P0342 Cam Sensor

Our 95' Rivi 3800 needs to be scanned. I have the check AND service engine soon light on.

Car runs like a top and doesnt miss a beat. Although it seems to be slower than a slug... Also it seems like it chugs gas.

Can I jump pins and count flashes on this car? If so can someone point me to a how-to

Autozone & Advance Auto said they cant scan the car...

With rising fuel prices, my unemployment and the GF starting a new career we dont really want to spend $45 at a shop then tell them they dont get the repair part of the business... lol I feel bad doing that...

Help!

i dont know of a way to jump the pins on the OBD port. you should be able to purchase a obd 1 scanner at autozone. maybe get it, scan, and return saying it's the wrong one

i am assuming the obd 1 scanner will work on the 95 riv and if not then maybe you could pay a guy out back of the dealership to scan it for you.

Unfortunately, the '95 Riv is OBD 1.5. It doesn't respond to the old 'jump the pins', and it doesn't work with OBD-2 scanners. A shop probably has the appropriate scanner, and they paid good money for it. I ran into this problem on my '94 Regal and had to pay someone to tell me what the codes were. An ex-dealer employee would be a great way to get a scan if he kept a scan tool.

Are we sure the NA '95 is OBD 1.5?

Oh, no...not sure - N/A might not be.

Ryan, please add some info to your car in your signature, so we don't have to ask these questions...

Ya the guy looked at the plug and told me no go at Advanced. Autozone guy said they only do 96 and up GM.

I guess we will just have to pay the $45 to have it done.

Argh

If I was closer I would mail my scanner to you. But it would cost me more than 45$ for it going there and back from canada....

Maybe see if there are any local bonneivlle chapters around your area.. they somtimes work with the series one, and someone might have a scanner....

Well today I finally paid the $40 to get it scanned.

I have 4 codes total with only 1 code being current.

The current code is PO342 Cam sensor

The old codes
PO131 High voltage o2 sensor
PO325 Knock Sensor
PO342 Cam Sensor
P1626 Pass Key II Signal
PO171 Fuel Trim lean

The Knock sensor I forgot to hook up after isntalling engine and starting it. The Fuel trim lean is probably the fuel leak at cracked plastic which I also fixed. The Pass Key is probably when I reprogrammed the new replacement Key FOB.

So that leave the current issue, cam sensor.

Also the 02 Sensor. When I did the engine I sprayed cleaned it. Think we will replace it anyhow.

For the cam sensor... Im going to make sure its plugged in first. Then spray clean out the plug, might have crap in it... After that I want to pull it make sure the crank sensor interrupter is present... Then after all that replace the sensor if need be...

need to find a way to test the sensor...

u might also want to check the wires from the pcm to the cam sensor. they tend to melt against a part of the engine. its a pain in the ass. but worth to look.

Cam sensor is not that expensive - I'd consider getting the replacement - get a Delphi though, or the best available from NAPA. Others crap out after ~2 years.

Other than that consider whether your engine needs plugs/wires, or if there is a wiring snafu with the replaced engine.

Albertj

Ok, I got it out!

Wasnt as horrible as I thought. I just pulled the belt and water pump pulley off. A little left handed backwards action later, it was out.

Replacement is $34 at Autozone.

The plug didnt have any gunk in it. It was also plugged in. However the bolt holding it in place wasnt fully secured. Im not sure if I replaced this sensor with the old one or its how it came... Dont remember...

EDITED: After doing some reading online Ive found it best to simply replace it. My sensor is reading low, so its not totally dead but obviously on its way out. So Im just replacing.

?

http://bellsouthpwp.net/p/a/padgett46/cammag.htm

Will report back in a few.

Ok guys I just got done replacing the sensor...

Duh duh duh dunnnnn

And it still runs like poop!

ARGH!

I tried resetting the computer by unplugging the battery. When I started the car up after a nice 1 hour unplug, it ran REAL good for about 30-45 seconds. Then BAM it idled down, loped and the service vehicle soon light popped on.

Im going to go to the shop that scanned it tomorrow and see if they will give me a quick courtesy scan on the $40 I paid today... Im almost out of $$$ for the two weeks and I dont have this fixed right so Im pissed off!

Grrrr...

If the code shows same thing Im pulling it out. Checking to make sure the magnents on the cam sprocket per link. If thats there then Im pulling the part of the wiring out and checking continuity and cleaning the connector on the top side.

