I have a 1998 Ford Windstar and need help with these two codes:
P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor CKT Malfunction and P0430 Cat Efficiency Below threshold (bank 2) what needs to be repaired and about how much will this cost me? I have already put 900.00 this month in this car to have the a/c fixed. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

3.8 or 3.0?

How's it running?

When diagnosing or repairing a problem with a stored code/s, you should always address the codes in order they were stored.. Sometimes the first problem will create the second DTC.. Being that the first DTC was the cam position sensor (CMP) and/or circuit ignore the second code until later..

The CMP is ahall effect 'magnetic switch' activated by a single vane and is driven by the cam, with the CMP sensor mounted on top of what looks like a short distrubutor is actually the cam synchronizer..The CMPprovides camshaft position informationused by the ignition/coil and the PCM for fuel synchronization. Which could be the reason for the secondary code for cat efficiency.. Without any diagnostic tools about the only thing you could do is replace the CMP, clear the codes (disconnect the battery) and see if it/they reset...

Do you ever get a high pitch squeal? The synchronizer shaft/housing has been known to run dry and make for some bad noises....

Here's a pic of the CMP....



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it is a 3.8 and is running ok seems like the tranny is slipping or something because it does not always shift automatically. I will do as you suggested by fixing the first code first and see what happens. Recently I had the O2 cencors taken off and cleaned the check engine light went off but then came back on a month later with these two codes. Do you think there is any possiblility this is related to that? Thanks for you input.