2.3L ('83-'97) Cam position sensor location

[Buford351]

1996 2.3l ranger.need can sensor location verified plz. Found 2 partially melted and 1 completely bare wires . Driver's side under ps.pump.by oil pump gear.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That's the cam sensor for sure. Being Ford it's a Variable Reluctance type sensor which takes two wires but has a ground shield that is usually bare running next to the other two.

 

[Buford351]

Yes there is one . wasn't hooked up.does it go in the plug with the other two somewhere?

 

[Buford351]

That's the cam sensor for sure. Being Ford it's a Variable Reluctance type sensor which takes two wires but has a ground shield that is usually bare running next to the other two.

Thank you, what is the shield for? I thought it was a ground. Found another one wrapped in the wires going to pcm. It has 12 volts running through it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The shield is to attempt to shield the signal wires from stray noise, the sensor is like a microphone with a very low voltage so any noise and it might not know what is happening.

That said, the cam sensor isn't used for startup, just once it's running so it can run sequential instead of batch fire on fuel injection and spark.