The cam sensor is a synch signal for the ignition module - there are 6
triggers on the crank sensor and 1 on the cam sensor, for a reference so the
ign. module knows where TDC is and fires the right cylinders. It's only
referred to when cranking. I don't know how it ran without it. :-)
Did you get the dealer updated cam button/bearing and tensioner? Those
shavings could also be from the original cam button spring machining a new
hole in the timing cover (A very common occurrence)
Luke
'71 Spit
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bowen, Patrick" <pbowen@intellinetics.com>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2000 9:39 AM
Subject: purpose of crank and cam sensors?
>
> While redoing the timing on my moms Park Ave with a 3.8 ltr I have run
> across a question. It has both a Cam sensor and a Crank sensor. I for
the
> life of me cannot figure out why it needs both, as the information is
> directly related to the other. To further complicate the question, I
have
> discovered that the magnet on the cam sprocket (that the cam sensor
senses)
> fell off. Being covered in metal shavings I am assuming this happened a
> long time ago, yet the car still ran, and only recently started acting
> erratic. So if this was removed, and the car still ran, what is its
> purpose? If it is required to run, then how did it?
>
> By the way this is a distributorless ignition.
>
> Patrick Bowen - who is now thinking of how hard it would be to make a
> distributorless ignition for a spit.
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