Can any body tell me about a code?

Question

Can any body tell me about a code?
Can any body tell me about a code?
po340 cam shaft position sensor......How much to have fixed can i do it myself ....shop told me that it took a spacific tool

any suggestions or help would be great

sorry 98 mercury sable

how much would the dealer charge ? i know just a guess

Answer 1

The P0340 code is actually pretty common on those engines -- they seem to eat up camshaft position sensors. Here's an interesting insight...

First off, sometimes it's not as simple as just replacing the sensor. Usually, when these sensors fail, they fail through a physical separation of the Hall-effect core and coil from the sensor body. The core and coil assembly is by design magnetized, and as such, when it breaks free from the sensor body, it fall onto and clings to the (steel) sensor actuator rotor.

The actuator is a cup-shaped protrusion on the top of a rotating shaft. The cup has a section of its periphery removed so as to provide the "window" for triggering the sensor's Hall-effect switch. The actuator itself is mounted where the distributor used to go, is gear-driven off the camshaft, and in turn drives the oil puimp, just as the distributor used to do.

Often, when the sensor fails, its pieces fall into the center of the actuator's cup and stay there. The system throws a P0340 code and the MIL is turned on. The fix then is simple -- remove the old sensor, clean out the chunks of the old sensor, mount the new one, button it up, and clear the code.

However, it's not so simple when the pieces fall into the window in the cup. When that happens, the cup will be (at best) bent inward or (at worst) broken off the actuator shaft. This happens because the pieces then are wedged between the cup and the actuator body as the shaft turns, and something has to give. Either situation requires replacement of the actuator assembly. This job is not all that difficult, but it does require an alignment tool for proper placement of the new actuator.

The actuator is called a "camshaft position sensor drive" and is available from the Ford dealer for about $125.00. (To show how common this really is, my local Ford dealer has a stock level of 3 units on this drive.) The sensor is available in the aftermarket for about $30.00. The alignment tool is available through OTC/SPX for around $20.00. The entire procedure is spelled out in the various service manuals available -- Ford/Mercury, Haynes and Chilton all cover it.

When buying the alignment tool, be sure to order the correct one for the engine size -- there are several different cam sensor alignment tools used on Fords/Mercuries. When buying the sensor at a NAPA dealer, have the counterman look it up in the paper catalog -- their computer (software) catalog might list the wrong sensor...

Answer 2

Usually, the first thing dealer does is clear the code and see if it comes back. This is a 100% standard procedure on all warranty work because it's doesn't pay nearly as much as they would charge you. In your case, they most likely will replace the sensor for about $100-150 part plus at least 1.5 hr labor, total $250-300. Theoretically, it's possible that the problem is not in the sensor but the standard line is "we have to go by what ford says" which means that if the sensor doesn't fix it, you are not getting your money back.
Now, here is the RIGHT procedure. Connect a scope to the sensor and check waveform. If it's normal - check the wiring and the ECM, otherwise - replace the sensor. Don't expect a dealer to follow this, and IF they do, expect to pay twice.

Answer 3

i'm sorry you're having trouble,my friend,and i work for a truck dealership and we charge 96.00 an hour,and car dealerships are more... that cam sensor could be in a bad place to get to,and the dealership has a flat rate book they can charge you.and sometimes it is'nt to many hours or minutes,but if it is to where they can get to it,and it should'nt cost too much.. but i'm sorry to say,parts and labor are out of hand,and it's not a good idea to try to do it yourself.. you can break it off,and then the dealership or whoever has to fix it,has to fix your fix.and charge more... .call a dealership and ask them what they charge to put one in...maybe not too much, good luck.

Answer 4

go to autozone and check out their web site. You can also get the price of the part and they may have pictures of the location and how to do it. good luck.