Camshaft Position Synchronizer Replacement

2003 Ford Taurus 3.0L Vulcan 181K miles with chirping sound coming from driver's side of engine

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CMP
• camshaft
• position
• synchronizer
• sensor
• replacement
• 2003
• Ford
• Taurus
• 3.0L
• Vulcan
• chirp
• chirping
• bird
• cricket

[1987lx]

great vid but i have a question does the cam pos sensor make it misfire or in my case the number 1 coil plug no fire? thanx in advance.

my car is a 2001 ford taurus with a 3.0 engine

[2003FordTaurus]

@1987lx i don't think so (i'm just a DIY'er) ... i think the crank angle sensor would have more to do with a misfire. However, I can tell you that I had to replace the ignition coil in the last year because of a misfire/no spark situation and everything went back to normal

[stevespade]

Hello every one I am working on a friends car and belive the sensor is bad in it no cherp though in stead I have ten volts on both polls the book from chilton says one of them should pulse five volt's am I on the right path to replace this ?

[2003FordTaurus]

@stevespade not sure about the electrical specs? what did you discover? seems to me that if you have voltage and no pulse then either the sensor is bad or the shaft is no longer turning the flag. did you try removing the sensor (two screws) from the top of the synchronizer and turning the engine over to see if the flag is moving? if it's moving then i'd try replacing just the sensor (cheaper)...if it's not moving then you may have bigger problems (is the oil pressure warning light on?)

[brett8509]

FYI Note: having same problem and in researching the overall part is referenced as the Crank Angle Sensor and has a Camshaft Position Sensor attached at the top.

[2003FordTaurus]

@brett8509 the Crank Angle Sensor is on the front of the engine and picks up the crank shaft position from the harmonic balancer...i believe that its signal is used for spark timing.  this is not the same part as the Camshaft Position Sensor which is attached to the Camshaft Positon Synchronizer...there is a slide in the video that shows the unit removed with the sensor mounted to the synchronizer. I believe the CPS signal is used for fuel injector timing.

[psychoholicmadman]

@1987lx FYI, No cam sensor signal, no start. The computer has no idea when to start firing the coils and injectors. Same with the Crank sensor. These two sensors relay mechanical timing information to the ECM which then modifies the TDC #1 signal to apply ignition and injector timing. @2003FordTaurus I like your special tool. Any man that can build tools ain't an ordinary DIY'er :D

[MrRagajungle]

Hopefully you didn't use the cardone or house branded parts . They prematurely break causing the shaft to sheer off below the flag and subsiquently having the shaft stuck in the block. Use oem parts in this instance. The $48 shaft is NOT worth the hassle. Jus an fyi

[brett8509]

@2003FordTaurus. Actually, the Crank Angle Sensor is where the distributor cap was and goes into the engine block and has the camshaft position sensor attached to it. Two separate parts. The Crankshaft Position Sensor is located elsewhere and is a totally different part. This is according to all parts supplies I've investigated. So, right or wrong, everyone be aware of the terminology and get the correct parts. On side note, repair was easy after the video. Thanks!

[2003FordTaurus]

@Trex1268 sorry, missed your comment...i had a tough time with the wiring harness as well. As I recall I had to remove as much of the tape as possible and as many downstream connections as possible in order to create some slack. Then I used a big screwdriver to "gently" pry it up and wedged the handle against "something?" to hold the harness out of the way (I never completely removed the harness).

[2003FordTaurus]

@MegaFlaxman Glad to hear that it helped!

[MegaFlaxman]

Hey thanks so much for the video, it helped me big time! my 03 taurus just started making that noise the other day, After talking to a mechanic that said it could last a few months or a day, I figured i'd better do it especially after telling me the tend to granade when they finally go. Got a new one at napa for 65 dollars, not too bad.