Hi,
Just noticed a little oil leak (about 1 drop every 4 hours) and it seems to be coming from the camshaft position sensor (phase), because around it is very oily and you see the path which dips down.

Is this an easy oil-leak fix?
Thanks

forgot to mention, I have no codes.

Is this the one on the timing chain cover that you can see from the top on the passenger side of the engine? If yes, it has an o ring on it. find a new o ring and replace it.

Yes..that's the one!

I modified my search to only camshaft oil and found a useful thread:

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...mshaft-ps.html

Thanks!

^^^+1

If thats the one, best cost effective way. And dont worry oil wont pour out when removing it.

Wow literally just got mine fixed same problem the ring was gone but ended up buying a new sensor 105$ later..

$105 later huh? I hope that was better than OEM because I bought an OEM one a year ago for $72.

junkyard ftw $15.

Yeah I think the sensor was about 80$ but labor to remove and install the sensor plus clean up the whole area from the leak. Whatever over and done with lol

You realize that it is literally one clip and the sensor is out right?

I'm not mechanic. So why would I mess with something on a engine I don't know about?

Thats kinda what this forum is about. I am not a mechanic either but I saw oil leaking from that point too. Researched the problem and everyone said, check the o- ring. After verifying that it was the Cam Shaft position sensor. I wanted to check it out.

I pulled the clip off, pulled the sensor out and saw that the o ring had flattened. I fixed my problem in the Autozone parking lot for 69 cents.

Its ok to trust most of the knowledge on this forum. Especially if it is in several threads on your topic.

Alright, I pulled out the sensor and didn't know what a O-ring is...little did I know that it's on the sensor itself and not a "washer".

Anyways here's a pic of the sensor and the O-Ring that comes off easily with a little clipper (or nail).

Look for a little yellow arrow...very little.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

if thats a new O-ring it looks a little flat already. might still work. But yes, thats the part that makes the oil seal on that sensor. I think it was a #16 or #15 size o ring. Guage numbers I guess? didn't write down the diameter measurement. about an inch I think.

It flattens over time from Heat and just being pressed into the hole.


EDIT: good pic of the piece by the way, hope it helps some others too.

The O-ring in that pic is the flatten one, which leaked. Gonna have to find a replacement.

Any autoparts store should have plenty. Home Depot and Lowes too. Its just a rubber O-ring. Seriously Autozone charged me 69cents. But thats only because the manager was there, the guy was just gonna give me one.

if it breaks while taking it off, just bring it inside and they can match the diameter. You'll get it man! Easy fix.

Just to close this thread..I went to my hardware store and in the plumbing section they had all kinds of o-ring sizes...10(different sizes) for $2.00. I bought the pack and fitted the correct size in the sensor. Very simple installation.

Good now you sir are a mechanic now and could have saved yourself some money by doing it yourself right?? How much you spent on the initial job versus how much the seal cost and how much of your time?

Not to dig up old threads... but perhaps now that our 4th gen Maximas (and 1st gen i30s) are old enough to guarantee leaks, we need a sticky for finding and fixing leaks!

Anyway, I am posting here because I too just fixed this slow leak and have the dimensions of the o-ring from Autozone that worked for me:

The closest o-ring they had was 5/8 x 13/16. I suspect the original is metric, but no metric o-rings at this Autozone.

This store charged me $1.69 + tax.

I agree...after I fixed this leak....another one started at the power steering coolant (there is a thread on this), I'll have to bring that to a mechanic.

The metric O-ring that fixed it for me was 16mm x 21mm x 2.5mm (Advance Auto - part number: 64516.1)

Great i too have this same leak, gonna go to advance and get the o ring.

thanks for the exact o-ring size (and an inexpensive place to get it).

I used some gasket maker (FIPG) that Toyota has.....worked like a charm!

Definitely not the "proper" way to fix that, but it still works.

Leaks from this sensor are common now on our maximas

NP. I saved the package for the O-ring so I would remember to post and actually contribute something to the .org

i measured the o-ring i just took off the cam sensor and its just over 18mm id X just over 22mm od X just over 2mm thick widthwise & just under 3mm thick heightwise. it was not leaking and a bit flattened in width. from this, i think that maybe 17mmX22mmX2.5mm (or maybe even 18mmX23MMX2.5mm) may be a better choice.

When these leak does the electrical connection fill with oil?
I just pulled the CMPS connection and it was filled with oil.
I wasnt getting a code but a hard start.

Could be. So buy another o ring of the right size. Take the old o ring to the hardware store. Get one of the same size.
Clean the sensor. Install new o ring. Spread oil on the o ring and mating surface of the engine. Shove it in. Attach mounting hardware and the connector.

Done.

Cheap.

The o-ring was fine but since the thing failed in such a way that filled the connection area instead.

No CEL just s**** performance.