Eh that depends on how the system is set up. If injection isn’t based on the cam position at all, no real worries. If the car also needs precisely timed injection, you’re in trouble. Variable valve timing and stuff will probably complicate this as well. I don’t think I’ve ever had that in a car, my petrol engines have mostly been old beaters where the timing system is much simpler.
Personally I drive a common-rail diesel. It wouldn’t even start with a bad cam sensor I suspect, because it needs to know the exact moment to inject fuel straight into the cylinder. But then my old Chrysler 300M was a car that, in my case had a bad crank sensor (so needed to be replaced for sure), but a lot of the guys who had bad cam sensors just kept driving till they got the new part. Which often took time.
If only a diagnosis was as cheap as a $20 scan tool…
Incidentally the first visit to a specialty doctor is 20€ and subsequent visits are free so that’s about how much it costs here.
Mine told me a cam sensor was having an issue, but the car’s been driving like it always was and hasn’t had an issue in almost a year.
(Watch my car explode now that I’ve posted this)
Bad cam sensor doesn’t necessarily disable the vehicle but a bad crank sensor usually does. Bad cam sensor just means you’re going to waste sparks.
It’s also not something you can just ignore. Eventually you’ll damage/destroy your engine.
Cam position sensors are cheap and generally easy even for a beginner to replace, so if I were you I’d stop putting it off and just get it fixed.
Eh that depends on how the system is set up. If injection isn’t based on the cam position at all, no real worries. If the car also needs precisely timed injection, you’re in trouble. Variable valve timing and stuff will probably complicate this as well. I don’t think I’ve ever had that in a car, my petrol engines have mostly been old beaters where the timing system is much simpler.
Personally I drive a common-rail diesel. It wouldn’t even start with a bad cam sensor I suspect, because it needs to know the exact moment to inject fuel straight into the cylinder. But then my old Chrysler 300M was a car that, in my case had a bad crank sensor (so needed to be replaced for sure), but a lot of the guys who had bad cam sensors just kept driving till they got the new part. Which often took time.
I have lots of sparks to give ✨️ Thanks for the info!