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What happens when a camshaft sensor goes bad?

I’m worried my camshaft isn’t working correctly. How will I know? What happens when a camshaft sensor goes bad?

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Bianca (Bee) Davis · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
There are a variety of symptoms caused by a faulty camshaft sensor, and you can test easily using a code reader. You can buy code readers from an auto parts store for relatively cheap.
If a camshaft sensor goes bad, you may notice any of the following symptoms:
  • Check engine light: A faulty camshaft sensor can trigger your check engine light.
  • Higher fuel consumption: Without data from the camshaft sensor, the ECM will have a harder time regulating the amount of fuel it sends to the combustion sensors, causing your fuel economy to worsen over time.
  • Poor drivability: An uninformed ECM will cause issues with your ignition timing, meaning you’ll have issues with acceleration, stalling, and sputtering.
If you have any of these symptoms in your car, you may have a faulty camshaft. Run a diagnostic yourself or take your car to a mechanic to get it looked at.
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