How To Test The Camshaft Position Sensor (1992-1995 5.2L Dodge Dakota)

TEST 2: Making Sure The Camshaft Position Sensor Is Getting 8 Volts

As I mentioned earlier, the camshaft position sensor needs 8 Volts to function.

In this test section, we're gonna' make sure that the orange (ORG) wire of the connector has 8 Volts present with the key ON.

NOTE: Avoid probing the front of the female terminal with your multimeter test lead or you run the risk of damaging the terminal. Use a back-probe on the back of the connector or use a wire-piercing probe on the wire.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Disconnect the CMP sensor from its connector.

2. 2

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

3. 3

   Turn the key on but don't crank or start the engine.

4. 4

   Connect the red multimeter test lead (using the appropriate tool) to the power wire identified with the number 1 in the photo above.
   
   This wire should be a orange (ORG) wire.

5. 5

   Connect the black multimeter test lead to the negative (-) battery terminal.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should read 7 to 8 Volts DC.

Let's analyze your test result:

CASE 1: 7 to 8 Volts DC are present in the ORG wire. This is the correct and expected test result.

We need to do one more test and that is to make sure that Ground is present in the BLK/LT BLU wire of the connector. For this test go to: TEST 3: Making Sure The Camshaft Position Sensor Is Getting Ground.

CASE 2: 7 to 8 Volts DC ARE NOT present in the ORG wire. Without this voltage the camshaft position sensor will not produce a CMP voltage signal.

A lack of 5 Volts is usually due to an open-circuit problem in the ORG wire between the CMP sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer's connector.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to check for these missing 8 Volts, your next step is to find out why they are missing and restore them.

TEST 3: Making Sure The Camshaft Position Sensor Is Getting Ground

Up to this point your test results have confirmed that:

• The camshaft position sensor is not creating an ON/OFF voltage signal (TEST 1).
• The camshaft position sensor is receiving 8 Volts DC on the ORG wire.

Now, we're gonna' check that the black with light blue stripe (BLK/LT BLU) wire is feeding the camshaft position sensor with Ground.

The BLK/LT BLU wire is the one labeled with the number 2 in the photo above.

IMPORTANT: Be careful and don't short the BLK/LT BLU wire to battery power (12 Volts) or you'll fry the fuel injection computer. The multimeter voltage test I'm suggesting below (for testing the Ground circuit) is a safe and accurate test.

NOTE: Avoid probing the front of the female terminal with your multimeter test lead or you run the risk of damaging the terminal. Use a back-probe on the back of the connector or use a wire-piercing probe on the wire.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Disconnect the CMP sensor from its connector.

2. 2

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

3. 3

   Turn the key on but don't crank or start the engine.

4. 4

   Connect the black multimeter test lead (using the appropriate tool) to the Ground wire identified with the number 2 in the photo above.
   
   This wire is the BLK/LT BLU wire of the connector.

5. 5

   Connect the red multimeter test lead to the positive (+) battery terminal.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should read 10 to 12 Volts DC if the BLK/LT BLU wire is providing Ground.

Let's take a look at what your test results mean:

CASE 1: The BLK/LT BLU wire is providing Ground to the CMP sensor. This is the correct test result and let's you know that the camshaft position sensor is getting Ground.

The camshaft position sensor is bad and needs to be replaced if you have:

• Confirmed that the camshaft position sensor IS NOT creating an ON/OFF voltage signal (TEST 1).
• Confirmed that 5 Volts are being fed to the camshaft position sensor (TEST 2).
• Confirmed that Ground is being fed to the camshaft position sensor (this test section).

CASE 2: The BLK/LT BLU wire IS NOT providing Ground to the CMP sensor. Without Ground the camshaft position sensor will not produce a CMP voltage signal.

The most likely cause of this missing Ground is an open-circuit problem in the BLK/LT BLU wire between the CMP sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer's connector.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to check for this missing Ground, your next step is to find out why it's missing and restore it.

More 5.2L Dodge Dakota Tutorials

You can find a complete list of 5.2L Dodge Dakota and Durango tutorials in this index:

• Chrysler 5.2L, 5.9L Index Of Articles.

Here's a small sample of the tutorials you'll find in the index:

• Blown Head Gasket Tests (1997-1999 V8 Dodge Dakota, Durango).
• How To Test The Fuel Pump (1997-1999 V8 Dodge Dakota, Durango).
• How To Test The Crankshaft Position Sensor (1997-1999 V8 Dakota, Durango).
• How To Test The Throttle Position Sensor (1997-1999 V8 Dakota, Durango).