2006 M35 Camshaft Sensors

[Royalmongolian]

I've never posted anything on the computer (I'm old) before but I'm frustrated with my 2006 M35 86k. I have faithfully kept up with all maintenance and recently spent $4400 on my steering rack, brakes and a rear seal. Today, the car pooped out on the highway so I'm having to replace the Camshaft sensors and fix leaking valve covers. The problem I experienced today was similar to the accelerator recall issue but this time will be at my expense. My question is, should I expect the same problems with my wife's 2008 M35?

[sx moneypit]

Moved to the M35/M45 forum.

Welcome to NICO!

[svard75]

Never assume one car is built exactly the same as another even though it was built at the same plant. Do you drive your car often? How often do you change your oil and is this car being driven on the highway or just short errands?

[EniGmA1987]

I have had both my camshaft position sensors go out over my years of owning the car. The dealer told me they tend to go bad after 6-7 years. I replaced one of them, and then the next year the other went bad too. I find it odd that you say the car "pooped out on you" because both mine started to fail when I was on the highway too and neither caused my car to die or anything like that. Each time it happened the car downshifted from 5th to 4th, then back up to 5th 1 second later. I believe the SES, RAS, VDC, and SLIP lights all come on and stay on when this happens. The car still runs perfectly fine though, but it can have trouble starting up. It is still able to drive to the mechanic fine though.

[robert_4.5_S]

"EniGmA1987" So how many cam sensors there are ?? I have m45 and my mechanic told me there is only one camshaft sensor.

I have same problem now. Im scared to drive, because the car might stop working at anytime. It happened 4 times already, and each time i would have to wait 15-20 min to turn it on again. I have engine light on all the time. Tomorrow im getting camshaft sensor replaced, hope its gonna be fixed.

[EniGmA1987]

"EniGmA1987" So how many cam sensors there are ?? I have m45 and my mechanic told me there is only one camshaft sensor.

There should be two, a bank 1 and bank 2. I believe bank 1 is on the passenger side, so to your left when you are looking into the engine bay. Bank 2 would be a lot harder to get to because of the intake.

Edit: yes see this picture here showing the engine from the rear:

[vasekvi]

Geez. So many with the same problem. I'm glad I have a 150,000 mile warranty.

[robert_4.5_S]

Thanks for info, I didn't know that. I guess it would be best to replace both of them.

[EniGmA1987]

my mechanic told me there is only one camshaft sensor.

Maybe he is thinking crankshaft sensor, because there is one crankshaft and two camshafts. So it makes sense for there to be one crankshaft sensor and two camshaft sensors.

[Brian35XR]

Maybe you're thinking of the crankshaft sensor? There's only 1 and when it start to go bad it does make the car shut off randomly. On my g35 it was a ten minute job the sensor was $10 at autozone and it plugged in right in the bottom of the engine. Barely need to jack the car up.

edit:Enigma had the same idea

[pedsemdoc]

my mechanic told me there is only one camshaft sensor.

Maybe he is thinking crankshaft sensor, because there is one crankshaft and two camshafts. So it makes sense for there to be one crankshaft sensor and two camshaft sensors.

I know there was a thread that was trying to clarify the number and terminology between CAMshaft and CRANKshaft position sensors:

Fine. I've dealt with this issue in an earlier post with regard to the M45 2006--which incidentally has the same engine configuration as your 2003. The code you pulled is P0340.
Somehow all these codes are related:
P0011/ P1140:Intake valve timing control position sensor Bank 1
P0021/P1145:Intake valve timing control position sensor Bank 2
P0335:crankshaft position sensor
P0340:camshaft position sensor
Nissan/Infiniti interchanges the names of these sensors (Camshaft Position Sensor, Crankshaft Position Sensor, and Intake Valve Timing Control Sensor (IVT or VTC) depending on location in the vehicle. They are all identical and so are their part codes.
Camshaft: 23731m & 23731MA
Crankshaft: 23731T; 23731TA; & 23731U
IVT/VTC: 23731Y
For your car, there is only one camshaft sensor and one crankshaft sensor. It seems too that what you changed was the bank 1 IVT sensor, and so the problem and error code stayed on. Now, even though you have an error code for the camshaft sensor, I'd suggest you replace the crankshaft sensor as well because usually a weak crankshaft sensor could make the camshaft sensor dysfunctional.The interesting point is that both have the same part number 23731-4M50B (old number was 23731-4M506)The camshaft sensor is located in the engine bay under the air box (intake air duct), while the crankshaft is under the transmission. Because of the interchangeability I just mentioned, the parts are likely to come under the name crankshaft sensor---why not, it's the same part number; what's different is the part code, i.e. the location of the parts in the vehicle.
I'd advise you use oem sensors. Good luck.
PS. Perhaps I should add that the part number for the two IVT or VTC sensors is 23731-2Y52A (new) or 23731-2Y524 (old). It might come as camshaft sensor from some dealers.

Taken from the Service Manual

For the VQ35DE engine = M35

2 CAMshaft position sensors (#s 17 and 18)



For the VK45DE engine - M45
1 CAMshaft position sensor (#25)


and 1 CRANKshaft position sensor (#3 on top diagram) that you get to from underneath the car near the back of the oil pan


Part numbers appear to be interchangeable, just to confuse the issue...clear as mud, right?

Craig

[robert_4.5_S]

Thanks Craig for explaining it.
I just replaced camshaft sensor, so far no engine light on, and the car runs good.if this happens again then I will replace crank sensor as well.

Thanks guys for information.

[nijaboy]

Registered JUST to say that was an excellent post by pedsemdoc

[gavnator]

I have 71,000 on my 06' M35X and just had Infiniti replace Bank1 camshaft position sensor. I was in a dept. store parking lot and the car stumbled and stalled. All dash lights specified in previous posts went on. I let the car site about 15 minutes and started it and drove home. I plugged in my code scanner and sure enough it came up with P0340 B1 failure. Took it to Roswell Infiniti and tested it out with same failure code and replaced the sensor. I expect the other bank to fail at some point as its common for these sensors to fail with age. I had a Pathfinder with the 3.5 motor and both camshaft position sensors were replaced.

[Nissandro]

Guys,
Thank you for all the advise you posted about the camshaft sensors. Without it, it would've been impossible to fix my M35 2006. Replacing the sensor took care of the engine light and some other lights that went on on the instrument cluster.
I am writing this to help you with replacing the sensor. It's actually very simple if you understand the harness mechanism. This is what I did and it only took me only an hour. I will assume you are going to replace the sensor on the passenger side.
1- Don't worry about removing the harness from the sensor.
2- Remove the screw that holds the sensor in place.
3- Remove the sensor and bring it up a little bit enough for you to see the underside of it. The cables will give you some room to do this.
4- This is where removing the sensor gets tricky. The connector has a release tab. For the most part on all the connectors you push the tab down and that releases the connector.
5- For the Camshaft Sensor on M35 2006 (Green Connector) You will need to push the tab IN. The tab is on the underside. It's a little bit hard but if you need try a pair of pliers and gently push the tab in. You will hear a click and that will release the sensor from the connector.
6- Remove the old sensor and place the new one in the connector.
7- Replace the new sensor and the screw. Make sure it is tight enough.
8- Erase the trouble codes with your OBDII devise.
9- You should good to go.
This piece of information was intended to help you guys with an easy removal of the sensor when you get malfunction code P0340. In some cases this might not take care of the trouble codes you have. These could be resulting from another malfunction.

For more details and pictures take a look at the Haynes Repair Manual Nissan 350Z, Infiniti G35 2003-2008. Chapter 6 section 6-11.
I hope this helps guys.

Thanks