Camshaft Position Sensor help required please

S

sj007

Member
Hi guys,

I've got a problem with my 2005 2.0 Z4. The engine warning light has flicked on and off at different periods over the course of the last year or so. Stupidly, I've ignored it. Recently though, I've noticed a significant lack of power to the engine and some irratic performance.

Yesterday evening, this culminated in the car not starting at all. The engine is turning over but not firing. I called Greenflag out, who plugged into the diagnostic port under the dashboard and told me this is what it says :-

"P0366#12 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BANK1"

The code doesn't seem to match up to the description when I cross reference against whats on this site, but the symptoms seem to match up with it being a Camshaft fault. I've ordered a replacement and intend on having a go at replacing it during the day tomorrow before its too dark. I'm not very experienced in working on cars though and have got a few questions though, so hopefully somebody can help :-

1. Has anyone got a photo of exactly where the camshaft is fitted?

2. I believe it's the inlet sensor that needs replacing, will it be easy for me to distinguish between this and the exhaust camshaft sensor?

If anybody happens to have a step by step guide on how to do this on a Z4 (theres lots of 3 series guides on youtube but am guessing the positioning is different) that'd be really helpful. Alternatively, if anybody wants to earn a few quid who knows for sure how to do this (I believe its 15 mins work) then I'm located in E14 London, would be interested in offers.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

Sanj
 
The inlet sensor will be on the right hand side of the engine (Passenger UK)

Can't tell you where exactly. If you look on www.realoem.com though and enter the part number for the senor you bought it will show you which cars it fitted to. Find yours and dlcik the link, hopefully it will show you a diagram of where to find.
 
Thanks for your help mate.

Things have developed a bit. The part I was sent was the wrong part so I had a mobile mechanic pick up the right one, bring it over and fit it. Unfortunately, the car's still not starting.

The mechanic plugged his laptop into the on board computer, ran a few tests but still wasn't sure what's stopping it from starting. He checked that the spark plug is sparking (it is) and the tip of it was wet suggesting fuel is getting through. He therefore suggested it's probably one of the following two issues :-

1) Valvtronic Motor has gone (he reckons this is likely, but didn't have a multi metre with him to test it)

or

2) The drive chain has jumped its teeth (he says this is unlikely)

I've spoken to another mechanic since, who tells me the Valvtronic Motors very rarely ever fail, and has suggested it could be the Crankshaft Sensor that needs replacing. The only thing that's troubling me though is that, even with my limited mechanical knowledge, wouldn't have thought that any of these faults would have also meant a loss of power when driving as well. This was a significant fault on the car in the week or two it was running before it stopped starting, so I can't help thinking it must be related.

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions, I'd be grateful to hear them. Failing that, I'm planning on getting the car towed over to the mechanic who suggested the crankshaft sensor tomorrow morning.
 
How did you decide that code related to the inlet? It's ambiguous to me. Might be the exhaust side? I would have thought the car would start without a particular sensor, though it won't run that well. Hope you get it sorted easily, let us know how you get on.
 
Well I thought Bank 1 related to the inlet sensor? When the guy replaced it and it still didn't start, I asked him to replace the one he'd taken out with the exhaust sensor to see if that got the car going but still no joy.

So this morning I had my car towed to garage. Arrived at the garage for about 9, I had a call at 11 telling me that the cars had the wrong oil in it (so I'll be speaking to the guy who did my last service) and a few parts needed replacing. The mechanic replaced the following :-

Oil + Filter
2 x Camshaft Pulley Bolts
Hydraulic Chain Tensioner

He also recommended replacing the Rockacover Gasket but said it was a 'nice to do' rather than necessity. He also talked about a chain jumping a few of its teeth. Anyway, I got the bits, took them over to him, and he had the car up and running again within the hour. Feels back to normal again, starting like it should, full power etc.

He charged me £175 for his labour plus £75 for the Oil and Filter. I picked up the Bolts and Tensioner for another £40 or so. I think his labour charge is a bit high but a lesser mechanic probably would have just swapped parts about at my cost until it got going again.
 
Not sure. He spent a couple of hours investigating where the problem was coming from I guess. He's a BMW specialist who seemed to know the car pretty well even before he saw it.
 
sj007 said:
Well I thought Bank 1 related to the inlet sensor?
Click to expand...
Well, P0366 is a generic OBC code that could apply to any car, so bank 1 and 2 allow for V6 etc. configurations. Then there's a circuit A and B which I assume typically goes to intake and exhaust. Thus straight 6 engines only have one bank in this context. If it were an BMW specific code, bank 1 could be the 1st 3 cylinders and bank 2 the rear, but not intake or exhaust. But I might be misinformed. I was hoping you had a more definitive reason for the interpretation, but it sounds like we're both somewhat in the dark? :?

Sounds like the tensioner failed, causing the chain to jump. The screwed up valve timing explains the cam sensor code, I'm surprised you didn't get codes for both A & B (or 1 & 2?). It's a good illustration how trouble codes can be correct but inaccurate and misleading. In any case, glad you got it sorted without too much expense, despite the expensive labour. :thumbsup:
 
hi ive just bought a 55 plate z4 2.0i and ive got code p0366 camshaft position sensor or B circuit range / performance bank 1.
is this same as yours and did you get it sorted cheers
 
Chap who started the topic was last time on the forum in 2012, I highly doubt you’ll get an answer from him :tumbleweed:
 
Choiiii said:
hi ive just bought a 55 plate z4 2.0i and ive got code p0366 camshaft position sensor or B circuit range / performance bank 1.
is this same as yours and did you get it sorted cheers
Click to expand...
See Micke’s response too. Yes, he did get it sorted, if you read the thread; but you have a different engine altogether.
 
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