Parts for your 1998 Nissan Navara-Camshaft sensor

1998 Nissan Navara camshaft sensor — is it fitted, and does it matter?

Short answer: a separate camshaft position sensor isn’t used on the 1998 Nissan Navara sold in Australia and New Zealand. For that D22-series model year, common engines were the KA24E petrol and the TD27 or QD32 diesels. Technical sources show those setups didn’t run a standalone cam sensor on the cam cover or timing case.

Why? The KA24E petrol uses a distributor with an internal optical “crank angle sensor” that feeds the ECU both engine speed and phase information, so there’s no need for a dedicated camshaft sensor. On the diesels, the TD27 and QD32 in ’98 Navara are mechanically injected and don’t rely on an ECU for injection timing, so there’s no cam sensor at all. This is supported by Nissan’s D22 Series Service Manual (EC and EM sections, 1997–2000) where no separate camshaft position sensor is specified for these engines, and by Nissan FAST parts listings that show the distributor-mounted sensor for KA24E and no CMP listing for the mechanical diesels.

What that means for owners is simple: if they’re chasing timing or misfire issues on a 1998 Navara, they won’t be swapping a separate cam sensor because the vehicle doesn’t have one. Petrol KA24E models should have the distributor and its internal optical sensor checked (signal integrity, wiring, cap/rotor condition, shaft play), while diesel owners should focus on mechanical timing, pump condition, and glow/charging health.

Engines in scope for 1998 Navara (AU/NZ):

• KA24E petrol — uses distributor with built-in optical angle sensor (no standalone cam sensor)
• TD27 / QD32 diesel — mechanical injection (no cam sensor)

If someone’s looking at later D22s (e.g., YD25DDTi introduced early 2000s), those do use modern engine management with separate crank and cam sensors, but that’s outside the 1998 spec. For the ’98 rigs, the path to reliable running is keeping the distributor (petrol) or mechanical timing gear and fuel system (diesel) in good nick rather than hunting for a cam sensor that isn’t fitted.

Technical references: Nissan D22 Series Service Manual (1997–2000, EC/EM sections for KA24E, TD27, QD32) and Nissan FAST parts catalogue entries for D22 engines indicating no standalone camshaft position sensor on these variants.

Popular questions

Does a 1998 Navara have a camshaft sensor?
No separate camshaft position sensor is fitted. The KA24E petrol uses a distributor with an internal optical angle sensor, and the TD27/QD32 diesels are mechanical injection without cam or crank sensors.

Where does the ECU get timing on a 1998 KA24E Navara?
From the distributor’s internal optical crank angle sensor. It provides both engine speed and phase signals, doing the job that later engines used separate crank and cam sensors for.

Can I retrofit a camshaft sensor to a 1998 Navara?
There’s no practical benefit or factory provision. On petrol KA24E models, proper diagnosis focuses on the distributor sensor, wiring, cap/rotor and base timing. On mechanical diesels, attention belongs on pump timing and general mechanical condition.