Sluggish Diesel? Bad Camshaft Sensor May Be The Culprit

Had similar symptoms on my 2007 Chevy Colorado diesel. The check engine light came on after experiencing rough starts and stalling. Diagnostic testing confirmed both a camshaft sensor failure and a damaged encoder wheel. The encoder wheel on the camshaft was worn, causing incorrect timing signals to the engine control module. This triggered the sensor issues and engine misfire problems. The repair required replacing both the sensor and the encoder wheel since they work as a system. While sensor testing can identify the initial problem, a thorough inspection of the encoder wheel is crucial, mine had visible wear marks that were causing the erratic signals. The stalling issues completely resolved after replacing both components. This is definitely a repair worth doing properly, running with a faulty cam sensor can lead to more serious engine damage if ignored. The sensor's job is critical for proper engine timing and fuel delivery control. Pro tip: Make sure they check the wiring harness connections during repair, as corroded connections can mimic sensor failure symptoms.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Colorado, sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with in my Silverado. Good call on checking the encoder wheel too, I wouldn't have thought of that. Did you remember roughly what the total repair cost came out to? And has everything been running smoothly since the fix? The engine misfire issues are really starting to worry me, especially after you mentioned the potential for more serious engine damage. My camshaft sensor's definitely showing the same symptoms you described, those rough starts are getting worse by the day.

Just got back from having this exact repair done on my Colorado. Total came to 695€ for fixing both the camshaft sensor and encoder wheel, money well spent considering how much better the truck's running now. After fixing the defective camshaft sensor and worn encoder wheel, all those annoying symptoms completely disappeared. No more engine misfires, stalling issues, or rough starts. The ignition timing is spot-on now, and the engine runs super smooth, even at idle. The mechanic showed me the old encoder wheel, it was pretty beat up, which explained why the sensor testing kept showing erratic readings. When these parts work together properly, they're crucial for maintaining correct engine timing. It's been three weeks since the repair, and I couldn't be happier with how it's running. Definitely worth getting it fixed properly rather than risking more serious engine problems down the line. If your symptoms match what I had, I'd say get it checked out soon, sensor failure issues tend to get worse pretty quickly.

Just wanted to update everyone, finally got my Silverado fixed last week. Took it to a new shop after the tips here about checking both the camshaft sensor and encoder wheel. Smart move, turned out both needed replacing. Total bill came to around €750 for parts and labor. The mechanic actually showed me the old parts, that encoder wheel was totally shot, way worse than I expected. No wonder the engine control system was getting confused. After the fix, it's like driving a different truck. No more stalling at idle, starts up perfectly every time, and that sluggish feeling is completely gone. Honestly wish I'd done it sooner instead of worrying about finding the right shop. Quick tip for anyone dealing with similar ignition timing issues, my mechanic found some corrosion in the sensor wiring that needed cleaning too. Might be worth checking if you're having similar symptoms. Really glad I didn't wait any longer. The engine's running smoother than it has in months, and that check engine light is finally off. Definitely worth getting it done right the first time.