Location of Camshaft Position Sensor on 3.8 liter?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by powrwrap, Dec 11, 2006.

  1. powrwrap

    powrwrap Guest

    (See 'Safety Shutdown for Low Oil Pressure' thread for more background
    info)

    1997 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8 liter V-6.

    I think I may have an oil leak coming from my camshaft position sensor.
    The sensor itself may be damaged, so I'm thinking I might as well
    replace it. Where is this sensor located? Is it easy to replace?

    Thanks.
     
    powrwrap, Dec 11, 2006
    #1
  2. powrwrap

    maxpower Guest

    You think the sensor is leaking oil but you don't know where it is? First
    of all those sensors on that vehicle don't leak. wait till you try to get it
    out!! It will be stuck and you may have to break it apart to remove it. But
    the sensor is located on the passenger side belt area. where the engine
    mount bolts to the side of the engine.

    Glenn Beasley
    Chrysler Tech
     
    maxpower, Dec 11, 2006
    #2
  3. powrwrap

    powrwrap Guest


    Yes, it sounds strange to say I've got something leaking and don't know
    where it is! Here's the background:

    I've had a niggling oil leak for months, off and on and just slightly
    enough to leave marks on the garage floor that needed to be cleaned up
    every 10 days or so. I brought it in to my usual trusted mechanic for a
    look-see. He admitted it was hard to determine where it was leaking so
    cleaned off the built-up oil on the engine, put some dye in the oil and
    had me come back in a week. He thought it was coming from the valve
    cover.

    Then a couple of weeks ago the oil leaking got much worse, to the point
    of laying cardboard on the garage floor. It leaves a spot about the
    size of a quarter every time it's parked. Then last Friday the vehicle
    died and I was getting a 54 error code. Then today I Googled 1997
    Caravan 3.8 liter camshaft sensor and see this TSB summary:

    Date: 12/11/1998
    Component Name: 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
    NHTSA #: 090798
    SUMMARY: SUBJECT REGARDING OIL SEEPAGE AT CAM POSITION SENSOR /
    MISINTERPRETED HEAD GASKET LEAK. *YC

    so I'm thinking I've got linkage between the oil leak and the error
    code 54 and the vehicle dying. Any further info on that TSB would be
    appreciated.

    But this morning I drove the car and the Check Engine Light was not lit
    up.
     
    powrwrap, Dec 11, 2006
    #3
  4. powrwrap

    maxpower Guest


    Yes, it sounds strange to say I've got something leaking and don't know
    where it is! Here's the background:

    I've had a niggling oil leak for months, off and on and just slightly
    enough to leave marks on the garage floor that needed to be cleaned up
    every 10 days or so. I brought it in to my usual trusted mechanic for a
    look-see. He admitted it was hard to determine where it was leaking so
    cleaned off the built-up oil on the engine, put some dye in the oil and
    had me come back in a week. He thought it was coming from the valve
    cover.

    Then a couple of weeks ago the oil leaking got much worse, to the point
    of laying cardboard on the garage floor. It leaves a spot about the
    size of a quarter every time it's parked. Then last Friday the vehicle
    died and I was getting a 54 error code. Then today I Googled 1997
    Caravan 3.8 liter camshaft sensor and see this TSB summary:

    Date: 12/11/1998
    Component Name: 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
    NHTSA #: 090798
    SUMMARY: SUBJECT REGARDING OIL SEEPAGE AT CAM POSITION SENSOR /
    MISINTERPRETED HEAD GASKET LEAK. *YC

    so I'm thinking I've got linkage between the oil leak and the error
    code 54 and the vehicle dying. Any further info on that TSB would be
    appreciated.

    But this morning I drove the car and the Check Engine Light was not lit
    up.

    If the mechanic put dye in the system he should be able to tell you where
    the leak is by using a black lite.
    Just because you got a fault code for a cam sensor does not actually mean
    that sensor is at fault.
    If a vehicle exhibits a no-start due to failure of the cam or crank sensor,
    the opposite sensor may be reported as the fault ( bad cam sensor sets crank
    sensor fault and vice versa). The faulty sensor may generate a signal strong
    enough (at key on) to be interpreted by the controller as a legitimate
    signal. Since the engine is not running, the opposite sensor will not be
    generating any pulses. The controller, expecting corresponding pulses from
    both sensors, sets a fault for the sensor that is not generating any pulses.
    In this case, the good sensor is reported as faulty. A scan tool would
    verify what sensor is at fault. If your planning on keeping this vehicle my
    suggestion to you would be replace both the cam and crank sensor.

    As far as that TSB you found. are you sure it doesn't say 4 cylinder in your
    google search??? Because the cam sensor on the 4 cylinder engine was always
    misdiagnosed as a head gasket failure. The 6 cyl cam sensor is not in the
    area of a headgasket failure.

    My opinion



    Glenn
     
    maxpower, Dec 11, 2006
    #4
  5. powrwrap

    powrwrap Guest

    He did use a black light and he said it looked like the valve cover,
    but that it was difficult to tell. Of course during that week after he
    put the dye in the car barely leaked a drop.

    OK thanks. That's good information to know.

    Upon further review at more sites, it appears this misdiagnosis applies
    to 2.0 and 2.4 liter engines.
     
    powrwrap, Dec 12, 2006
    #5
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