99 S70 Turbo won't start

[double_eagle20]

Kid was driving home and car quit. In hot weather with AC running. Then car overheated and dumped coolant on the ground. I towed him home and ran a scan. Got 0342 which is camshaft position sensor error. Also got two other codes that I attributed to running the battery dead while towing him home. They both went away after battery recharged.

I replaced the camshaft sensor and the car still does not start. The 0342 DTC code still shows up. I don't know if it is new or if it is lingering. I had the battery disconnected for awhile during the swap of the sensor.

Should the 0342 code have gone away? Do I have to get it cleared before the car will start? Could the car have thrown the code again just from me trying to start it? (It did not start. Turns over a little slow. Seemed to fire a tiny bit, but that's it.)

[Roger_850T]

It sounds like you have a generic scan tool. 0342 would infer the sensor's signal is to low, or not strong enough. The signal is low enough to be vague and difficult to interpret. Or signal line shorted to ground.

Other cam issues can also cause this - like if there was a timing belt issue (slipped / broken). You might take a quick look at the timing belt and check all is where it should be. Especially since the water pump is also driven off the timing belt; if the water pump stopped turning it would cause a number of issues.

Roger

[double_eagle20]

I will check the timing belt tomorrow. Thanks. Yes I do have generic (cheap) scanner. Do you know if the 0342 should have cleared due to the battery being disconnected? I'm wondering how I got a code without the car even starting. And would this code being set affect the car's performance (or starting)?

The ETM in this car has been hinky for a long time, but has kept on working. No codes set this time. ETM codes have set and cleared in the past.

[shegarty]

If the car "overheated and dumped coolant" I would be looking to determine the cause of the overheating and the location from which this dump took place. It's possible that the camshaft position error was caused by a fault in the timing (broken belt, pulley, idler etc). Even if you replace the cam sensor if your timing if off you will get a repeat of the same code - it is entirely likely that the sensor is fine and doesn't need to be replaced. You won't be able to diagnose any of this without taking off the timing cover. Best case scenario you've just jumped a cog - worst case you might have toasted your valve train (don't ask me how I know this!)

[double_eagle20]

Thank you shegarty. I had assumed that the coolant dumped out of the overflow due to the car overheating due to the fan not working due to the low battery. But your comments and the previous comment have me worried about the belt jumping or breaking. As previously noted, I plan to check the timing belt today. I have a different vehicle to fix first before I get back to this one, but will post what I find under the timing belt cover when I get back to this project.

Thanks!

[cmblackburn]

Does it sound normal turning over, or does it sound lumpy/low on compression? I'd worry about the overheat, these engines are very sensitive to that.

[double_eagle20]

It seems to turn over a little slow. Not sure what you mean by lumpy.

Thanks.

[double_eagle20]

If the car did get overheated and suffer damage, does that mean I'm screwed?

[abscate]

If junior shut the car down in seconds, not minutes , from coolant loss you should be ok. These cars are not too tolerant of running hot, though. The down scenario is head off for a new head gasket and/or valve job

[rspi]

If the car shut itself off, it likely has a bad head gasket now. As mentioned, these cars do NOT take being overheated at all.