service indicator light?? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

artie in miami · 09-13-2010, 08:04 AM

After doing the timing belt job from hell (took a week) when I started up the car...I got an engine service light.
Took out my trusty harbor freight code reader and got a "camshaft position indicator" code. Does this mean that the cam is not lined up perfectly with the crank ? After the timing belt was installed, I did the "two revolutions of the crank" timing marks check and both were dead on. It has me wondering ?? I need to open up the timing cover again next weekend as napa did not have the oil pump seal oring (flyin wing looking thing) and I will check the marks again. My wife was not happy and asked if I did it wrong. BAck away artie...count to ten !! I just gave my stock answer of "yes dear" and walked away...what a pisser !!

Has anyone else experienced this cam indicator code after a timing belt job ??

artie

Chris Crash · 09-13-2010, 08:51 AM

Could be the sensor just got moved. They're very sensitive. Check it, you can do it without removing anything.

AliRazoR · 09-13-2010, 10:16 AM

check the resistance of camshaft position sensor it should be:

cold:835_1400 OHM
hot:1060_1645 OHM

artie in miami · 09-15-2010, 10:19 AM

Well, I found out why I got an engine light with the "camshaft sensor" code...for some reason, I removed the bolt from the sensor then forgot to put the bolt back in. does that bolt hold on the timing belt cover or just the sensor ? How long should the sensor bolt be ? Would the sensor laying loose keep the engine from high rpm...I am wonering if the computer does that as a safety thing, to avoid engine damage ?? My wife said the car has no power after driving about 30 miles of having it run perfectly. I checked the timing marks and they are right on the money...so I am thinking the power problem is related to the computer/sensor.

I had to tear it apart anyhow...napa did not have the oil pump oring (flying wing looking thing) and had to go to the dealer for it...I am going to mark the timing belt and pulleys before taking the belt off...since now it is "üsed".

artie

Chris Crash · 09-15-2010, 01:08 PM

The bolt just holds the sensor in. Nothing else. But it is crucial, if the computer can't see where the cams are, it can't properly adjust the timing and I'm pretty sure it actually retards the timing in a fail-safe fashion.

For the belts...I would zip tie the belt to the cam pulley (since that doesn't need to be removed) and be sure not to move it. Then remove the crank pulley and do your job. That way, everything will still be lined up as long as the cam pulley doesn't move.

artie in miami · 09-15-2010, 08:00 PM

That is a really good idea...thanks for sharing. I wondered why I had one bolt left over after the timing belt job...I just figured it was one of the cover bolts (looks the same)...she drove to work twice (30 mi) before the sensor fell from where it belongs...lucky it happened in the driveway. If she had to call AAA she would have gone berzerk...now she really thinks I screwed up her car. She said "you can have this car...I am buying a new one". So...now I have 2 full size (3/4ton) Suburbans, a '95 T-100 pickup and a 2000 camry ! Once it starts running again...and blowing that super cold a/c air...she will want it back. The a/c in this camry is unreal...even here in Miami...in the dead of summer...we cannot leave it on max...it will freeze us out. Somebody did something right when they designed the a/c system in the camry...it is like a meat locker.

I will use your zip tie trick...I like it.

artie

Chris Crash · 09-15-2010, 08:57 PM

Yeah I used it when I had to remove the cam pulley to put in the cam seal, and didn't want to retime everything. Just don't fasten them TOO tight or you'll cut the belt. Pull 'em tight till you see the belt just start to compress under the zip tie then stop.

***fenixus*** · 09-15-2010, 09:41 PM

haha, yeah in both of my solaras (pretty much camry coupe) we have a freezer a/c

as you said, impossible to use it on max setting (especially on highways) or the inside of car turns into a meat locker

glad you figure out where that bolt belongs

it's a common thing to have some left over bolts after re-assembly, most of us do

Rattlin_Steele · 09-15-2010, 10:24 PM

So she already went a bought another vehicle? If so, I feel for you big time!

On the oil pump cover o-ring, use a minimal amount of gasket sealer or something sticky to hold it in place. It's a pain to keep positioned if you don't.

Regarding the timing cover bolts, they are not all the same length. One trick I learned from this forum is to take a piece of cardboard and draw a rough picture of the cover/part. Then punch holes in all the bolt locations and put each one in it's proper place on the card as they're removed. Real time saver.