Camshaft Position Sensor: Description and Operation
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORDESCRIPTION
Cam Sensor/EGR Valve/PCV Valve:
Cam Sensor Location 2.7L:
The camshaft position sensor for the 4 cylinder engine is mounted on the end of the cylinder head or the front of the cylinder head on 2.7L.
OPERATION
The CMP sensor contains a hall effect device that provides cylinder identification to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The sensor generates pulses as groups of notches on the camshaft sprocket or camshaft target magnet pass underneath it. The PCM keeps track of crankshaft rotation and identifies each cylinder by the pulses generated by the notches on the camshaft sprocket.
When metal aligns with the sensor, voltage goes low (less than 0.3 volts). When a notch aligns with the sensor, voltage spikes high (5.0 volts). As a group of notches pass under the sensor, the voltage switches from low (metal) to high (notch) then back to low. The number of notches determine the amount of pulses. If available, an oscilloscope or DRBIII(R) PEP Module can display the square wave patterns of each timing event.