To get to the cam shaft sensor you have to take the cam belt off I'm afraid!

 

Thanks, not was I was hoping for! I had read conflicting things on this some saying you do, some saying you don't! I was hopingf or the latter!

Does the problem with the engineer sound like the cam sensor is at fault?

I bought the car about 2 months ago and the previous owner had the cam belt done about 5 months before I bought it.

 

I bought the car about 2 months ago and the previous owner had the cam belt done about 5 months before I bought it.

Any evidence that it had been done, or just the seller's word for it?

 

If it's coming up to cam belt time then it's not too bad but if it's not then it's a right pain because as rock hopper says, ti change the sensor is a cam belt change job.

Not as expensive as it once was, shop around for a good price.

I'm lucky, I have a cam sensor fault but it's not important on the cf1 engine. Dosen't go into limp mode on the cf1.

 

Thanks Mitch. Could the cam sensor going cause the engine not to start at all?
When you say not as expensive as it used to be, what are we talking roughly?

Thanks again

 

cam sensor or crank sensor?

 

Usually the sensor will just put the car into limp home mode, in this case I just have a horrible feeling we are looking at something more serious. The cam sensor compares the position of the cam pulley with the position of the crank shaft, when the two get out of sync then it throws up an error and puts you into limp mode to safeguard the engine and prevent damage. What could cause the error code? Well simplest would be a faulty sensor or perhaps more likely in this case it was detecting the early stages of a failing cam belt (ie its jumped a few teeth... :-( )

 

147Smith - code is def reading cam sensor.

Rockhopper - thanks, sounds like it went into limp mode then something more serious happened! I thought it might not just be the sensor when the car sounded like I had no oil, very loud and tappy - not knocking.

Sounds strange when trying to start now, very hard to describe in words!

How do I get the cover of the cam belt off to see if looks like its in position or even snapped? Can I take the cover off without disturbing anything else?

Thanks again for your help

 

OK, I've now posted a video of what the engine sounds like when trying to start. Does this give anyone any clues? Many thanks.
Eds Alfa 147 engine noise - YouTube

 

I'm sorry to say that from what I can hear on my laptop, that sounds horribly like the quicker engine spinning that you get when you've lost compression, which means that the noise you heard was probably the valves smacking onto the pistons......I very much doubt that the cam sensor failure caused the problem, but was more likely a symptom. Since the belt was done recently, its difficult to point to why its failed - could be someone cut corners on changing tensioners or just didn't tighten everything up properly. Either way, bad news I'm afraid.

 

Thanks for your message. Car is only worth about £1000 is it worth taking this in for repair or time to say goodbye?

 

Don't scrap it just on my judgement - lets see if anyone else agrees with me

Repair will cost around £500 minimum, depending on what you can get the bits for and how much labour you have to pay.

After that you have to assess the general condition of your car and whether its going to incur any other expenses, and weigh that up against what you'll get for it as is (not much, really) and how much a replacement will cost you, and the likelihood of having to spend something on that....

I'd say better the devil you know, and therefore repair it, but only you can make that judgement.

 

I'd start by getting the cam belt cover off and inspecting the belt then you'll have a better idea of what might be wrong. When was it last changed just out of interest?

 

not sure on cam belt failure, when it happened to me it didnt sound like that, I had more of a whooshing noise as the pistons blew air past the valves. maybe worth getting the cam belt cover off, and having a look. mine was just hanging loose in the cover.
was easy to get the cover off, just search on here for cam belt changes and follow the guide.
scrapped the 147 and got another one also the same! now onto the 156 sportswagon :inlove:

 

It wont be the crank sensor they fail intermintantly.

Probably the cam sensor as listed. Sometimes if someone is a bit ham fisted they can knock it off the cam pully which damages it then it fails.
You maybe able to change it in situ but you'd need a person to hold the pulley in position while its being replaced. Even then theres a good chance you'd move the camshaft or even crankshaft pulley.

 

Hi all, looks like the cam belt has gone after all and damaged the engine along the way.
It's not worth me getting this repaired.

Am I better scrapping it (offered about £180) or would I be better selling for parts?

It's got a long MOT and is in great condition apart from the engine!, BOSE sound system etc

Thanks
Ed

 

Sorry for that. how much time and how many miles since the last cambelt change?