Cam angle sensor failed?

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mx5lover
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Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby mx5lover » Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:03 pm

Hi guys
I checked the timing on my car today, and found that when the car is at idle
the indicator point is moving up and down instead of sit stationary,
does this shows my cam angle sensor is failed?
BTW, my car is na6
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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby sailaholic » Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:57 pm

Nope that's normal unless you had your timing locked using ground 10. Might also happen if your idle is poor? Try bring the revs up a bit and see if it steadies out.

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby mx5lover » Sun Sep 22, 2013 9:10 pm

sailaholic wrote:Nope that's normal unless you had your timing locked using ground 10. Might also happen if your idle is poor? Try bring the revs up a bit and see if it steadies out.

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My car has idle problem and timing is set at 10, did try a slow revs and it stay steady.
Is there anyway to tell the cam angle sensor is good or bad?

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby sailaholic » Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:30 am

So you grounded the number 10 pin in the diagnostic box?

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby JBT » Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:58 am

It's not the number 10 pin - it's the TEN (test engine) pin.

If the CAS was not working the engine would not start.
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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby sailaholic » Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:15 am

JBT wrote:It's not the number 10 pin - it's the TEN (test engine) pin.

If the CAS was not working the engine would not start.


Thanks for the correction, I've never actually used the stock computer.

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby JBT » Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:48 am

I'm not very familiar with aftermarket or piggy back computers. Do they by-pass the diagnostics connector (where the pins under discussion are) and render it superfluous?
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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby sailaholic » Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:04 am

Most standalone ones would I would think. But when you open the software they have a setting to lock timing at a set value

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby mx5lover » Mon Sep 23, 2013 4:28 pm

I did bridge the TEN-Ground in the diagnostic box.
Is that possible the cam angle sensor is not working right
at idle?

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby hks_kansei » Mon Sep 23, 2013 4:49 pm

Most cars I've set timing on have had the mark move slightly.

Normally it's just a degree or so either way.



No idea why they do, but I wouldn't be jumping out and replacing parts just for that.
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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby JBT » Mon Sep 23, 2013 5:02 pm

mx5lover wrote:I did bridge the TEN-Ground in the diagnostic box.
Is that possible the cam angle sensor is not working right
at idle?

Was the idle speed steady?
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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby mx5lover » Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:27 pm

JBT wrote:
mx5lover wrote:I did bridge the TEN-Ground in the diagnostic box.
Is that possible the cam angle sensor is not working right
at idle?

Was the idle speed steady?


No, It moving up and down a little bit.

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby NitroDann » Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:30 pm

The timing marks when viewed with a timing light will never be dead still this is caused by the cam belt stretching.

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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby JBT » Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:55 pm

mx5lover wrote:
JBT wrote:
mx5lover wrote:I did bridge the TEN-Ground in the diagnostic box.
Is that possible the cam angle sensor is not working right
at idle?

Was the idle speed steady?


No, It moving up and down a little bit.

Maybe you need to set the base idle speed first so that it's steady and then try with the timing light again.
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Re: Cam angle sensor failed?

Postby mx5lover » Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:55 pm

JBT wrote:
mx5lover wrote:
JBT wrote:
mx5lover wrote:I did bridge the TEN-Ground in the diagnostic box.
Is that possible the cam angle sensor is not working right
at idle?

Was the idle speed steady?


No, It moving up and down a little bit.

Maybe you need to set the base idle speed first so that it's steady and then try with the timing light again.


This is have done a week ago, I don't think is the base idle speed problem.
Since I replaced the engine, then my car had the idle problem.
I did replace the coil pack,TB and also O2 sensor, but problem still there.
I will try to make a video this week to show how my idle sits.


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