1998 Ranger Camshaft Synchronizer?

[FishHunt]

I had the CEL light come on in my Ranger. Said cam pos sensor was bad. I took the top sensor off and the tab on the inside of the sensor and the camshaft sync were broken. I just just got the replacement cam sensor and camshaft sync from RockAuto. Does the engine have to be TDC or set at a certain time before pulling the old camshaft sync and putting on the new one? The parts from RockAuto came with a yellow timing gizmo for the cam sensor but I am unsure about the timing of the new camshaft sync.

Thanks for any help.

<><Fish

 

[srteach]

Did you take the shaft out of the block? If you did, the engine must be at TDC to set the Cam Pos Sens. If you only took the fiber embedded plastic sensor off, just put the new sensor on and it should run.

If the shaft has been removed, you need to get the timing tool that sits on top of the CPS shaft, place it on the shaft and put the whole setup into the hole, tighten down, remove the tool, and replace timing tool with the sensor. Doing this is difficult due to the lack of space. Sometimes it is easier to pull the intake to get the room to work on it.

 

[dzk007]

I just did this on my 97 Taurus and the proceedure is the same.
It doesn't matter when you pull the shaft but opon assembly, the whole unit must be on 0 deg TDC compression of #1 cylinder for reassembly. You might want to pull the valve cover to make sure it's on the compression stroke but I didn't and it must have been right...
When you have the engine in physical time at tdc #1 on compression stroke you install the cam sensor shaft with the timing tool bolted to it. Then you swap the sensor for the tool and should be good as new.

 

[FishHunt]

Finally got around to working on my Ranger.

I have the engine at 0 degree TDC on the compression stroke #1 cylinder and can not get the camshaft sync all the way in. I have tried turning the engine over back and forth by hand while someone pushed down on the new cam sync and can not get it to seat all the way.

Thanks for any help or advice.

<><Fish

 

[kduckett]

Could be the oil pump drive shaft not splining in and sync o-ring giving you a hard time when it starts its way into the block, you could try using an oil pump prime tool or socket and extension (don't drop the socket in the engine!!!) turn the oil pump (it runs clockwise) over a couple turns and hopefully the sync will spline right up when you slide it in, it is hit or miss, oh and be sure to lube that o-ring.
P.S. make sure you have the correct cam sync, compare the size of the oil pump splines from the old one with the new one to ensure they are the same (5/16" I believe).