ChrisBlackmore

1999 v6 3.8
I've had the car for a short period of time but yesterday the car started to make a high pitch squeal seemingly at random times. It made the noise unrelated to clutch as it seems more related to RPMS. Anyone have ideas what this could be?
-Chris

mustangmike09

CPS

cam postion sensor/synch

Its a shaft, located about 11:00 on the timing cover. It is driven by your camshaft via gears, it turns the oil pump for your engine as well. The top part sticking out is a sensor in a black plastic housing w/ two small screws. These are very typical about going it.

The way I made sure thats what my problem was; I took a 3/8 drive extension about a 1' long. I put one end to my ear, and the other to the object. Sound vibrations will travel through the metal. If its your CPS, while its squeaking you'll hear it much louder doing this.

Carefull about driving it much before you get it fixed, I've seen these things completely lock up, break teeth on the gears, that also shuts down your oil pump which is never good to not have oil supplied to a running engine!

Many threads on this repalcement. It is fairly simple IMO.

I had to change mine at about 55k miles a couple months ago. Took me an hour or so, though I have no EGR which makes it 10x easier getting in there.

Just look it up, I know their is a couple of how to's out there on different forums.




If this is not the problem, the idler pulley is another common ford part to start squeaking like that. 95% of the time on our cars its the CPS.

Patterson 82

Most def is cam shaft synch and/or sensor. Might as well replace both. If your unsure, take your belt off and start it. If it squeels, you got your answer. Its not hard at all to replace.