Cam sensor for a 91 RT

[djd's turbo]

My 91 RT is showing a code for the cam sensor. I put one on the car that I had bought off a member. If anything it ran worse. So, I borrowed a good one from another member. Still runs badly. So that is 3 cam sensors put on the car, only one of which is definately a good one. My mechanic recommends that I buy a new one, just to be sure. I know they are hard to find. On the alternate parts thread ghere there are two different aftermarket ones listed: CSS708 (NAPA) and CSS74 (Borg/Warner). Does anyone know if one of these is more correct (??), more available, cheaper, etc. Anyone know an approximate price? I haven't been able to drive this car for several months now and I'd really like to get it back on the road quickly. Thank you very much for any help you can give. David.
PS My mechanic thinks that if it is not the cam sensor then it must be the wiring for the cam sensor. Does that sound reasonable? He is good, but is not overly familiar with the TIII.

[bansheenut420]

If you have tried that many cam sensors, I bet its the wiring as well.

[xtrempickup]

+1 on it not being the cam sensor

[DaPepster!]

Was there any work being done on this car before all this happened? I'm betting it's possibly the wiring, but definitely NOT the sensor itself...

[lotashelbys]

Ya,I would check continuity from the cam sensor plug to the SBEC....

[djd's turbo]

OK, thanks for the advice and I'll have the wiring checked out. But, can anyone verify which part number (or both) are correct and available? Thanks again. David.

[djd's turbo]

Doesn't anyone have any experience with either one of those part numbers? If not, what do you guys do for a new one? Thanks. David.

[xtrempickup]

honestly, we dont replace unless its not working at all. normally when it goes bad, the car doest start as the sensor doesnt show a signal. your problem i think isnt a sensor. thats why i keep good used spares and buy known good used ones.

[Rick]

David, you are welcome to borrow the sensor off my Spirit. The one I loaned you ran fine on the IROC. OR bring the "lot" over and we'll run them on my Spirit.

Maybe the mouse that got a hold of your Daytona got a hold of the R/T?

[djd's turbo]

^^OH, man. Don't say that!!! I don't even want to think about that!!! Thanks, man. David.

[With Kids]

The cam sensor has 3 wires going to it, 2 of the wires are spliced and shared with the crank sensor and the third wire is the signal wire. With the key on sensor unplugged the orange wire should have approx 8 volts, black with blue strip is a ground, and tan with yellow strip is 5 volts. With the sensor plugged in and engine running there still should be 8 volts on the orange, ground on the BK/BL, and the TN/YL pulses 0V to 5V square wave and this can only be check properly with a scope. A couple of test you could do are measure voltage with a volt meter on the orange wire and black/blue wire while running to make sure they don't change while running by a poor connection, bad sensor, ect. You can also measure voltage on the signal wire with it connected turning the engine over by hand and see if the voltage switches from 0 to 5 volts.

[djd's turbo]

^^Good information. Thank you very much. David