I have a 2010 Malibu LT 2.4 and the other day I was driving and the car just cut off on me. I thought it was strange because all of the lights were still on. I already replaced the battery so I figured it wouldn’t be that and I had the alternator tester prior to this happening as well. Anyway, I spent the night in my vehicle since I was 2 hours from home reading forums and watching videos on how I could possibly get it started without needing a tow. I came across this video talking about the MAF sensor and the CAM sensor. I ended up unplugging the Cam shaft sensor and trying to start the car up as the video stated and BINGO!; It started.
I drove the vehicle to the nearest Autozone and purchased a new CAM shaft sensor and installed it however, when I installed the new one and plugged it back in, it wouldn’t start again. The weird part if with both CAM shaft sensors, when its plugged into the harness but removed from the in, IT WORKS. Whenever I keep the sensor in the ignition, it wont work! I thought at first that it wasn’t the sensor and took it back continuing to drive the vehicle with it unplugged. I went through a forum and read something in regards to the reluctor wheel ??? Or maybe the harness wiring is bad? Can anyone give me some tips or advice in what might be going on here?
There are two likely issues here. First is that the reluctor wheel on the camshaft is either bad or shifted. Think of the sensor as an eye and the reluctor wheel as the instructions. If the instructions are wrong, the eye tells the brain (the PCM) wrong information, and this can keep the engine from starting. If the eye is disconnected, the brain can use information from other sensors to make a good guess, and the engine can run, though maybe not perfectly.
The second possible situation is that you have a stretched timing chain. This is common on GM vehicles as a whole, though I haven’t heard of your engine in particular having that issue. Ultimately it’s the same eye/instructions issue, but if the actual camshaft is out of position, the engine should be running pretty badly even with the sensor unplugged.
Thank you! I do have another question in regards to that if you dont mind. As far as the reluctor wheel, when i search it on Autozone it says “distributor reluctor”, is that the same part or will i have to search elsewhere? Also, why wouldn’t my CEL light be on? I have no codes or anything.