1996 Sunfire SE 2.4L Camshaft Position Sensir

ericv1984

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I have a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire SE 2.4L, it's my gf's and the check engine light has been on ever since she bought it, which has been for years. I took it down to O'reilly Auto Parts and used their OBD scanner. Hooked it up and it gave me a code of P0342 for the camshaft position sensor. Now my question is, where is the camshaft position sensor located in the 2.4L engine?

I went back to O'reilly's and bought a Chiltons repair manual, turned to the page where it tells you how to uninstall/install the sensor and it has a picture of the sensor and the part of the engine, but I still don't know what part of the engine it is. I may be an idiot, or it's my lack of engine knowledge. Can someone please give me some detail of where to find the sensor? I'd rather get it replaced ASAP and not have the car stall on me anymore.
 
Doubled checked my chilton's repair manual, shows a picture of the 2.4L engine and I can see where the sensor is in the picture. But, my engine doesn't look like the one showed in the picture.

I attached a couple pictures, first one is the location of the sensor in the Haynes manual, second is the location in the Chiltons manual, but I looked there and the sensor isn't there.
 
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are you sure you dont have the 2.2l engine?
 
are you sure you dont have the 2.2l engine?

+1 on that. pretty sure that all models not GT, were 2.2's. The GT was the only sunfire offered with a 2.4l. unless the previous owner swapped it in before you bought it. if it says 2200 on the air intake, its a 2.2l
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It's my gf's car and she told me it's 2.4L so I took her word. I was kinda questioning that myself so I texted her but she's at work. I should get a reply in a couple hours when she goes to lunch. She has the car today so I'll check it when she gets home around 6:20pm PST.

On the 2.2L model, where is the sensor located?
 
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+1 on that. pretty sure that all models not GT, were 2.2's. The GT was the only sunfire offered with a 2.4l. unless the previous owner swapped it in before you bought it. if it says 2200 on the air intake, its a 2.2l

They did make a 2.4L SE. If you go to the auto parts store, they have an option for 2.4L SE.
 
find out what the eighth character in the serial number is, if it's the letter "T" you have a 2.4L if you have a "4" you have a 2.2l
 
By serial number do you mean VIN? Sorry I'm a noob.
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find out what the eighth character in the serial number is, if it's the letter "T" you have a 2.4L if you have a "4" you have a 2.2l

The eighth character is a 4, plus theres a label under the hood that says 2.2L. So, do you know where the camshaft position sensor is on the 2.2L?

Since I thought it was a 2.4L, I bought a camshaft position sensor for a 2.4L from O'reilly auto parts. I don't wanna go through the hassle of returning it and ordering a new one and waiting for that one to come in (but I will if I have to) so I was wondering, would a 2.4L camshaft position sensor do any damage on a 2.2L engine?

I attached pictures of both sensors, where the wires connect is a bit different but other then that it looks pretty much the same.
 
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The eighth character is a 4, plus theres a label under the hood that says 2.2L. So, do you know where the camshaft position sensor is on the 2.2L?

Since I thought it was a 2.4L, I bought a camshaft position sensor for a 2.4L from O'reilly auto parts. I don't wanna go through the hassle of returning it and ordering a new one and waiting for that one to come in (but I will if I have to) so I was wondering, would a 2.4L camshaft position sensor do any damage on a 2.2L engine?

I attached pictures of both sensors, where the wires connect is a bit different but other then that it looks pretty much the same.

you cant use a camshaft sensor from a 2.4 on a 2.2. the 2.4 is a twin cam, where as the 2.2 isnt. it likely wont even bolt into the 2.2
 
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