cam and crank sensors together – why?

[rt54321]

Hello all,

Just a question to help my understanding here:

If the camshaft and crankshaft are tied together via a timing chain (as is done in many cars), then why do some cars have both a cam and crank sensor? Why couldn’t you use just a crank sensor (knowing that the cam sensor is synchronized to the crank sensor through the timing chain)?

-RT

Topic

[Cameron]

To know when the SHTF is my guess. :silly: Or in case of failure of one (I wish a 7.3 was this way)

[Bill]

Some cars use the camshaft position to time the firing of the fuel injectors and in the correct sequence.

Cars with variable valve timing (VVT) use camshaft and crankshaft position to allow variable valve timing to operate.

The PCM (Computer) has to know when the valves are open and in what position they are in.

[Author]

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