November 27, 2016Updated: July 15, 2020By: Abraham Torres-ArredondoArticle ID: 556 Show The 2002-2003 3.5L Nissan Maxima has 2 camshaft position sensors and both can be easily tested with a multimeter. In this tutorial, I'll show you how in a step-by-step manner. Symptoms Of A Defective Camshaft Position SensorHere is a basic list of the symptoms you are going to see when the camshaft position sensor fails on your 2002-2003 3.5L Nissan Maxima.
Circuit Descriptions Of The Camshaft Position SensorYour 3.5L Nissan Maxima comes equipped with 2 camshaft position sensors. They're identified by the bank of cylinders that they are on. The Camshaft Position Sensor Bank 1 is on the cylinder head that over cylinders 1, 3, and 5. This bank of cylinders is on the firewall side of the engine. The Camshaft Position Sensor Bank 2 is on the cylinder head that over cylinders 2, 4, and 6. This bank of cylinders is on the radiator side of the engine. Both sensors work in the exact same manner and are tested in the same manner.
Where To Buy The Camshaft Position SensorYou can buy the camshaft position sensor at your local auto parts store or if you're like me and need to save money on any kind of purchase, you can buy it online. The Hitachi CPS0001 Camshaft Position Sensor listed below is the original factory part for the 2002-2002-2003 3.5L Nissan Maxima. You can check it out here: TEST 1: Checking The Camshaft Position Signal With A MultimeterAs the engine turns, the camshaft position sensor produces an ON/OFF signal that can be measured with a multimeter (oscilloscope too). The get an accurate test result, you'll need to turn the engine by hand. Don't use the starter motor to crank the engine. You can manually turn the engine by using a 1/2 inch ratchet and appropriate socket on the crankshaft pulley. NOTE: The instructions below apply to either bank 1 or bank 2 cam sensor. Oscilloscope: If you're using one of these bad boys, you can crank and start the engine to observe the waveforms. You can see the waveforms I recorded here: Oscilloscope Waveforms Bank 1 And Bank 2 Cam Sensors. OK, let's get started:
Let's take a look at what your test results mean: CASE 1: The multimeter registered 9.5 to 10 Volts DC and the 0 Volt pulse as the engine turned. This is the correct and expected test result and tells you that the cam sensor you're testing is functioning correctly. CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register the On/Off 9.5 to 10 Volts DC and 0 Volts pulse as you manually turned the crankshaft pulley. This result indicates that the camshaft position sensor is not creating a signal. The next step is to verify that it's getting power (12 Volts). For this test, go to: TEST 2: Making Sure The Cam Sensor Is Getting Power. Where is camshaft position sensor a bank 1 located?A camshaft position sensor (CMP) is essentially a component in the format of a cylinder, which is often located on the outside of the front cover (at the front of the engine under the valve cover).
What side is camshaft bank 1?Bank 1 is the side of your engine that has the cylinder 1, while sensor B refers to the exhaust camshaft side. Some car manufacturers have their own description of the P0017 code, such as GM (more specifically, Chevrolet).
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