[Shotimes] cam position sensor

[clubairth@bellsouth.net]

Doug:
 As you have been told it's probably the cam sensor seal leaking. Not the 
CPS. Very cheap and quick to change!! If you have a oil leak, this is the 
one to have! Before you take anything apart verify that the cam sensor seal 
is leaking. Put you hand under the cam sensor and wipe it all clean. You 
will have a bunch of dirt covering up where the oil is coming from. I use a 
small mirror to see if it's leaking. Be aware that it is possible that the 
rear valve cover was not installed correctly and your oil leak is from that. 
It's pretty difficult to hold the wire harness out of the way and not smear 
the RTV in the corners when installing the rear valve cover. I recommend a 
second set of hands or what I do. I use a rubber bungee strap to put a bind 
on the wire harness and pull it back as far as possible without damage. It 
really helps the access a bunch! Do NOT follow the shop manual when changing 
the CID! Or you will be removing motor mounts and jacking the engine up. 
It's all repairable with very little disassembly. It's tight and pulling the 
seal is a bit tough but a bunch bettter than removing motor mounts and the 
like!

 The Cam sensor can definitely cause strange idle and starting problems. 
Have you run the codes? Sometimes the CID will set a code but not turn on 
the check engine light? The sensor and seal both together are under about 
$60 so maybe just replace both of them and be done with it?
 If you need part numbers let the list know.
.
.



> hi all
>
> It's been a while since I've been on here.  I haven't been able to give 
> the
> SHO much love lately, but I had a shocking revelation today.  A few months
> ago I replaced my valve cover seals and plug wires, but have still had
> problems with the car idling rough.  Occasionally when the car was warming
> up, enough oil would leak down onto my cat and give the car smoke effects.
> Today I was driving home and noticed the oil smell was slightly back while 
> I
> was sitting at an intersection.  I drove the remaining couple of miles to 
> my
> house and popped the hood.  I got my flashlight and shined it down the
> accessory side of the motor because that is where smoke usually comes up. 
> I
> did not see smoke, but oh to my wondrous eyes I did see a wet spot.  I
> followed the wet spot down the back side of the motor to the cat area and
> back up to something on the accessory side to what I thought to be the 
> CPS.
> It's a small round black sensor, and there seems to be oil somewhere 
> around
> where it meets the motor.  I did a little research online and read that a
> bad CPS can lead to the car computer firing random cylinders causing a 
> rough
> idle.  Could this be my problem.  I have 179k on the car and it's the
> original CPS.  Should I just replace it anyway? If that is what's causing 
> my
> rough idle and my weird acceleration that would be great.  Anybody had 
> this
> problem?
>
> Doug
> 05 mtx money pit - new valve cover seals, DIS, plugs, plug wires, vaccuum
> hoses, clutch, tranny, motor mounts....the list goes on and on and on