P0340 Cam Sensor code .

[Lemondrop]

My wife's 96 5.0L is popping a P0304 Cam sensor signal .

The syncronizer/sensor is about 7 months old so I doubt it to be the issue . The old one failed and went to chirping . I pulled the sensor off the syncronizer tonight and checked . All of the parts are there and the wires are attached pretty well/clean .

I did notice when the engine is idling and you stomp the throttle , the interior lights surge badly . They go from dim to bright to dim , like a higher voltage spike . The alternator is pushing 14 volts but I have read where the alternators push stray voltage to the PCM and it screws the Cam sensor signal up .

My plan tomorrow is to isolate the alternator sinc I checked the engine wiring for rub throughs and found no problems .
The alternator as far as I know is the original and the truck has 230,000 on it

Is there a voltage check I can use on the Cam sensor to make sure my wiring is Ok ?

Thanks .

 

[Lemondrop]

Disconnected the alternator , code still sets .

I checked with my fluke and have a 12v+ , 2.18v+ , and a good ground on the connector leading to the sensor . The 2.18 was the center terminal , with the sensor wiring disconnected .

 

[Turdle]

This may sound weird, but I get a cam position sensor code if my battery voltage gets low-

 

[danwaters]

I just had this code flash on me this week. What can I do? Where is the sensor located?

Is it a problem with the alternator causing the sensor to go bad. Should I replace both?

 

[danwaters]

So I went to replace the camshaft position sensor and this is what I came to find.heres what the sensor looks like and whatever was left behind

IM not sure what the stuff is inside but it almost looks like something melted. Anyone have any idea?
might be to much flash to see very well...

 

[Lemondrop]

Did the damage come with a chirping ticking noise ? My wife's did the same thing damage wise but the bearing(s) on the stalk of the CPS had failed . The sensor received the damage from the up/side motions of the shaft .

Saldy , her 1996 5.0 XLT is no more . She rolled the truck over and it's done . She got a good scratch on her foot from the brake pedal but pretty much walked away .

 

[danwaters]

Did the damage come with a chirping ticking noise ? My wife's did the same thing damage wise but the bearing(s) on the stalk of the CPS had failed . The sensor received the damage from the up/side motions of the shaft .

Saldy , her 1996 5.0 XLT is no more . She rolled the truck over and it's done . She got a good scratch on her foot from the brake pedal but pretty much walked away .

I never heard mine squeak. My exaust is pretty loud but im not even sure how loud the squeak is supposed to be.