Parts for your 1987 Suzuki Jimny-Camshaft sensor

1987 Suzuki Jimny camshaft sensor — is it even there?

Short answer: nope. On a 1987 Suzuki Jimny (also sold as SJ413/Sierra in many markets), a camshaft position sensor isn’t fitted and isn’t part of the factory design. This is backed by the Suzuki SJ413/Samurai factory service manual ignition and electrical sections, period Suzuki Electronic Parts Catalogue microfiche for 1984–1989 SJ models, and the commonly used Haynes SJ410/SJ413 manual. None of these list or illustrate a camshaft sensor or related wiring on 1987 models.

Why no camshaft sensor? The 1987 Jimny runs an old-school setup: a carburettor for fuel and a mechanical distributor for spark. Timing is triggered by a pickup inside the distributor and managed with centrifugal and vacuum advance — there’s no engine control unit doing sequential fuel injection that would need a cam signal to know which stroke the engine is on. Many Aussie and NZ-market Sierras used the G13A 1.3‑litre carburetted engine, Japan-market variants like the JA71 also used distributor-based ignition. Camshaft (or dedicated crank) sensors became common on later, EFI-equipped Jimnys and other Suzukis in the 1990s when sequential injection, on-board diagnostics and tighter emissions arrived.

So while you’ll find “cam sensor” talk on newer models, it doesn’t apply to this year. If someone’s trying to sell a camshaft sensor for a 1987 Jimny, that’s a parts catalogue mix‑up or it’s for a much later JB-series Jimny.

What to look after instead so it runs sweet:

• Distributor service: inspect and replace cap, rotor and leads, check the pickup coil/igniter and the reluctor air gap per the manual.
• Timing and advance: set base ignition timing with a timing light, verify vacuum advance holds vacuum and that centrifugal weights move freely.
• Timing belt: the G13A uses a belt — replace at sensible intervals (commonly around 100,000 km or 5 years, or per your service manual).
• Fuel and tune: keep the carb clean, set idle mixture/speed correctly and ensure there are no vacuum leaks.
• Electrical health: good earths, solid battery voltage and tidy wiring to the coil and distributor make a big difference.

A quick note on variants: specs can vary by country and VIN, and some vehicles have been retrofitted with aftermarket EFI. If you’re unsure, check your engine code and the ignition wiring — if there’s a distributor with two or three wires and no separate cam sensor at the head, you’re in the carb/distributor camp.

Popular questions about a 1987 Suzuki Jimny camshaft sensor

Does a 1987 Suzuki Jimny have a camshaft position sensor?
It doesn’t. Factory documentation for SJ413/Sierra lists a mechanical distributor ignition with an internal pickup and no separate camshaft sensor. If you see a listing for one, it’s likely for a later EFI Jimny.

How does it manage timing without a cam sensor?
The distributor’s pickup generates the trigger, while centrifugal and vacuum mechanisms advance the timing as revs and load change. No ECU or cam signal is required on the carburetted 1.3‑litre G13A and similar engines of that era.

Can a camshaft sensor be retrofitted?
Not as a simple bolt‑on. People who convert to aftermarket EFI usually add a crank trigger wheel and sensor, and sometimes a cam sync for sequential injection. That’s a custom job with wiring, ECU, fuel system changes and tuning.