Who To Call In Decatur To Replace A Camshaft Position Sensor In Volvo
The camshaft position sensor is one of many electrical components on your Volvo. This component is necessary for the optimal performance of your vehicle. Let’s explore what this sensor does and some common symptoms of a faulty sensor.
What is a camshaft?
The camshaft is located under the engine. This part will rotate along with the crankshaft of your vehicle. The service performed by the camshaft involves the mixture of fuel and air entering the cylinders as well as the gases released from them. The camshaft is attached to protruding oblong lobes for each of the valves. These lobes apply pressure to the valves, forcing them to open as they rotate.
What is a camshaft position sensor?
The camshaft position sensor actually monitors how well the camshaft is rotating and specifically targets the timing of the opening and closing of the valves. Most camshaft sensors can be found slightly above the camshaft on a notched ring.
Most camshaft sensors use a magnet or a varied AC electronic signal along with the crankshaft position sensor to tell the compression stroke when it reaches top dead center (TDC). This data is then used to fine-tune your injector pulse and spark timing.
The Symptoms of a Faulty Camshaft Position Sensor
One of the first symptoms you will likely see with a bad camshaft position sensor is that the check engine light in your dashboard will come on. However, just seeing the check engine light does not necessarily mean that the issue is the camshaft position sensor, and could actually mean any number of issues with your vehicle.
To be on the safe side, you will want to determine exactly why the light illuminated. You can check this yourself if you have access to an OBD2 scan tool, which is designed to read out and specific trouble codes in your vehicle. If you don’t have access to this tool, then take your car to a reputable service center so they can pinpoint exactly where the issue is.
Don’t ignore a check engine light for too long, as this could indicate a serious issue that could end up being costly to repair or even present safety concerns.
Car Won’t Start or Dies
If a camshaft position sensor is left unfixed for too long, it can lead to serious problems with your vehicle. As the camshaft position sensor grows weaker, the signal it is designed to transmit to your vehicle’s ECM will also grow weaker. After enough time has passed the signal will eventually become so weak that it cuts the power to your engine. When this happens you may find that you cannot start your vehicle.
Car Surging or Jerking
A failing camshaft position sensor can make your driving time very unpredictable. When everything is as it should be, your vehicle will run smoothly, whether you are idling or accelerating. If the camshaft position sensor is going out you may notice a slight jerk from the engine or a random surge forward. Both of these can make your driving experience uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.
Engine Stalling
Just as a bad camshaft position sensor can lead to your engine not starting, it could also potentially lead to your engine stalling while you’re driving down the road. If this happens, the power may intermittently be returned to your engine so that you can safely get to where you need to be or it could stall completely, leaving you parked on the side of the road.
Shifting Issues
In some vehicles, a faulty camshaft position sensor could leave you with a transmission that is locked into a single gear. If this happens, the only recommendation to get out of the stuck gear is to try turning off your engine and then restarting it. This should be considered a very temporary fix to a serious issue that needs to be inspected by a trusted mechanic right away.
Bad Fuel Mileage
Worsening fuel mileage is another symptom of a bad camshaft position sensor. If the sensor is allowing more fuel than necessary to be injected into the engine, this can definitely cause your fuel economy to decrease.
Call Munich West in Decatur to Replace a Camshaft Position Sensor
If you need to have your camshaft position sensor 
inspected or repaired and you live in the Decatur or Atlanta, GA area, you can trust your Volvo to the licensed mechanics at Munich West.
