cam sensor on a 96 v6

I have a 96 tacoma with the 3.4l V6. The check engine light just came
on yesterday with a new one for me. Is the cam sensor difficult to
replace, or should I have a shop do it? Any special tools needed? What
is a typical price for the parts needed?
Thanks, Robert

I don't know the answer to your question, directly. But, the Cam Sensor is
sometimes part of what looks like a distributor. I don't know how they
designed your '96, but I suspect you have a distributor. The Cam Sensor can
be part of what formerly played the role of points -- not exactly "points",
but in the same place.

If I'm correct, the fix is to replace the distributor. This is a relatively
easy project. MAKE SURE the engine is at TDC, then pull the distributor and
drop in a new one. I hate to state the obvious, but be sure the engine is at
TDC, and the new distributor is pointed at the #1 position BEFORE you
attempt to start the motor. Many new distributors will come with a lock pin
in them that holds the rotor on #1, DO NOT remove the pin until after the
distributor is correctly installed.




<Robert> wrote in message news:rfed321j5i968q1k293875ba559lf1qeku@4ax.com...[color=blue]
>I have a 96 tacoma with the 3.4l V6. The check engine light just came
> on yesterday with a new one for me. Is the cam sensor difficult to
> replace, or should I have a shop do it? Any special tools needed? What
> is a typical price for the parts needed?
> Thanks, Robert[/color]

Thank you for the help, but the 96 has the distributerless ignition.
There are three coil packs. I have also added an MSD add-on ignition,
larger injectors, and the TRD SC (1st gen)

I'm hoping the error code goes along with the bad ground wire a local
shop that specializes in electronics found.

On Sun, 9 Apr 2006 07:05:29 -0700, "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>I don't know the answer to your question, directly. But, the Cam Sensor is
>sometimes part of what looks like a distributor. I don't know how they
>designed your '96, but I suspect you have a distributor. The Cam Sensor can
>be part of what formerly played the role of points -- not exactly "points",
>but in the same place.
>
>If I'm correct, the fix is to replace the distributor. This is a relatively
>easy project. MAKE SURE the engine is at TDC, then pull the distributor and
>drop in a new one. I hate to state the obvious, but be sure the engine is at
>TDC, and the new distributor is pointed at the #1 position BEFORE you
>attempt to start the motor. Many new distributors will come with a lock pin
>in them that holds the rotor on #1, DO NOT remove the pin until after the
>distributor is correctly installed.
>
>
>
>
><Robert> wrote in message news:rfed321j5i968q1k293875ba559lf1qeku@4ax.com...[color=green]
>>I have a 96 tacoma with the 3.4l V6. The check engine light just came
>> on yesterday with a new one for me. Is the cam sensor difficult to
>> replace, or should I have a shop do it? Any special tools needed? What
>> is a typical price for the parts needed?
>> Thanks, Robert[/color][/color]