Circuit/System Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 GMC Sierra and 2010 Chevrolet Silverado. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The 4X camshaft position sensor circuits consist of an engine control module (ECM) supplied 5 V reference circuit, low reference circuit, and an output signal circuit. The camshaft position sensor is an internally magnetic biased digital output integrated circuit sensing device. The sensor detects magnetic flux changes between the peaks and valleys of a 4-tooth reluctor wheel attached to the camshaft. As each reluctor wheel tooth rotates past the camshaft position sensor, the resulting change in the magnetic field is used by the sensor electronics to produce a digital output pulse. The sensor returns a digital ON/OFF DC voltage pulse of varying frequency, with 2 narrow and 2 wide output pulses per camshaft revolution that represent an image of the camshaft reluctor wheel. The frequency of the camshaft position sensor output depends on the velocity of the camshaft. The ECM decodes the narrow and wide tooth pattern to identify camshaft position. This information is then used to sequence the ignition timing and fuel injection events for the engine. The ECM also uses camshaft position sensor output information to determine the camshaft relative position to the crankshaft, to control the camshaft position actuator, if equipped, and for limp-home operation.