Cam Angle Sensor

[SupraTuned]

Ok, I am replacing my head gasket before it goes bad but I am stuck trying to take off the cam angle sensor on my 89 turbo. I thought it was as simple as rotating your cams past tdc and viewing the cam lobe in the oil filler hole, but it still won't pop out. Any help?

[bgrieger]

Taking it out is pretty easy. Ignore the cam position. Remove the bolt holding the CPS in place (also used for adjusting timing) and tug it out. Friction is all that might be holding it. Try to rotate it a bit while pulling and it should almost fall out...

[SupraTuned]

ok, cool I will try that

[SupraTuned]

Do I have to do anything special when I put it back in? Does the engine have to be at tdc or do I have to re time or anything?

[bgrieger]

That has to be done exactly right. One tooth off and it won't likely start, or it'll sound like you put a lumpy cam in a V8 if it does. You will have to retime it once installed correctly. Installation should be done at TDC for cylinder 1, and TDC per the cams. Align the drill mark on the CPS gear with the groove in the housing and reinsert. You should notice the inductive pickups point directly at the points on the rotor in the CPS as in the second picture when aligned correctly.


If it moves when you insert the CPS, you slipped a tooth and can try again. You have to compensate a bit too as it will rotate as the gears engage. The adjustment bolt should be near the middle of the adjustment range and the inductive pickup pointed like the picture. It can be a giant pain in the ass the first time to get it to sit correctly, and I find I have to hunt around a bit while inserting it to get it to seat correctly. Keep trying, eventually it seats.