This is VERY irritating... To hot to work on it now...

is it possible that the 04 Impala engine had these problems before you got it?

Albertj

I cant be sure Albert...

The motor came from a car at a Police Auction. The car was evidence, the thieves were trying to STEAL the motor/trans from the car!

Theres really no way to know at this point.

I guess I wont really know if theres another issue at present or its sitll the cam sensor until it is re-scanned. Hopefully I can have that done tomorrow quick, free of charge this go.

If its that cam sensor again Im going to go crazy. Im hoping its the 02 sensor.

I tried resetting the computer again for the heck of it. Before I shut the car off and unplug the batt the radio is OFF and same with the heating/cooling, all OFF. When I plug the battery back in the power antenna goes up then back down. When I start the car it runs like a CHAMP for about 30 seconds. Then it bogs down, light pops on- THEN the AC/blower turned on...

I started pulling apart some wires to check them. The wires were nice and clean from what Ive seen. No corrosion, nothing melted, pierced, etc. The sensor has 3 wires running from it, a Red w/black stripe, Yellow w/Black and a brown w/white. The yellow and red wires when up on the wiring connecting to the coil pack is spliced in parallel with another wire of same color, with just 1 wire then leading to the coil pack.

sounds like you might be looking for a short in the power line to the AC clutch.

also sounds like you need wiring diagram for the Riv....

Albertj

If it ran good at first, then started running like crap a few minutes later, I'd think more about a big exhaust or vacuum leak, or a bad O2 sensor. If it's the crank or cam sensor, it will run poorly right away.

Is there an SES light? What code is up?

Ryan from Ohio wrote:

PO131 High voltage o2 sensor
Also the 02 Sensor. When I did the engine I sprayed cleaned it. Think we will replace it anyhow.

What did you use to clean it with.
I've been told that cleaning an O2 sensor is generally a bad idea and can cause problems like you are mentioning.

good catch, Rick, I missed that about cleaning the O2 sensor. It's not supposed to get cleaned.

I think I used carb cleaner?

It had 5 codes with only 1 at time of scan causing the light to be on.

Im awaiting a call back when the guy is there/available to do another scan.

And thats what I thought about the cam and crank sensors... I did replace the crank sensor per advice here and on other forums (read about it) so I didnt need to do that ever again.

All I can say is if it is that magnet on the cam shaft sprocket missing Im going to be peeved!

Ryan from Ohio wrote:

I think I used carb cleaner?

On the O2 sensor? owwwww

deekster_caddy wrote:

Ryan from Ohio wrote:

I think I used carb cleaner?

On the O2 sensor? owwwww

lol

Well... If the 02 sensor is the root cause, why would it be showing camshaft sensor as only current issue/code?

I talked with the guy at the garage, told him what was up. Without scanning it, he seemed to think the 02 sensor also.

If it is indeed the 02 sensor, probably wont get a new one for two weeks about.

Were pretty much out of money for two weeks

Ryan from Ohio wrote:

Well today I finally paid the $40 to get it scanned.

I have 4 codes total with only 1 code being current.

The current code is PO342 Cam sensor

The old codes
PO131 High voltage o2 sensor
PO325 Knock Sensor
PO342 Cam Sensor
P1626 Pass Key II Signal
PO171 Fuel Trim lean

The Knock sensor I forgot to hook up after isntalling engine and starting it. The Fuel trim lean is probably the fuel leak at cracked plastic which I also fixed. The Pass Key is probably when I reprogrammed the new replacement Key FOB.

So that leave the current issue, cam sensor.

Also the 02 Sensor. When I did the engine I sprayed cleaned it. Think we will replace it anyhow.

For the cam sensor... Im going to make sure its plugged in first. Then spray clean out the plug, might have crap in it... After that I want to pull it make sure the crank sensor interrupter is present... Then after all that replace the sensor if need be...

need to find a way to test the sensor...

dearly beloved we are gathered here today not to praise the O2 sensor, but to bury it and get a new one...

seriously, remember that your Riv has *two* O2 sensors.

Albertj

It does?

Argh

I thought it only had one...

Now which one or both? argh.



I might just order the cheaper ones off Rock Auto then. Locally they are $53 each and we dont have that kind of money.

Ryan from Ohio wrote:

It does?

Argh

I thought it only had one...

Now which one or both? argh.



I might just order the cheaper ones off Rock Auto then. Locally they are $53 each and we dont have that kind of money.

The O2 sensor after the cat doesn't really matter. It has no affect on drivability.

^^^