So check engine light comes and goes got it read several time reading a p340 code which is a camshaft positioning sensor. Went to several different parts stores heard everything from not available to your vehicle isn't equipped with such device even dealer only part. So yesterday went to dodge dealer and the parts guy said there isn't a "camshaft positioning sensor" for my van, said most likely it's a "distributer pickup" and it was $359 and a "special order part" and I would have to pay for it up front and no refunds. My vehicle is a 99 dodge ram 3500 van with 143xxx miles. The van starts up no problem first thing in the am but when I stop at the store or a customers house and get back in to start it, it just cranks and cranks then finally starts after turning several short intervals also engine has a oil leak somewhere. I was also told its possible oil is leaking on to one of the spark plugs which would cause it to misfire and not start.

 

Assuming you have a 360 engine, AdvanceAutoParts has a refurb distributor and rotor (P/N 30-3801) for $110 and a new one (P/N T3801) for $120

If you buy it online and use discount code TRT30 at checkout, you can get 30% off of that and then go pick it up in the store

Oil in the spark plus holes would cause a misfire, but the only way to check that is to pull out your plugs and if you do that, then you might as well replace them while you have them out. If yo replace the distributor then replace the plug wires also.

 

FWIW to clear the BS out there -- and I also can relate with the frustrations....


Your 99 is an OBD II vehicle. The codes will be four digits. So, p0340 is the cam pickup sensor. Rockauto.com has them cheap...


Also you DO have a crankshaft position sensor. Again, just go to rockauto.com and look it up...


As for your oil leak...if you have oil ON your sparkplugs (not internally on the electrodes)...your valve covers may be leaking...usually they just come loose...tighten them down and see what happens...
good luck!


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"distributer ignition pickup/switchplate" and "camshaft position sensor" are the same thing, just different names.

If a new camshaft sensor doesn't resolve your issue you probably have other issues... plenty of recent threads on those.

I've had my valve cover bolts come loose (could undo by hand) and cause a oil leak. I ended up replacing the gaskets even though I probably didnt need to. The oem gaskets are quality parts. Just be careful torquing those bolts down. You don't want to overtorque and warp the cover, cause that can actually cause more leaks. I don't have the torque specs but they're in the factory manual or maybe
someone can chime in.

Lastly, I don't see crankshaft sensor discussed in the original post but yes you CRANKshaft sensor, which is different from a CAMshaft sensor.