Camshaft Position Sensor (2.4L)
The Camshaft Position (CMP) sensor is bolted to the right front side of the cylinder head. See Fig 1 . The CMP sensor contains a Hall Effect device referred to as a sync signal generator. A rotating target wheel (tonewheel) for the CMP sensor is located behind the exhaust valve camshaft drive gear. See Fig 2 . The target wheel is equipped with a cutout (notch) around 180° of the wheel. The CMP sensor detects this cutout every 180° of camshaft gear rotation. Its signal is used in conjunction with the Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor to differentiate between fuel injection and spark events. It is also used to synchronize the fuel injectors with their respective cylinders. When the leading edge of the target wheel cutout enters the tip of the CMP sensor the interruption of magnetic field causes the voltage to switch high, resulting in a sync signal of approximately 5 volts. When the trailing edge of the target wheel cutout leaves the tip of the CMP sensor, the change of the magnetic field causes the sync signal voltage to switch low to 0 volts.