Parts for your 1995 Nissan Primera-Camshaft sensor

1995 Nissan Primera camshaft sensor — what’s actually fitted

For the 1995 Nissan Primera (P10 series), there isn’t a separate, stand-alone camshaft position sensor fitted to the engine. On the common petrol engines of that year — GA16DE 1.6 and SR20DE 2.0 — the engine control module takes both cam phase and engine speed signals from an optical crank angle sensor located inside the distributor. That single, distributor-mounted sensor does the job most people now associate with a “cam sensor”. Technical references confirming this include the Nissan Primera P10 Factory Service Manual (EF&,EC section, ignition/injection control), Nissan FAST electronic parts catalogue listings for P10 (showing no separate cylinder head cam sensor), and period Autodata/Haynes diagrams describing the optical crank angle sensor within the distributor.

Why there’s no separate camshaft sensor on a 1995 Primera comes down to design of the era. Nissan’s optical sensor in the distributor is driven by the camshaft, so it inherently provides the ECU with both engine speed (crank) and phase (cam) information through two tracks on the optical disc. It’s a tidy, cost-effective setup that avoided extra wiring and an additional sensor on the timing cover or cam cap. On the diesel CD20 of the same period, timing inputs are handled differently again (pump and TDC/speed sensing), and likewise there’s no conventional separate camshaft sensor on the head.

Chasing a “cam sensor” fault on a 1995 Primera usually means inspecting the distributor assembly (often logged by the ECU as a crank angle sensor/CAS fault, commonly code 11 on OBD1 systems). Typical symptoms include intermittent no-start, cutting out warm, erratic tacho, poor fuel economy, or random misfire. Practical checks under the bonnet include:

• Inspecting the distributor for oil intrusion, bearing play, heat damage, or a cracked/contaminated optical disc.
• Verifying power, earth, and signal continuity to the distributor connector.
• Setting base ignition timing with a timing light after any distributor work.

If the optical sensor is faulty, the usual fix is to replace or rebuild the distributor (cap, rotor, shaft seal, and the internal sensor). Using quality parts is worth it — cheap units can cause erratic signals. After refit, confirm timing and clear any stored fault codes. Regular servicing of the cap, rotor, and leads, plus keeping oil leaks at bay, goes a long way to keeping the sensor reading clean and the Primera running sweet as.

Popular questions about the 1995 Nissan Primera “camshaft sensor”

Does a 1995 Nissan Primera have a camshaft position sensor?
It doesn’t have a separate one on the cam cover. The function lives inside the distributor as an optical crank angle sensor, which provides both cam phase and engine speed signals to the ECU.

Where is the timing sensor located on a 1995 Primera?
On GA16DE and SR20DE engines, it’s inside the distributor at the end of the camshaft. Remove the distributor cap and you’ll find the optical pickup and slotted disc. There’s no extra sensor on the head or timing cover.

What’s the fix for a cam/crank signal fault on a P10 Primera?
Check the distributor for oil ingress, shaft play, and wiring issues. If the optical pickup is faulty, replace or rebuild the distributor, then set base timing and clear codes. Many intermittent no-start and stall issues trace back to the distributor sensor.