Why did my CAS break??

[slo]

Hey guys,

About two weeks ago, at a drifting event, my Crank Angle Sensor broke just before getting on the track. It broke right at the part where it goes in the exhaust cam.

Has this happened to anyone on here? What could cause this to happen?

After replacing the CAS with a new one, the car ran fine w/o problems. One day, I decided that I need to replace the timing belt, tensioner and the idler pulley. So as I pull the CAS off, I was amazed once again. The CAS didn't break but the tab inside the exhaust cam broke to line the CAS up just right. What's going on inside my engine?? Anyone??

[The_Chosen_One]

It comes with the territory.

Nissan isnt too bright when it comes to this ****.

nothing you can do but replace it or go to a different ignition system.

[float_6969]

Not the first time and won't be the last.

Bad design. Not common, but not uncommon.

[slo]

It comes with the territory.

Nissan isnt too bright when it comes to this ****.

nothing you can do but replace it or go to a different ignition system.

The only other ignition option is megasquirt, correct?

[float_6969]

No, ANY standalone will work. Megasquirt is the cheapest IF you already have a laptop. If you have to buy a lap top, then you're getting into SDS territory, and the SDS is VERY easy to tune compared to ANYTHING else.

[dattodude]

Bad design? sorry, bad opinion.

If you had your cam cover off recently, you didn't put it back on straight, or line up the ferrules into the block (that go through the cam cover backing plate).

You'll break another one too if you don't fix the cam cover alignment.. I've seen bad cases of misalignment break the exhaust cam within the first bearing journal..

[themadscientist]

I broke an RB one once, never a CA but I can see how it could be done. The CAS goes on one way and you sometimes have to d!ck with it.

[The_Chosen_One]

Bad design? sorry, bad opinion.

If you had your cam cover off recently, you didn't put it back on straight, or line up the ferrules into the block (that go through the cam cover backing plate).

You'll break another one too if you don't fix the cam cover alignment.. I've seen bad cases of misalignment break the exhaust cam within the first bearing journal..

nah its really a bad design.

They could of kept the same concept but strengthened it. That little tiny key is very weak. If they made it where the half moon was part of the cam cylinder like it is in the CAS than it would of worked perfectly. But the fact that its stationary makes it extremly weak.

[slo]

Bad design? sorry, bad opinion.

If you had your cam cover off recently, you didn't put it back on straight, or line up the ferrules into the block (that go through the cam cover backing plate).

You'll break another one too if you don't fix the cam cover alignment.. I've seen bad cases of misalignment break the exhaust cam within the first bearing journal..

I thought about this too but all of the hex bolts and the 4 ten millimeter bolts on the top and bottom bolts have ALL BEEN secured properly. Can it still be misaligned?

[niscort]

I thought about this too but all of the hex bolts and the 4 ten millimeter bolts on the top and bottom bolts have ALL BEEN secured properly. Can it still be misaligned?

yes... the 4bolts dont do the aligning.

as dattodude said, there are 2 ferrules(locating pins) in the head that tightly fit into the cam cover. these do the aligning, only these. as mentioned, its very common for people to remove and forget to replace them and rely on the 4bolts only, then mention design rather than workmanship as the flaw the causes cas shafts to break.

[float_6969]

I broke a CAS key way off with the guides in there. I've seen COUNTLESS other people with this problem and still have the guides in there.

As was stated, it is only my opinion but it's based on experience.

[sideways danny]

non-nissan water pumps quite often stop the top cover being fitted correctly due to an incorrect casting design. I killed 2 CAS and 2 cams on a customers car before I found the cause. Lesson learned, dont fit cheap crap

[themadscientist]

wow, that's a good bit of info right there. Thanks.

[float_6969]

THAT I didn't know or think of. Thanks for the info!