Driving home tonight and started getting a light knocking from my engine. I have gone all over the engine with a stethoscope and feeling by hand and the knocking and vibration from the knocking seems to be coming from the camshaft positioning sensor. Is this possible and has anyone had this problem?

 

This site serves multiple models and engines over a range of many years. Whenever you post for help, you need to be sure to indicate your model, engine and year at a minimum, plus any additional relevant info specific to your problem. I might have some ideas, but I could be completely wrong if you have a different engine that I don't know much about.

 

Yea, SORRY. I knew that. I know what I drive and I guess I think you should too. It's a 2002 Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 straight 6.

 

Then yes, I've had that problem. Two things come to mind:

First, pull the camshaft position sensor off and check the underside of it. Sometimes the magnet just comes loose and ticks. If it looks relatively clean but the magnet is loose, you can just replace it with a new one.

However, be sure to check the inner shaft of the oil pump drive for excessive play. If the inner shaft is wobbling around too much, it can start taking bites out of the magnet as it rotates and/or knock it loose. If there's play, replace the oil pump drive before it seizes up. It's not a difficult replacement. If it seems tight, just replace the cam position sensor and call it a day.

 

Got more problems than the Camshaft position sensor. Replaced it, synchronizer shaft and all. It got rid of some of the noise but not the knock. Here is a list of things I have checked:


1: The camshaft sensor and shaft, checked the oil pump for free turning while I had the synchronizer out.
2: Unplugged each injector terminal one at a time with the engine running, no noticeable difference in the knocking sound.
3: Pulled the starter and flywheel inspection cover, turned the engine by hand several rounds and everything looked good
4: Ran the engine without the belt.
5: Pulled the valve cover and ran the engine putting hand pressure on both the lifter side and the valve side, no chance in the knocking. Everything looked to be in good shape in the valve train.
6; Put new oil in with a quart of Lucas Oil Treatment.


***I have gone over the engine, top to bottom with a stethoscope and have not been able to locate the place where the knock is coming from and I can't tell by just listening. It sounds like it is the speed of something in the valve train, like every other revolution, I'm pretty sure but not 100% sure on that. It has never gotten louder or quieter with anything I've done. I have worked with the transmission, putting it in gear, taking it out, putting it in reverse, and accelerated with it in gear and the knock stays the same through all those situations. My question at this point is, does anybody have any suggestions or test to try to locate the problem other than what I've done before I start taking the engine down piece by piece to find the problem

 

Knocks can be tough. How tight is the chain? Does it knock all the time or just some times? How about exhaust leaks?