unplug it, then unsrew the old sensor from the block.

12. Coat the o-ring on the new senor with some engine oil, then rebolt it into the block. Torque?? Do it very lightly. Plug in the new sensor.

Installation is reverse, of course.
* REMOVE RAGS that you stuffed into the intake manifold!
* Be cautious when bolting the two manifold halves back together because you are screwing into aluminium. I don't know the BMW torque values.
* Replace manifold gaskets.
* If your car runs very roughly when you're done (like mine did) you probably tore a vacuum hose (like I did) :biggrin:

IIRC, the check engine light shut itself off when I started the car.

PICTURE#1
http://www.geocities.com/threeiswee/Picture1.jpg
PICTURE#2
http://www.geocities.com/threeiswee/Picture2.jpg
PICTURE#3
http://www.geocities.com/threeiswee/Picture3.jpg

[cali-ti]

thanks man, that'll be very helpful to anyone who has to do the job. i had the damn sensor go under warranty, but that was a loooooooooong time ago ;)

[jtkratzer]

similar problem as described above, occasional hesitation when accelerating from a standstill, almost like a stutter. however, the car was in for inspection about 6 months ago...the car being a 98 M44 with 127,000 miles, and the shop calls, says they replaced the camshaft position sensor. they ran the tests again and got the same fault code. in PA, apparently with 3 failed tests, and $150 bucks spent on parts and labor, they can write a waiver and it's good to go then. but if i'm having a problem, i want it fixed. this stuttering started recently, within the last few weeks. oil change, spark plugs, and air filter were all changed within the last 300 - 500 miles. new oem exhaust and o2 sensor changed around dec 05 jan 06. any suggestions?

[L84THSKY]

My CEL came on last week. The cam positioner sensor is the culprit. Taking the car in for replacement, while my dealer warranty is still valid.

thanks man, that'll be very helpful to anyone who has to do the job. i had the damn sensor go under warranty, but that was a loooooooooong time ago ;)

[L84THSKY]

Brought the car in for warranty work. Three things:

1. Cam position sensor bad
2. Passenger door lock problems
3. Broken support frame for window actuator

They fixed items 1 & 2 under warranty, the third is a $15.00 part, that I will replace.

Checkout the bill, didn't pay a dime. I also got a Q35I Infinity for a loaner. The reason I got the Infinity is because I got the after market warranty from the Infinity dealer. The sister dealership next door is the BMW dealership. If I have to get any more warranty work, I'm gonna see if I can get a loaner from the BMW dealership.

http://www.geocities.com/l84thsky/warranty1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/l84thsky/warranty.jpg

[theinfiniteface]

I just replaced mine this weekend. It took me 15 minutes.

[brad]

Has anyone just cut the wire and spliced in the new sensor? Seems easier than taking off the entire intake manifold just to remove and plug in the new connector.