Driving a 1998 SL2. Just took my car to Auto Zone after check engine light came on, now I have two printouts saying that my oxygen sensor and cam sensor (camshaft position sensor?) went off. I was wondering if there was anything I could do possibly at my house first before taking my car somewhere, such as checking out the sensors myself and possibly replacing them. I know with the cam sensor going off I shouldn't wait too long. Thanks in advance.

 

Not sure just how handy you are with a set of tools, but the replacement of the sensors you mention is not all that difficult. First, obtain a manual for your car (Hayes, Chiltons, Mitchell) so you can visually locate the sensors in question. The removal and reinstallation of the sensors is covered step-by-step in the Manuals.

 

Was looking around a little bit more and wasn't able to necessarily find a part called "camshaft sensor", but crankshaft position sensor (for example on auto zone) did come up. Is that the same thing?

 

Yes, that is the proper name for the sensor in question -- sorry I didn't highlight that in the previous note ......

 

Haha thanks--for some reason my dad isn't too worried about that one, at least to look into it first (wants me to take care of oxygen sensors first), even though I did get two specific readouts for the sensors (P0133 for oxygen, P0341 for camshaft). Then again, the light DID go off today while I was driving (this has happened before over these past couple of months, should have mentioned that before), so it seems to me it's just the sensors acting up. And sorry but two more things: should I just worry about the oxygen sensor that goes onto the manifold (guessing upstream) for now? And after this is all said and done do I need to reset the system or anything? Thanks again

 

The upstream sensor is sensor 1. Don't forget, as you drive your car, the engine computer will adjust the timing and the air/fuel mixture ratio in an effort to give you the best mileage possible. As these changes take effect, the check engine light is reset

 

there is no cam sensor in an S car--- and a crank sensor does not a cam sensor make...
Check connections at wires plugs and coil packs. Remove any corrosion on the coil packs and coat with dielectric grease

the O2 sensor code is indeed for the front -- (how many mi on car?) --easy replacement -- probably needs it if orig still in there

 

Well, I took my car to a shop that my buddy wanted me to check out yesterday before I did anything (free diagnostic), the mech said that the O2 sensor was alright, but that the crankshaft sensor was in the ignition coil and that the whole thing had to be replaced-think he also thought the coil itself was kinda bad anyway. I thought that sounded a little odd, this whole thing is confusing me lol. I'll definitely check out the plugs and wires, but I know I've replaced those since I got the car (roughly for three years now). I'll check out the coil myself when I can, and replace the O2 when I can, just still more worried about that other code anyway. Car has a little over 100,000 miles, got it around 45,000.