Car Help!

[Guest Philosophy]

I got P0340 OBD Trouble Code. Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction
 

 

What is my best plan of action? 

 

@techswede @AlwaysFSX

[Moetrain]

make/model/year?

what did google say?

[Guest Philosophy]

make/model/year?

what did google say?

1995 Mustang 

 

Google said alternator. So I got it figured out.. I think. 

[AlwaysFSX]

Does your engine run weird or is it smooth?

[Guest Philosophy]

Does your engine run weird or is it smooth?

Runs smooth. Seems to have plenty of power also. 

[terrytek]

Some cars have a camshaft position sensor. they just tell you if the camshaft is running. it might have gone bad.

[AlwaysFSX]

Runs smooth. Seems to have plenty of power also. 

Okay.

 

Some cars have a camshaft position sensor. they just tell you if the camshaft is running. it might have gone bad.

Or it could be the wiring, go get that checked out @

[Guest Philosophy]

Some cars have a camshaft position sensor. they just tell you if the camshaft is running. it might have gone bad.

 

 

Okay.

 

Or it could be the wiring, go get that checked out @

I done some reading and it seems the alternator is a SUPER common cause of this light. I can get an alternator for $40 bucks and it would be an easy cheap fix if that is all it was. 

[AlwaysFSX]

I done some reading and it seems the alternator is a SUPER common cause of this light. I can get an alternator for $40 bucks and it would be an easy cheap fix if that is all it was. 

I would still get it checked out to see if it might be any of the wiring for the sensor or the sensor itself before putting any money in to a repair.

[Guest Philosophy]

I would still get it checked out to see if it might be any of the wiring for the sensor or the sensor itself before putting any money in to a repair.

See it would be 195+ dollars to do that, that is why I am hesitant. Where is I can fix it for $40, then I have saved myself nearly 200 bucks. 

[AlwaysFSX]

See it would be 195+ dollars to do that, that is why I am hesitant. Where is I can fix it for $40, then I have saved myself nearly 200 bucks. 

Nah? All you have to do is look if any of the wires are damaged or grounding on anything. Plus if the alternator is fine you're down $40 and still have something else to replace.

[Guest Philosophy]

Nah? All you have to do is look if any of the wires are damaged or grounding on anything. Plus if the alternator is fine you're down $40 and still have something else to replace.

I am troubleshooting as we speak. It is nothing major. I am not misfiring or backfiring. I know it is not a cam shaft or fuel injection problem. So it is:  missing ground, an alternator, bad computer or bad sensor. 

The light comes on about every 50 miles, if I reset it, it will come on in about 150 miles. 

[AlwaysFSX]

I am troubleshooting as we speak. It is nothing major. I am not misfiring or backfiring. I know it is not a cam shaft or fuel injection problem. So it is:  missing ground, an alternator, bad computer or bad sensor. 

The light comes on about every 50 miles, if I reset it, it will come on in about 150 miles. 

Update me on anything you find out?

[vetali]

Do you have a multimeter?

[Guest Philosophy]

Update me on anything you find out?

It has to be the computer. I drove it to try and diagnose it and boom the check engine light goes away. So I drive it 50 more miles never comes back on. 

[Guest Philosophy]

Do you have a multimeter?

I do not

[vetali]

It has to be the computer. I drove it to try and diagnose it and boom the check engine light goes away. So I drive it 50 more miles never comes back on. 

No not really... intermittent issues can turn off the light because it doesn't find a fault in another monitor cycle. Those codes are still stored as a history code. 

 

If I had to guess, probably sensor. Heat can cause sensors like that to work fine until they get a certain temperature. Alternator is possible... hard to check without a multimeter but you can just turn on everything electrical (blower motor max, rear defroster, wipers, headlights) and see if it comes back on or even stumbles. I was actually working on an 06 F-150 that had a cam sensor code and their diagnostic tree said to test the alternator for leaking AC voltage. 

[Guest Philosophy]

No not really... intermittent issues can turn off the light because it doesn't find a fault in another monitor cycle. Those codes are still stored as a history code. 

 

If I had to guess, probably sensor. Heat can cause sensors like that to work fine until they get a certain temperature. Alternator is possible... hard to check without a multimeter but you can just turn on everything electrical (blower motor max, rear defroster, wipers, headlights) and see if it comes back on or even stumbles. I was actually working on an 06 F-150 that had a cam sensor code and their diagnostic tree said to test the alternator for leaking AC voltage. 

What makes me think it is the computer is that it is spitting a different unrelated code each time. I have gotten a Transmission code, a crankshaft code, a "void" code etc. None of which are having any issues. I looked and nothing is mechanically wrong with the car 

[vetali]

What makes me think it is the computer is that it is spitting a different unrelated code each time. I have gotten a Transmission code, a crankshaft code, a "void" code etc. None of which are having any issues. I looked and nothing is mechanically wrong with the car 

Well you only stated you have a cam sensor code originally... 

[Guest Philosophy]

Well you only stated you have a cam sensor code originally... 

I know, I just got back in from tested when I updated it.

[Speedyv]

Car problems...

Typical 90's American car

It's the truth though