Is it Safe to Drive with a Bad Camshaft Sensor (How Bad is it to Drive with a Bad Camshaft)

Last updated on July 11th, 2023 at 06:35 pm

Your car can still drive but you are certain, your crankshaft sensor is bad, now you are asking yourself “is it safe to drive with a bad camshaft sensor”? Well in this post will answer all that, we are also going to see how bad is it to drive with a bad camshaft. You see the crankshaft sensor is a device in a car that is used in the internal combustion engine to monitor the position or rotating speed of the car crankshaft.

If the camshaft goes bad it will affect the calculations of the crankshaft which can hot the car engine so badly, that is why you have to really be conscious of it. So in the post, we will see how Bad is it to Drive with a Bad Camshaft.

So let get started with this article.

Is it Safe to Drive with a Bad Camshaft Sensor? (How Bad is it to Drive with a Bad Camshaft)

Well to answer this question, it all depends on what your personal experience with the car is.

First, if your car engine function or working very normal and not stall or sluggish acceleration, then it is safe and okay to drive the car.

Second, if your car is misfiring and you notice the check engine light come on or starts flashing, then it is not safe at all to drive the car in this condition. Driving the car in this state can damage your car engine and will incur more expenses. To avoid damaging your car engine, you have to diagnose the problem and seek for help on fixing it or even replacing the crankshaft sensor You might have to watch the video below to see how to conduct a proper crankshaft sensor diagnosis on your car. And then follow the How to Replace a Camshaft Position Sensor guide below to replace the crankshaft of your car yourself.

And Finally, also not safe to drive a car with bad camshafts when you experiencing a sluggish acceleration or a random stall while driving, though you may be able to get away with driving the car for some days, but is not advisable. You might want to read this article on how to start a car with a bad crankshaft sensor to get more details on why this is not recommended.

Note

You also need to note that, a diagnostic problem code should not be the only basis to directly condemn vehicle parts. And that is why you need a proper evaluation to be sure that the crankshaft sensor itself is bad and not something else. Like a disconnection of the sensor wire to the sensor or even other unrelated issues to crankshaft but is more tailored to engine system,

The worst thing you want is to go through so much trouble changing or replacing your crankshafts sensor and realizing that it was something else.

So if you conducted an actual diagnosis and the sensor is confirmed to be bad, then you have to replace the crankshaft sensor.

You can follow the guide below to replace it or hire an experienced mechanic you trust to change it for you.

What will a bad crankshaft position sensor do

How to diagnose crankshaft sensor

Can You Replace a Camshaft Position Sensor Yourself?

My response to this question is yes. And that is because it is one the easiest car maintenance job anyone can do and save money.

How long does it take to replace a camshaft sensor?

Replacing a camshaft sensor does take too long to replace. On average it should take around 5 to max 20 minutes depending on how experienced you are. If you are experienced it should be about 5 to 10 minutes and if you are not, may this be your first time, then it might take you a long time. Let’s say something around 10 to 20minutes or more.

It all depends on the individual and how fast they can learn and execute the task fast.

How to Replace a Camshaft Position Sensor

To replace the camshaft position sensor, you want to first buy your new camshafts which you can purchase on Amazon for cheap here or click any of the selections at the end of this post, then you have to follow the 11 steps below.

Step 1

Start by disconnecting the negative battery cable in front of your car.

Step 2

Then search for the camshaft sensor. Usually, it will be on the top, front, or rear part of the engine with a 2 to 3 wire connector that is attached to it. Read this post if you are still not able to locate it.

Step 3

Now you have to release the tab from the sensor to disconnect the sensor wires.

Step 4

Also, remove the mounting bolt which connects the sensor to the car engine. This is normally an 8mm or 10mm bolt.

Step 5

You have to pull the camshaft sensor off with just a little twist.

Step 6

You now have to apply a little engine oil to the O-ring of the new camshaft sensor.

Step 7

Install the new camshaft position sensor and secure it with the mounting bolt.

Step 8

Replace the old sensor with the new sensor input it in position.

Step 10

Now reconnect the sensor wires connector to the sensor.

Step 11

Finally, reconnect the negative battery terminals and go start your car to see how it performs.

Conclusion on is it safe to drive with a bad camshaft sensor

So far we have been able to look at how bad is it to drive with a bad camshaft and I hope I was able to provide you with an easy-to-grasp answer to the query “is it safe to drive with a bad camshaft sensor”? the thing is different conditions are what will determine whether it is okay or not to drive a car with a bad camshaft sensor. Basically, you can continue to drive your car if the car is running smoothly with no funny sound, stall, or acceleration issues, but if your car is not running as usual then consider replacing the crankshafts sensor, but before you do that run a proper text.

I also showed you How to Replace a Camshaft Position Sensor assuming you have conducted a proper diagnosis and have confirmed the camshaft sensor to be the issue. We also looked at the question “how long does it take to replace a camshaft sensor”?

I hope this post has helped you? please feel free to share and bookmark for future reference.

Related article: How to start a car with a bad crankshaft sensor

Jeffery Ekweghi

Hi dear, my name is Jeffery Ekweghi, and I am a certified mechanic and autobody parts technician. I created this site to share my expertise and experience with car lovers looking to resolve their car-related issues. I am certified in private cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. I have worked as a mechanic since 2015 and have experience in vehicle brands like Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, TATA, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Kia, TVs, and Others; however, I primarily specialize in Toyota vehicles.