I have a 2000 Dodge Durango RT 4X4 all-wheel drive with a 5.9 (360) in it and about 155,000 miles on it. If you shut it off and came back to start it in a short time frame, it will not start, just cranks. Wait a 20 minutes and it will start up fine. I replaced the Crankshaft position sensor and was told to replace the Camshaft position sensor. I call the dealer and ordered the part but now I can’t find it on the motor. The sensor they sent me goes in the block, but everything I read says it’s in the distributor. I call the dealer and they say the part in the distributor is the Pickup Sensor not the Camshaft position sensor. So where is the Camshaft position sensor? Why does everything tell me its in the distributor and the dealer says it not? I am so confused, do I have the right part or is the dealer wrong?

 

The part under the distributor is a pickup sensor and is called the camshaft position sensor. I have the 5.9 and just replaced it. Look on Rock Auto for camshaft position sensor and look at the pictures, it will be obvious to you by the picture that the camshaft position sensor is under the distributor. The crankshaft position sensor on the other hand goes in the block behind the passenger side head where the bell housing of the transmission meets the block and plugs into the wiring harness next to the distributor and the plug for the camshaft position sensor. You would have had to remove the right front wheel and fender liner to access the sensor thru the wheel well. The symptoms you describe are what I have seen before as a bad crankshaft sensor that fails when hot, but if you are sure the crankshaft sensor was replaced or you did it yourself then I would suspect the camshaft sensor under the distributor to be bad. The crankshaft sensor and camshaft sensor work together to give the pcm the data to properly set the timing of spark and fuel which sounds like what you might have a problem with. I am not sure why the dealer told you what he did but short of a miscommunication between you and him I would guess maybe the guy at the parts counter maybe didn't really know the engine well at all or was confused as to what the difference was between the camshaft and crankshaft sensor. I know my local dealership doesn't put their skilled mechanics on the parts counter.

 

Hi, I replaced the crankshaft position sensor on my 5.9 , now trying to locate the camshaft position sensor, I opened the distributor cap and there is a round disk with some electronics on it. Is this the camshaft position sensor or am I looking at the wrong part?

Where can I buy one online, advance auto and auto zone do not stock this part and Mopar dealer price is outrageous.

Any help would be good.

Thank you. BOARHEAD

 

I got my last one from Pep Boys. Closest shop to where my truck stopped running on an out of town trip. Rockauto.com also has it. THey have it listed under 'ignition' as a 'distributor pickup coil'. Hope it helps.

 

former520, thank you, I will replace the camshaft sensor(ignition coil pick up). Your info helped.

BORHEAD

 

Could also be fuel related.

Next time it does this turn the key off, open the hood and on the fuel rail is a valve. Remove the cap and carefully depress or test the psi. Carefull it should be under pressure. If it bleeds out it's most likely a fuel pump, if it shoots out or is around 50 psi then it's something else.