> >> The Cam Sensor does a similar job as the points used to do way back
> >> when they still used points.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> > sensor - ignition wise - tells which stroke the engine is on as the
> > crank turns twice per cylinder cycle.
> But Dave, the points time the spark. Granted, the job is done
> differently, but when looking for the cam sensor, one would look in
> essentially the same place as one might look for points. The package
> might be different, but the location and job is pretty much the same.
You've not understood what I've written. It's a combination of the two,
but the crank one actually triggers the spark. It's perfectly possible to
trigger the ignition from the crank only - the Ford EDIS system does this
- and I don't know of any that uses a cam position only one.
> Distributors (points) have always been driven by a gear. I've never seen
> an application where this job would be done via a chain-driven mechanism.
Most distributors are gear driven off the camshaft - which in turn is
usually driven by a chain or belt. So any wear in that chain effects the
ignition timing. That didn't much matter when points and timing were
checked every few thousand miles, and there were no emission controls, but
these days ignition systems are expected to last the life of the car with
no attention, and provide accurate timing throughout.

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Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
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Jeff Strickland - 08 Apr 2009 16:03 GMT
>> >> The Cam Sensor does a similar job as the points used to do way back
>> >> when they still used points.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> these days ignition systems are expected to last the life of the car with
> no attention, and provide accurate timing throughout.
No matter, the discussion is the source of the P1397 code, and that comes
from the cam sensor, and that is located in a position one might expcet to
find the points -- if they still used points (which we all know they don't
use and haven't used for a very long time, but gives one an idea of where to
locate the cam sensor).