Parts for your 2004 Ford Falcon-Camshaft sensor

2004 Ford Falcon camshaft sensor — what it does and how to look after it

Technical sources including the Ford BA Falcon Workshop Manual and Ford Electronic Parts Catalogue for the BA series (2002–2005), along with mainstream diagnostics databases used in AU/NZ workshops (e.g., Autodata and Bosch ESI[tronic]), all list a camshaft position sensor (CMP) for the 2004 Ford Falcon. It’s fitted to both the Barra 4.0 DOHC inline‑six and the Boss V8 variants, so yes — this model does use a camshaft sensor.

The camshaft sensor tells the Falcon’s PCM exactly where the cam(s) are in relation to the crank, so it can run true sequential fuel injection, fire the coils at the right moment, and control variable cam timing. That means crisp starts, smooth idle, decent fuel economy, and proper grunt. When the CMP goes lazy or fails, drivers often see longer cranking, rough running, flat spots, or a check engine light with codes like P0340/P0341. The car may limp along using the crank sensor, but it won’t be happy.

There’s no scheduled maintenance for the CMP itself — it’s a solid‑state part — but it pays to keep the area clean, watch for oil leaks onto the connector, and ensure the wiring loom isn’t chafed. On the Barra I6, the sensor sits at the front of the cylinder head near the timing cover. On Boss V8s, each bank has a sensor near the front of the rocker cover area. Always match the part to your VIN, I6 and V8 units differ.

Before replacing a suspected sensor, confirm the fault properly. Use a scan tool to check live cam/crank sync, inspect for 5V reference, ground and signal, and consider that timing chain wear or VCT issues can throw cam correlation codes that aren’t the sensor’s fault. If replacement is warranted, disconnect the battery, swap the O‑ring for a fresh one, lightly oil it, and seat the sensor square. Tighten the hold‑down to the factory spec from the workshop manual — don’t overdo it. Clear codes and perform an idle relearn/short drive cycle so the PCM can resync.

• Common symptoms: hard starting, misfires, poor economy, sluggish VCT response, MIL on.
• Best practice: use a quality OEM‑equivalent sensor, cheap copies can cause intermittent gremlins.

FAQs

Where is the camshaft sensor on a 2004 Falcon?
On the Barra 4.0 I6 it’s mounted at the front of the cylinder head by the timing cover. On Boss V8s there’s one per bank near the front of each rocker cover. Access is usually straightforward, but give yourself room by moving intake ducting or covers if needed.

Will a Falcon run with a faulty camshaft sensor?
Often it will, but it may crank longer, run in batch‑fire mode, lose VCT finesse, and throw a check engine light. It’s not ideal for fuel economy or drivability, and it can mask timing or wiring issues if left too long.

Does a new camshaft sensor need programming?
No special coding is typically required. Fit the sensor, clear fault codes, and let the PCM relearn with a short drive. If correlation codes persist, check timing alignment, wiring integrity, and the crank sensor signal.