What Impact Does a Faulty Camshaft Sensor Have on a Car?
2 Answers
A faulty camshaft sensor can have the following impacts on a car: 1. Difficulty in accelerating; 2. Ignition problems; 3. Idling and illuminated fault light; 4. Sudden engine stalling when the car is warm. The camshaft sensor is a sensing device, also known as a synchronization signal sensor. It serves as a cylinder identification and positioning device, inputting camshaft position signals to the ECU and acting as the primary control signal for ignition. The camshaft sensor consists of a signal disk, signal generator, distributor, sensor housing, and wiring harness connector. Its functions include: 1. Timely control of the ignition system, issuing ignition commands based on the actual conditions of the cylinder; 2. Performing emergency ignition operations.
Last time I was driving, that camshaft sensor failed, and it was absolutely terrible! The car was super hard to start, constantly failing to ignite, and it would suddenly shake violently while driving, as if it was about to fall apart. When accelerating, it felt particularly weak, with no response even when I floored the gas pedal—it was like being dragged along. Fuel consumption also skyrocketed; normally, a full tank could last 500 kilometers, but now it was gone after just 350 kilometers, costing me a lot more on gas. What’s even more annoying was the dashboard lighting up with a warning light, which just made me panic. I think in such a situation, it’s best not to force it and head straight to the repair shop for a check-up, otherwise, it could damage other components.
