1996 Mazda Protege Camshaft Sensor

D_WUJKOWSKI

MEMBER
1996 MAZDA PROTEGE
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
140,000 MILES

The other day I got a check Engine light after a heavy rain and going thru some big puddles. The car started hesitating at lower speeds, idling low, staling and misfiring. This was happening on and off. I hooked it up to a scan tool and it read Camshaft Position Sensor Malfunction. Any advice? How can I test if the Cam Sensor is putting out voltage? It's located inside the distributor and there is only one 7-wire plug going into it. Any help before I get the distributor replaced would be great. Thank you

3 Replies

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

Was there water in the distributor?

If so that can cause it to missread from the moisture.

Tkae the cap off and let it dry out in there.

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Saturday, April 4th, 2009 AT 2:30 PM

D_WUJKOWSKI

MEMBER
6 POSTS

I already took the cap off and blow dried it before. I also took the rotor and another piece off so I can blow dry the sensor but It didn't leave me much room to get to it, I dried as much as I could. It seemed to be working a little better, but it still misfires and seems to be hesitating. Can a cam sensor get damaged from moisture so easily? I'm not to sure if I should try to dry it again or if it wouldn't really mater?

*btw I didn't notice any water inside but there could of been moisture. Also there was a rubber gasket that seem to be ripped a little on the bottom of the distributor. Water may have entered from there.