Cam position sensor

**Bigsi15** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 01:03

Hi guys
Thinking I was being clever when I disassembled my donor engine I took pics of the cam position sensor and rotor arm in situe on the cam shafts. I didn't however take pictures of the position of the cam shafts themselves. Does it matter what position the cam shafts are in as to the position of these sensors or can they just be bolted on in any position and theyl work correctly??

Thanks guys

**Tim Williams** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 08:13

A photo of a part bolted to a part that's bolted to a cam that's not secured isn't really good enough to time cam up. you should remove the parts and use a cam locking tool that can cheaply be bought from ebay. With the cam locking tool inserted you can easily slacken the cam pulley bolts so that you can do it correctly.Once the belt is on and tensioned you can then tighten the cam pulley bolts back up.

Using the marks on the pulleys and the plastic cover isn't timing the cams but only timing the pulley. Think of it like balancing a wheel and then fitting the tire...

**MoleT-5R** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 09:43

Originally Posted by Tim Williams

Using the marks on the pulleys and the plastic cover isn't timing the cams but only timing the pulley. Think of it like balancing a wheel and then fitting the tire...

that is a very good point Tim, I do like the example as I've never thought of it like that.

**Bigsi15** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 14:41

Thanks for your reply Tim. When I did the timing (and cam gears) I did lock them with the tool like you say and it seems to have all gone back on fine and timed up ok. Turns over by hand no problems etc. The bit I'm not sure about here is that when I removed the sensors having taken pictures of Their relative positions I'm not sure what position the camshaft were in. For example I can't remember if I lined the cams/engine up with the timing marks first (with the timing belt still on) then took pics and removed the sensors, or whether the engine was in a random position when they were removed.

What I'm wondering now is do the sensors have to be put on when the cams are in a certain position in the timing cycle or can they just be bolted on at any position and they will work ok from there??

Thanks again guys

**Bigsi15** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 15:02

maybe some pics will help

these are the pictures i took to show the positions on these sensors. The problem however is that i cant remember what position the camshafts were in (lined up with timing marks or not etc) so matching these positions now is possibly pointless.

can they just be bolted on and the ecu sorts the rest or must they be in a certain position in relation to the position the camshafts are in?

thanks guys

**Tim Williams** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 20:42

The cam orentation isn't important for when the sensor is fitted as it is used as a reference to the crank BUT both cams must be aligned correctly BEFORE bolting the can cover down. Do not bolt the cam cover down until the crank is set correctly and both cams are locked off. Doing it any other way is very silly.

Guessing the cam timing and thinking it has been checked as "fine" just by turning the engine over by hand is not good enough.

**Bigsi15** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 21:49

Thanks Tim.
When I did my cam installation I locked the cams using the tool so the slots were horizontal and having labelled the shafts for the intake and exhaust. I then put the crankshaft pulley so it lined up with the mark on the oil pump and then laid the cams in and slowly tightened the cam cover down to the desired torque. I have then checked the orientation of the cams (slots horizontal) and that the cam pullies lined up with the marks on the plastic cover then put the belt on. Hand cranking since has been free. I'm guessing tightening the cover with the cams not locked or the crank in the wrong place will cause damage to the valves similar to going out of time or making setting the timing very hard.

Is this the process you are describing roughly?

It is good to hear that once all assembled it doesn't matter what position the shafts are in when the sensor/rotor arm is put on that is very helpful to know as this is what I was wondering about mainly, thank you

Thanks again for clarifying this

**Bigsi15** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 22:03

Iv basically followed the steps in this guide
http://www.tracystruesoaps.com/tutorials/850hg/p5.html
and Haynes and all the helpful people on here

**Tim Williams** · Tuesday 5th April 2016, 23:42

Originally Posted by Bigsi15

Thanks Tim.
When I did my cam installation I locked the cams using the tool so the slots were horizontal and having labelled the shafts for the intake and exhaust. I then put the crankshaft pulley so it lined up with the mark on the oil pump and then laid the cams in and slowly tightened the cam cover down to the desired torque. I have then checked the orientation of the cams (slots horizontal) and that the cam pullies lined up with the marks on the plastic cover then put the belt on. Hand cranking since has been free. I'm guessing tightening the cover with the cams not locked or the crank in the wrong place will cause damage to the valves similar to going out of time or making setting the timing very hard.

Is this the process you are describing roughly?

It is good to hear that once all assembled it doesn't matter what position the shafts are in when the sensor/rotor arm is put on that is very helpful to know as this is what I was wondering about mainly, thank you

Thanks again for clarifying this

Yes that's correct, sorry for being so blunt but if it's not followed chances are you will bend valves.