Cam hitting cam position sensor?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 164
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From: Prescott AZ
Cam hitting cam position sensor?
About 3 weeks ago, I replaced a bad cam position sensor in my 05 6M C6. When I pulled the old one out, it looked like this:
You can see that it's got a groove cut in the face of the sensor, by the camshaft, I presume...??
Obviously, it made me go hmmmm... but not having any other real options at the moment, I installed the new sensor, got it re-learned at the local stealership, and all was good.... except, I'm getting a 'ticking' noise, which I assume is the camshaft cutting the same groove in the new sensor...
Did I get the wrong part... are there different sensors for an LS2?
What else could be going wrong in there?
I'm pretty experienced at doing my own mechanical work, but this is the first LS powered car I've worked on, so the internals of the motor are new to me.
Any ideas?
You can see that it's got a groove cut in the face of the sensor, by the camshaft, I presume...??
Obviously, it made me go hmmmm... but not having any other real options at the moment, I installed the new sensor, got it re-learned at the local stealership, and all was good.... except, I'm getting a 'ticking' noise, which I assume is the camshaft cutting the same groove in the new sensor...
Did I get the wrong part... are there different sensors for an LS2?
What else could be going wrong in there?
I'm pretty experienced at doing my own mechanical work, but this is the first LS powered car I've worked on, so the internals of the motor are new to me.
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
I bought the car in May with 50k miles, and I bought it at a dealer, so I don't know it's history. It has a cat-back exhaust, but sounds like a stock cam... If it's not stock, it's very mild.
The thrust plate is in the front...?
The thrust plate is in the front...?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 102
Likes: 15
From: ocala fl
yes its held on with 4 t30 bolts that's about all i can think of that would allow the cam to walk forward enough to cause the cam sensor to come into contact with the cam gear . unless the cover is warped but I haven't seen that happen before on a LS engine
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
if the trust plate was that loose youd probably have low oil pressure or it would fluctuate, could be loose cam bolt. Id pull the sensor back out and stick a magnet on the cam gear and pull/push it to see if theres any movement
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
I pulled the new Cam Position Sensor this morning, and it looks worse than the old one...
Looks like I'm going to be tearing into the front of the motor...
BTW, whoever designed the bracket for the power steering fluid reservoir needs to die. Seriously. WTF. The first time I took it off it took almost two hours to fiddle f**k around with it to get the hoses off and get it loose. Fortunately I had the foresight to slot the outboard bolt hole on the bracket to make removal a 5 minute process this time. Is that really beyond the thinking of factory engineers??
If you ever have this thing off, take a dremel to it and just cut it so you can slide it over the bolt without having to remove it. Trust me, it will save you lots of headaches and cussing...
Looks like I'm going to be tearing into the front of the motor...
BTW, whoever designed the bracket for the power steering fluid reservoir needs to die. Seriously. WTF. The first time I took it off it took almost two hours to fiddle f**k around with it to get the hoses off and get it loose. Fortunately I had the foresight to slot the outboard bolt hole on the bracket to make removal a 5 minute process this time. Is that really beyond the thinking of factory engineers??
If you ever have this thing off, take a dremel to it and just cut it so you can slide it over the bolt without having to remove it. Trust me, it will save you lots of headaches and cussing...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
Trust me, the thought has crossed my mind... 
Problem is then it needs to be tuned, and if it's getting tuned, it really needs a CAI, and, and.... LOL
I'm just hoping I don't have a major problem hiding in there. There's no noises other than the tick of whatever is hitting the CPS, so I'm hopeful. It will probably be the weekend before I really have time to tear into it.
Problem is then it needs to be tuned, and if it's getting tuned, it really needs a CAI, and, and.... LOL
I'm just hoping I don't have a major problem hiding in there. There's no noises other than the tick of whatever is hitting the CPS, so I'm hopeful. It will probably be the weekend before I really have time to tear into it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Dollars to donuts your cam bolts are backing out. The raised part of the cam gear that the sensor picks up on is contacting the sensor. It's pretty common. To get at the cam gear is a big job. I'd consider a cam upgrade while you're in there. I prefer to drop the front cradle to lower the steering rack out of the way to get the balancer off rather than disconnecting the rack and trying to wiggle it out of the way.
Also, if the cam is walking that much, I'd want to take a look at the cam lobes and lifter lobes. You can get a look at a few cam lobes by taking the intake manifold off but the only way to peek at the lifters is to yank the heads...
Also, if the cam is walking that much, I'd want to take a look at the cam lobes and lifter lobes. You can get a look at a few cam lobes by taking the intake manifold off but the only way to peek at the lifters is to yank the heads...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Prescott AZ
Thanks for the info.
I'm still researching exactly what's involved, and wasn't aware the rack was in the way of pulling the balancer. That should be fun.
I just cleaned out my vehicle 'mad money' fund buying suspension for my Bronco project, so it needs some time to refill... The costs involved in a new cam and tune would probably put it out of service for at least a month. It's my wife's DD, and though we have other vehicles, she wouldn't be happy about it...
I'd really just like to get it fixed and back on the road.
I did intend to put headers and cam in eventually, but I'd rather do upgrades on my terms so I can do it right, rather than be pressured by time and short term budget issues.
I'm still researching exactly what's involved, and wasn't aware the rack was in the way of pulling the balancer. That should be fun.
I just cleaned out my vehicle 'mad money' fund buying suspension for my Bronco project, so it needs some time to refill... The costs involved in a new cam and tune would probably put it out of service for at least a month. It's my wife's DD, and though we have other vehicles, she wouldn't be happy about it...
I'd really just like to get it fixed and back on the road.
I did intend to put headers and cam in eventually, but I'd rather do upgrades on my terms so I can do it right, rather than be pressured by time and short term budget issues.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Belton Tx
Dollars to donuts your cam bolts are backing out. The raised part of the cam gear that the sensor picks up on is contacting the sensor. It's pretty common. To get at the cam gear is a big job. I'd consider a cam upgrade while you're in there. I prefer to drop the front cradle to lower the steering rack out of the way to get the balancer off rather than disconnecting the rack and trying to wiggle it out of the way.
Also, if the cam is walking that much, I'd want to take a look at the cam lobes and lifter lobes. You can get a look at a few cam lobes by taking the intake manifold off but the only way to peek at the lifters is to yank the heads...
Also, if the cam is walking that much, I'd want to take a look at the cam lobes and lifter lobes. You can get a look at a few cam lobes by taking the intake manifold off but the only way to peek at the lifters is to yank the heads...