DaveFromColorado Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 1990 Buick Regal, 3.8, Automatic, A/C So it looks like I need a new cam sensor on my Buick (no cam reference signal according to my scanner) Just wonderin' where this sensor may be located, and how easy it is to change on one of the L27's. The car seems to drive very well without it, but it idles a bit rough ... and my gas milage sucks a fat pair. Any input/help would be most appreceiated, this will probably be one of the things I'll be replacing when we do the Head Gaskets, unless it's an extremely easy job (I didn't really put much time into lookin' for the sensor itself) --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Dubya Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 there is a magnet on the cam sprocket that can also cause a misfire issue, causing the cam sensor not to get full signal of it's position. If you are taking the heads off, remove the front cover and do that too. those 3.8's are one big PITA with those sensor problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19902drlumina Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 was looking at the manual looks to be on the timing cover 1 bolt holds it down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Well, it's got a real lopy idle, sounds mean and powerful, and usually when I hear that kinda idle, I think either I've got way too much fuel gettin' into the system, a super huge cam, bad ign timing, or a loose timing chain ... of all those things, I'm thinkin' my T-chain is gettin' a bit loose, and if that sensor is bad, or the magnet is bad, this would probably be the perfect opertunity to change timing set. anyone know of the L27's came with those shitty nylon timing sets ... cause if it did, I'll probably be changing it sometime this week, I do know these 3.8's are interference motors (as are most pushrod engines) --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19902drlumina Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 has a chain im pretty sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihela816 Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 The gears changed to metal in 88 i believe. No worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19902drlumina Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 oh the gears themself oh yea theyre metal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 yeah, I had an 87 Grand AM with the 3.0 V6- the timing chain broke in that car, and caused all sorts of crappy issues - had to replace the heads cause the front bank, and rear bank tagged a couple valves hard enough to make the heads useless any further. Anyhow, those aluminum gears with the nylon covering (to make 'em quite) was about the dumbest idea any car manufacturer ever came out with ... ever! but yeah, good I don't have to worry 'bout changin' the timing set this week ... I'll probably talk to DiscoStudd and see if that's somethin' we wanna get into with the head-gaskets. --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Dubya Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 i bet that magnet is just about no more. good luck either way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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