Repair Topics / Engine Camshaft

• Engine cranks but wont start
• Engine runs rough
• How does a camshaft work?
• How does an engine work?
• How does a timing belt work?
• Car is making a chirping noise
• Car is making a clicking noise
• Why is my car making a popping noise?

MORE: Engine camshaft questions

Engine Configuration with Camshaft Operation

Engine Camshaft Questions and Answers - This category contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.

Question: 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, miles: 89,200. I drive my car back and forth to work, no long trips. I started to miss-fire slightly. I keep driving it and the problem got worse. So I took it in to have the engine scanned, The repair shop called me to tell me the cam had gone flat. Have you ever heard of this before? I thought new engines had roller bearings?

Answer: Yes, it is not very common but it does happen, even on roller bearing valve train engines. One of the problems is the metal that has been ground off the camshaft and is in your engine. Slowly wearing down internal engine parts. Evaluate the cost of the camshaft to the cost of a new engine. You might be money ahead.

Question: 2002 Toyota Camry, miles: 135,000. Hi, I have three kids and a single Mom, so I don't have much money. I use the internet to gather information to help me save. I was driving my car when all of the sudden it stopped. I had it towed to a garage and he told me the camshaft broke off and it would be $1,200.00 to fix it. Can this be right?

Answer: Well, stranger things can happen. If the camshaft is broken it will be the first one that we have ever heard of. Have it double checked, it sounds more like timing belt or maybe a water pump the has locked up and caused the timing belt failure.

Question: 2003 Nissan Frontier, miles: 115,000. Hello, my truck is having a problem. When I accelerate the truck Backfires through the intake manifold. I changed the Plug wires, Plugs and fuel filter but it still does it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer: Remove the valve cover to inspect for a exhaust lob on the camshaft that has gone flat. If this problem is present it causes the combustion gases to back up into the intake, causing the popping through the intake noise you describe.

Repair Topics / Engine Camshaft