Camshaft Position Sensor DIY?

[Notorious M.O.L.]

I'm going to say right off the bat that I'm NOT one for fixing cars, but my husband is. Unfortunately, he left today for two weeks in Chile, so I'm on my own researching this. I'm not trying to fix this myself, rather I'm trying to get my father/brother/husband to fix it. So please...go easy on me when it comes to your answers!

I have a 2001 Lanos Sport hatchback. I've had very few problems with it up until now (although the one problem I did have was big...needed a whole new transmission put in it in 2006). I'm pretty sure it needs a new camshaft position sensor (CPS). The check engine light has been coming on and turning off for the last two weeks, when the code is read it's coming up as the CPS. Today the car stalled for no apparent reason when I was idling at a stop...research online has shown that this can sometimes be the CPS. We replaced the spark plugs hoping that would fix the issue, but it didn't.

I know the CPS was being recalled some years ago, but I already had that recall fixed in 2004. I don't know how much I trust the dealership to have actually replaced it. (just so happened that when all the work was free, my headlights went dead and it would cost $100 to fix them...they worked fine when the car went to the dealership...but not after they did the recall work that they made no money on...fishy.) I'm not going to fight with them about it though.

I've found a new CPS at my local Autozone for $120 (how does that price sound to everybody?) The husband wants to know, how hard is it to replace? Do you have to disassemble the whole timing belt setup, because that's the vibe I'm getting when reading the forums here and elsewhere. He is pretty good with cars, does all the work on his Mazdaspeed Protege, he did his own timing belt and water pump on that car but it took two days.

Or should we just have the woo taken to a shop to get the CPS replaced?

If we can do it ourselves, can any one recommend a decent repair manual and where to get it? We both think it will be a good thing to have on hand for the future of this car.

[daewoomofo]

hello. i havent done the CPS on my lanos yet but i am pretty sure that it is a diy sort of thing. for the service manual, http://rapidshare.com/files/107187870/L ... g.zip.html
with the age of the car id say its due for a new timing belt, tensioner, idler and water pump. save your self alot of frustration and get that all changed soon.

[Notorious M.O.L.]

Thanks mofo, but the link doesn't work! Maybe try it again. Please?

The car has about 65,000 miles on it, I've always heard that you don't need a new timing belt until 90,000, and we're hoping not to have to keep the car for too much longer.

[buddha102]

90k? no i think u should do it now, cause it says to replace it at 65 i think or 55k, ive heard a lot of stories that owners dint care about the timing belt and when it hit one of them.... it broke....

well... for CPS i replaced it with a junkyard CPS from other daewoo cause it looked fairly new, and it worked no more check engine light... check ebay. there should have a brand new for 80$

[Daniel]

+1

In my MY2000 Nubira user's manual (1.6DOHC) timing belt has to be done at 90,000km (54,000miles) OR 6 years.
Now for the MY2004 Lacetti (same engine) timing belt job is asked at 60,000km (36,000miles) OR 4.5 years.

I'm pretty sure that there was alot of warranty problems and service interval was reduced.
That's for Europe but I believe it's the same for you.

So, change it now . Better safe than sorry.

Daniel

[buddha102]

+1

true that daniel

[daewoomofo]

damn it must have JUST went down, i checked it before i posted that. i have the manual on my computer. if there is any where i can upload it to and keep it there ill be more than happy to upload it for every one to enjoy. but if you wait for 90k miles for a timing belt your asking for trouble. 50k is the upper limit of where id push the car without a timing belt (and associated components) swap.