So I got an SES light the other day, and after checking it I was sporting a po365 on the obd II: "Cam position sensor bank 1 circuit malfunction"

Checked the engine bay--found a cracked sensor housing on the intake cam side. The local dealer is charging around $101.xx for it, and I haven't been able to get pricing from mitsubishiparts.net/com yet.

I might possibly be able to get it from another board member used.

But until that time comes--I was just thinking--is it okay to drive the car as-is? I would think the ECU would need to know this kind of information to make proper adjustments. I haven't noticed anything in my daily driving, and I'm keeping things toned down until I can get it replaced.

Does anyone actually know in detail what kind of information that sensor relays to the ECU? I know it's cam position--but if the ECU doesn't get a proper reading, what happens then?

 

I don't think the car will even start

 

That's odd--because I've been driving it around for 3 days since I've gotten the error. The sensor is definitely busted though. Cracked almost all the way through. (Probably my fault when I changed out the thermostat housing for the one from 42nd designs with the adaptor for the water temp sensor--though I don't remember even touching that area of the wiring harness except to zip tie the wiring for the h20 sensor. )

Nonetheless, the car's running with no noticeable ill effects outside the SES. Just have to clear that error code every time I start the car. I actually get the same code twice. Once solid and one pending. Either way--the things busted and needs to be replaced.

Why would you think the car wouldn't start?

 

I might be thinking of another sensor but i do know that when i broke my cam ANGLE sensor that my car wouldn't start. Now that I think of it i'm pretty sure we're talking about two separate things.

I would get it sorted out before you do anymore driving.

 

Perhaps. Well most likely since I'm driving. But here is the one that I busted and am now frantically searching for:

 

I busted mine when i was installing my upper intercooler pipes Anyway luckily my local dealer had one in stock and I think I got it for around $85. Just bolts right in. Is weird when busted it though, when i first started it up I could drive around fine, but then after coming back home it wouldnt start back up. Anyway, I wouldnt drive around with it busted as you might end up stranded

 

A bad cam sensor won't cause the car not to start, but a bad crank sensor will cause the car not to start.

 

ooooh, good point. It's still connected wiring wise, but the housing is all flimsy. It broke on the receiver end of the plug--at the bottom.

 

Holy smokes...that was a 120 dollar mistake! Be careful when working that area folks...it's an expensive little spot.