Camshaft Angle Sensor - Help Please

[B3njamin]

Hello people!

I have a slight problem with my Mx-5. It broke down yesterday and refuses to fire up. For some reason it isn't sparking and it seems it may be a problem with the camshaft angle sensor.

I've had a look and the part is rather expensive to purchase brand new from Mazda and ebay hasn't thrown up anything particularly helpful. This seems the most likely cause of the problem at present, so I'm planning on likely having to buy a replacement CAS in the near future.

Can anybody suggest somewhere where I might find one second hand? Preferably online, since being car-less makes visiting breakers-yards difficult.

Many thanks, much appreciated.

[beeblebrox]

They go for £80/100 (depending whether you're 1.6 or 1.8) on Autolink. They're quite often available in the MX5Nutz 'items for sale' section too, for a fraction of that.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Autolink and MX5 Heaven. Just give them a call, don't expect to find what you need on their websites.

[rob0971]

Try junkyard dog or ak automotive on nutz. They are both mx5 breakers.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Look on the bay for someone breaking a MX5, there's usually quite a few.

[GC8]

rob0971 said:

Try junkyard dog or ak automotive on nutz. They are both mx5 breakers.

The going rate is about £30 for a used 1.8l CAS. Id try PH too, although junkyard dog is selling from the same cars, I think.

[B3njamin]

A huge thank you for your replies, they've been invaluable.

Hopefully have it sorted soon.

[Dodd90]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Autolink and MX5 Heaven. Just give them a call, don't expect to find what you need on their websites.

What he said

[b4bby]

Yeah i think the last one i sold went for £34.99 inc delivery, however there seems to be fewer 1.8 ones being sold on their own.

[Richyvrlimited]

FWIW 1.6 and 1.8 CAS's whilst dis-similar in operation (one is magnetic the other is optical) are electrically identical so can be interchanged freely.

That said fitting a 1.6 CAS to a 1.8 car means it's orentated 180deg opposed (as it's on the opposite cam) and thus requires a locking bracket fabricating - no big deal.

[B3njamin]

I just wanted to update this thread incase somebody else has a similar problem, to add that Autolink came through wonders for this and the fault was indeed caused by a faulty CAS.

Many thanks again.

[A5man]

Only today Autolink told me that the 1600 and 1800 camshaft sensors were NOT interchangeable. It was stressed that I had to make sure the part I had ordered elsewhere was from an 1800.

[Oldandslow]

I think the gist of that was that they are not DIRECTLY interchangeable and you have to make a mounting bracket to compensate for the 180degree difference. But if you were really stuck it's doable.

[A5man]

That's what I worked out Oldandslow! Many thanks for your help and advice. You're great.

[MikeyT110]

Oldandslow, Richyvrlimited et all

I think the gist of that was that they are not DIRECTLY interchangeable and you have to make a mounting bracket to compensate for the 180degree difference. But if you were really stuck it's doable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I came across the PistonHeads site while loooking for answers to my CAS problem on my 1800 NA 1994 MX5.
I joined today to ask a question so sorry to resurrect this thread,

To explain
My CAS recently expired and not being able to acquire a 1800 CAS, I thought I would try a more readily available 1600 CAS.
It took me 45 minutes to remove the old CAS and install the 1600 CAS with no problems other than the position, and on starting the car it ran fine then a test run proved it would run okay.
Run fine it did, and much better, smoother and quieter right up the rev range.

Richyvrlimited

You say the two CAS units differ with one being a magnetic the other optical, yet internally they both appear to be magnetic, with the 1800 CAS looking more robust in its moving crab disc part.

Whilst my car has been running sweetly, I have now have acquired a 1800 CAS, so will the 1600 CAS left on do any harm or is it best to change it to the correct 1800 CAS

Thanks to anyone for any help.

Mike
PS. Excellent site so anyone with old Mini issues just ask

[Richyvrlimited]

MikeyT110 said:

Oldandslow, Richyvrlimited et all

You say the two CAS units differ with one being a magnetic the other optical, yet internally they both appear to be magnetic, with the 1800 CAS looking more robust in its moving crab disc part.

One is definitely an optical sensor and the other magnetic. You may have 2 of the same type though, I'm unsure of the exact changeover date.

[MikeyT110]

Thanks Richyvrlimited

I'll take some photo's of the two insides and try to upload them