Engine Management Light On - CMP Sensor

[Gaz_EP3]

OK about 2 weeks ago out of the blue my engine management light comes on on my '03 Type R, the car has just turned 63k. Took it to my local garage and had them run the scanner on it to see what codes it brought up. He said it was a CMP sensor which is the camshaft position sensor right? The car idles a bit low at time but this isn't consistent as sometimes I take it out and it idles just fine.

I mentioned this to the dealership I bought it off as the car was in for its service today and they said its possible the oil has gone a bit low and the timing chain tensioner has been starved of oil and the chain has stretched and therefore the timing could be slightly out. They won't cover it under the warranty I bought with the car and said it would cost about £550 to replace the chain, strip the engine down and build it back up again, all in all a days work.

Now I'm pretty anal about topping the oil up in my car, I never let it go for more than a week without checking the level and topping it up if necessary so I can't see how it could ever run low on oil. They put the fault light out and tonight it came back on again. Any suggestions as to what else it may be? Surely if the chain supposedly never needs replaced then the tensioner must take up the slack and therefore only a new tensioner is needed??? Sounds to me like they're looking for an excuse to milk £550 off me :evil:

 

[dragonflyjade]

Might be best to get the chain and tensioner changed over for piece of mind. When did you buy the car and at what mileage? Previous owner could have let it run low on oil frequently.

Give me some paragraphs too. Difficult to read a block of words at 1am.

 

[Gaz_EP3]

Might be best to get the chain and tensioner changed over for piece of mind. When did you buy the car and at what mileage? Previous owner could have let it run low on oil frequently.

Give me some paragraphs too. Difficult to read a block of words at 1am.

It only had one previous lady owner, I bought it with 51k on it and I've had it since February. Surely this problem would've raised its head earlier if she'd let the oil run low?


PS Edited with paragraphs :smt002 sorry was half asleep when I wrote that

 

[dragonflyjade]

She may have been ignoring the problem to be honest. Not all owners are as meticulous.

A shame about the warrenty not covering it - does the small print specifically say such parts?

 

[Gaz_EP3]

Gonna have a good read through it tomorrow but they say it doesn't

 

[dannysed]

hi, any garage would be able to check if the chain has stretched that much that it has changed the timing. there is timing marks on the crank pulley and camshaft gears, if they don't align up correct then the chain needs replacing.

yes the tensioner will deal a small amount of stretching and still run ok, but once it is maxed timing marks will be out.

also the tensioner is an auto tensioner same as a cambelt one, not oil fed.

could just be a faulty camshaft sensor or wiring.

danny

 

[Gaz_EP3]

hi, any garage would be able to check if the chain has stretched that much that it has changed the timing. there is timing marks on the crank pulley and camshaft gears, if they don't align up correct then the chain needs replacing.

yes the tensioner will deal a small amount of stretching and still run ok, but once it is maxed timing marks will be out.

also the tensioner is an auto tensioner same as a cambelt one, not oil fed.

could just be a faulty camshaft sensor or wiring.

danny

The tensioners are definitely oil fed mate, TDI offer a Toda one which isn't oil fed http://www.tdi-plc.com/catalog/prod...cts_id=1362&osCsid=6oae7g0qvbacdnl77vqee86u87

Gonna get it checked out by a specialist this week

Hoping its just a faulty/dirty sensor

 

[dannysed]

hmm ok , just when reading the civic manual it reads like its a spring which has to be compressed and pinned to be removed, still never mind as long as you are going to get it checked.

danny

 

[Gaz_EP3]

hmm ok , just when reading the civic manual it reads like its a spring which has to be compressed and pinned to be removed, still never mind as long as you are going to get it checked.

danny

Think they do have a spring in them with a piston thats moved under oil pressure??

At any rate I'll get it checked out this week and post up the findings

 

[Hoydonk]

I've had the exact same problem ** and decided to go down the TODA route.

First off had the cam sensor go, so replaced it and seemed to be ok. Then had Kpro fitted and was told I should of made more power (think timing was out then)

After about 6 months timing was complete sh*te so took off rocker cover and checked to see if the chain jumped (its metal chain so doubt it would stretch tbh) which it had about 6 links

Anyway replaced the chain and had a toda chain tensioner and had no problems since.

Oh and although the job looked easy would try it yourself. I snapped a 2' long easy bar tryin to get off the bottom pulley

 

[dannysed]

yeh the matel chains do scretch, i've changed a couple over a ten year period as i work for a merc dealer and merc's use timing chains in 80-90% of there engines. but they do alot more mileage before replacing unlike cambelts.

but if a tensioner fails then this is different reason to change the chain.


i would say you was lucky the valves did'nt hit the pistons if it jump 6 teeth/ links!!


danny

 

[Hoydonk]

i would say you was lucky the valves did'nt hit the pistons if it jump 6 teeth/ links!!

Yeah must admit did feel like I had goldballs when I saw it.

But with the parts and fitting at Honda came in at around £500 so didn't last long.