code 41 came shaft sensor

[Joshuabonnie]

Hey I just swapped out the cam shaft position sensor and notice on the old one that there was groves on the face of it. So I was wondering is that normal? I cleared the codes but it came back shortly after I started it, I know that the magnet could be missing but I did notice the wireing chafed so I am going to replace the pig tail before the magnet.

[myfirstbonnie]

It's easy to check for the magnet. Remove the sensor and rotate the engine by hand (socket and rachet on the crank bolt) and use a flashlight and mirror to see if it is there. I do not recommend replacing just the pigtail. The harness is a small section connecting at the fuel rail and only to the ICM, cam sensor and crank sensor.

[nickdalzell1]

sounds like a dropped magnet. marks on the sensor also indicate that along with a return of your code 41. i just ignored mine as there is absolutely nothing wrong with my car, gas mileage, drivability is all good. i can live with the constant SES light, done it before, countless times

[Joshuabonnie]

Hey thanks for the information, I am having some drivability issues though so I might replace the magnet. It seems to feel like its going to stall out at stop lights.

I don't understand why you would not replace the pigtail since the wires are bare? Couldnt that cause a ground out and bad input from the sensor

[nickdalzell1]

i think the issue re: pigtail is because the harness end for it may be easily disconnected from the main harness as opposed with dealing with butt connectors and quick connects. at least that was what i gathered from the post

[myfirstbonnie]

Yes, if you have bare wires, you will want to fix it. I was saying that replacing the harness takes a little work, but is not hard to do. It is more of a permanent fix and I think would actually be easier to do than to try to butt splice in that area.

Here is the connector on the fuel rail that starts that small section of harness:



Here you can see the harness runs from the ICM, around the water pump inlet and down to the crank where it splits to the crank sensor and cam sensor. This would require loosening the ICM bracket and removing the wheel and whell liner to get acess.



I think you will have more issues down the line if you try to repair that harness.

[Joshuabonnie]

Got it thanks I will have to look for the harness!

[myfirstbonnie]

I am sure Andrew could hook you up. Just shoot him a PM (harofreak00).

[packratjohn]

Hi folks. I had two 87s back when they were new, or almost new at least. Really liked those cars. Now I have a 92 for driving to work. Picked it up cheap. Too much rust to call it pretty, but gets me there in comfort. Heck, I'm rusty too.... I've been repairing small problems, but could use a hand on the code 41. I've read what I can and have no problem with minor mechanical. (I replace the rear brake lines which had been damaged by the rust) What does the cam shaft sensor do, exactly? (Other than sense cam shaft....) This is a 3.8 SE, by the way. Cruises fine, though mileage hovers around 20 (What are others getting?) Acceleration can be a bit rough, especially if in 4th and climbing a low hill, as if it's misfiring. Downshift and it's better. Replace the three front plugs, doing the others this afternoon. I welcome all feedback. Thanks for the cool Bonne club. Update, finished replacing plugs, "misfire" seems to be gone after 80 miles to work and back. Rough idle was smoothed out a bit by replacing a small piece of vacuum line that I noticed was rotted. I learn as I go. Fairly large compartment, easy to work around the engine.

[Joshuabonnie]

Packratjohn

My understanding is that it tells the ecc when top dead center is. So essentially it helps with the timing, I am hoping when I do the rewire it will get ride of the rough ideal. As far as transmission goes there is a sensor I have read about that a lot people change.

Josh

[impala67]

been there do ne that.
The ecc quesses the timing if cam sensor is broken. Ao once and while car runs quite nicely, which can be confusing. But main problem is bad mileage, when did the job prorpely, i gained appr. 2extra milesa to my mileage... Or more. In europe: it was 14 liters on 100km, after fix 11.5 or so. I trust only fuull fill ups and driven distance.
There is eazy fix to it, if you can glue magnet thru that peep hole. There is howto done for it.
Thanks to this forum i am really confident on my driver buick. Thanks ya all!

[Wes]

The cam sensor controls the timing pulses for the injectors; to the correct cylinder pair. In a 92 when you have code 41, the pcm will go to a default setting that is supposed to be correct 1 out of every 6 pulses. FWIW, I had a code in my 92 park ave for months, maybe years and the performance and gas mileage was not noticeably skewed. I remember a trip up north still making 24 mpg with out the magnet. I think the older pcms were not as efficient as an obd2, but also less finnicky when it comes to information sensors.

[packratjohn]

Update on Code 41. Finally got around to replacing the interupter magnet on the cam sensor. Mileage went from 17-18 to 24-25. I drive mostly highway, so that's probably as high as it'll go, but I'm very happy with that. And, no codes, none at all. Been a month now.
Replaced plugs, then plug wires, and all misfiring is gone, runs really smooth now. Oil change, air filter, etc., all have helped, but nothing like that simple $11 magnet. Now if I can just learn a bit about body work.....
Funny thing, rear view mirror fell off last week on a very hot day. Two packets of repair kit didn't work, gave up and used a very small amount of JB Weld.