Cheap Cr-v with engine management light

Cheap Cr-v with engine management light

Author
Discussion

underwhelmist

Original Poster:

1,852 posts

133 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
quotequote all
I've been after a CR-V to use for shed duty and to practice my developing mech skills. There's a cheap one nearby, 2002, 120k miles, with the engine management light on. Apparently the fault code is about the cam position sensor. It seems to have been well maintained otherwise.

It's a chain driven cam and from what I've read there's a chance that this indicates a stretched cam chain. I don't think I'd tackle cam chain replacement myself. Are there any other likely causes of this fault code and would you take a chance on it?

trickywoo

11,705 posts

229 months

Sunday 3rd May 2015
quotequote all
I'm no expert on this engine but generally a fault code comes up for a faulty sensor. Cam and crank sensors can fail on any car. Simply replace it for a new one.

I'd have thought for the sensor to be working correctly but then throw a fault code due to what its reading being out of its range would show itself in terms of how the engine sounds / runs. In the case you describe I'd expect the chain to be making a lot of noise.

ch427

8,858 posts

232 months

Monday 4th May 2015
quotequote all
Seen a few on chain driven engines with this fault and it was a stretched chain, no other real indication apart from some slightly lumpy running as the engine got up to temperature.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 8th May 2015
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
I'm no expert on this engine but generally a fault code comes up for a faulty sensor.
Not quite. A fault code is caused by some measured parameter being outside it's permitted range. That can be caused by a faulty sensor, or by numerous other faults. This is why simply replacing the sensor that the fault code refers to is often an expensive mistake.

If this is a second generation CRV with the K20/K24 engine, then they are prone to 'stretched' (i.e. worn) timing chains at higher mileages that will cause a fault code as the camshaft position relative to the crank moves outside the permissible range.

underwhelmist

Original Poster:

1,852 posts

133 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the information. I've decided to leave that particular car alone and instead I've gone for a well looked after generation 1 car, I reckon with some careful prep I might be able to tackle a belt change.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
quotequote all
underwhelmist said:
Thanks for the information. I've decided to leave that particular car alone and instead I've gone for a well looked after generation 1 car, I reckon with some careful prep I might be able to tackle a belt change.
Replacing the chain on the K20 is not a difficult job at all, there's really not much more work involved than a belt change.