How To Test The Camshaft Position Sensor (1996-1997 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup)

TEST 2: Making Sure The CMP Sensor Has 5 Volts

If you reached this point, then the CMP sensor's voltage signal is not switching between 5 Volts and 0 Volts in TEST 1.

There's a good chance that the sensor is not producing its ON/OFF voltage signal because it isn't getting power from the fuel injection computer.

So in this test section, we're going to make sure that the violet with white stripe (VIO/WHT) wire is providing 5 Volts DC to the CMP sensor.

If the VIO/WHT wire is providing 5 Volts to the CMP sensor, then the next test is to make sure that it's getting Ground.

Let's get testing:

1. 1

   Disconnect the CMP sensor from its connector.

2. 2

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

3. 3

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

4. 4

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

5. 5

   With the red multimeter test lead, probe the front of the female terminal that connects to the VIO/WHT wire.
   
   NOTE: This test is done on the engine wiring harness connector that has female terminals.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should read 4.5 to 5 Volts

Let's analyze your test result:

CASE 1: 5 Volts are present in the VIO/WHT wire. This is the correct and expected test result.

The next test is to test for the presence of Ground in the black light blue stripe wire: TEST 3: Making Sure The CMP Sensor Has Ground.

CASE 2: 5 Volts ARE NOT present in the VIO/WHT wire. Without 5 Volts the camshaft position sensor will not produce a CMP voltage signal.

What's usually behind the lack of these 5 Volts is an open-circuit problem in the VIO/WHT 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 power, your next step is to find out why it's missing and restore it.

TEST 3: Making Sure The CMP Sensor Has Ground

The camshaft position sensor also needs Ground to create its ON/OFF voltage signal. So in this last test section, we're gonna' test the black with light blue stripe (BLK/LT BLU) wire to make sure it's delivering Ground to the CMP sensor.

IMPORTANT: The fuel injection computer provides Ground to the CMP sensor. 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 presence of Ground in this wire) is a safe and accurate test.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Disconnect the CMP sensor from its connector.

2. 2

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

3. 3

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

4. 4

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

5. 5

   With the black multimeter test lead, probe the front of the female terminal that connects to the BLK/LT BLU wire.
   
   NOTE: This test is done on the engine wiring harness connector that has female terminals.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should read 10 to 12 Volts if Ground is present.

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

CASE 1: Ground is present at the BLK/LT BLU wire. This confirms the camshaft position sensor is receiving its necessary Ground connection.

If the sensor still isn't producing a signal, it's time to replace it —but only if all of the following are true:

• The CMP sensor's voltage signal doesn't alternate between 0 and 5 Volts during TEST 1.
• There's 5 Volts DC on the VIO/WHT wire during TEST 2.
• Ground is present on the BLK/LT BLU wire in this test.

CASE 2: Ground is missing at the BLK/LT BLU wire. Without a proper Ground, the camshaft position sensor won't generate its ON/OFF voltage signal.

This usually happens because the BLK/LT BLU wire has an open-circuit somewhere between the sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer.

Diagnosing the cause of the missing Ground goes beyond this tutorial, but your next move is to trace the break and fix the connection.

More 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup Diagnostic Tutorials

I've written quite a few tutorials that may help you troubleshoot the issues on your V8 Dodge Ram pickup. You can find them in this index:

• 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup Index Of Articles.

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

• How To Test The Intake Air Temp (IAT) Sensor (1992-1997 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• How To Test Engine Compression (1989-2003 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• How To Test The TPS (1997-2003 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Testing The Oxygen Sensors (1996-2003 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).