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Not that hard to change. Really depends on your skills. How long have you been doin auto repair/mechanics? Here's the thing. The cam sensor on you particular vehicle seldom fails, but the crank sensor has a pretty high failure rate. Did you mean to say crank sensor instead of cam sensor? The point is whatever you meant to say, you shouldn't buy or replace any parts till you post exactly what the problem is. Reason being is that there's a good chance that you problem has been misdiagnosed. Also post any error codes that are set. I'm posting a helpful link below.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c152800c08b8

Is the Dakota not starting?
Is there no spark?

Same thing happened twice.

Submitted by ajankoski on Wed, 01/18/2012 - 13:13.

Same thing happened twice. Drive to market, shop and won't start when I return. Cranks easily, won't fire at all. Walk home get other vehicle and when I return, truck starts. Couple weeks later same thing, this time I have to leave it overnight, but starts easily next day. Scan code reads "camshaft position sensor A Circuit bank 1 or single sensor P0340" Same scan code each time. I am not a mechanic but know how to use tools and made many repairs when I was much younger.

Alan, (You said) know how to

Submitted by Big Block 409 on Wed, 01/18/2012 - 21:05.

Alan,

(You said) know how to use tools and made many repairs when I was much younger.

Ok man here you go. This is gonna make you feel young again. All you gotta do is add alot of Becks Beer to get the job done :-).

Trouble Code: P0340

No Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Failure

Trouble Code Conditions:

Engine cranking or running, system voltage over 10v. The PCM detected CKP pulses without detecting any CMP Sensor pulses for 5 seconds or 2.5 engine revolutions.

Possible Causes

CMP Sensor connector is damaged, open or it is shorted

CMP Sensor signal circuit is open or shorted to ground or to battery voltage or 5v supply circuit

CMP Sensor 5v supply circuit is open or shorted to ground or to battery voltage

CMP Sensor ground c

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - 4.7L V-8 ENGINE

The Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor is located at the right-rear side of the engine cylinder block and is positioned and bolted into a machined hole.

REMOVAL

Disconnect CKP electrical connector at sensor.

Remove CKP mounting bolt

Carefully pry sensor from cylinder block in a rocking action with two small screwdrivers.

Remove sensor from vehicle.
Check condition of sensor o-ring.

Note: You may find yourself in a situation where the crankshaft sensor is seized in the block and removal seems impossible. Here are the steps I took to get my seized sensor out

Raise the front end of the vehicle in the air and secure it with proper jack stands

Remove the front passenger tire

Have an assistant "grab" a hold of the sensor with pliers through the notch in the wheel well liner, being careful not to "squeeze" to hard as to break the plastic.

While your assistant applies removal pressure to the sensor (taking note to pull straight back and not rock), use a screwdriver from underneath the vehicle to rock the sensor back and forth

Eventually, with the combination of removal pressure from your assistant, and the rocking of the sensor with the screwdriver, the sensor will "walk" out of the machine hole.

INSTALLATION

Clean out machined hole in engine block.

Apply a small amount of engine oil to sensor o-ring.

Install sensor into engine block with a slight rocking action. Do not twist sensor into position as damage to o-ring may result. CAUTION: Before tightening sensor mounting bolt, be sure sensor is completely flush to cylinder block. If sensor is not flush, damage to sensor mounting tang may result.

Install mounting bolt and tighten to 28 N•m (21 ft. lbs.) torque.

Connect electrical connector to sensor.

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - 4.7L ENGINE

The Camshaft Position Sensor (CMP) on the 4.7L V - 8 engine is bolted to the front/top of the right cylinder head

REMOVAL

Remove the air box on the right side of the engine (the air box holds the air filter)

Disconnect electrical connector at CMP
sensor

Remove sensor mounting bolt

Carefully pry sensor from cylinder head in a rocking action with two small screwdrivers.

Check condition of sensor o-ring.

INSTALLATION

Clean out machined hole in cylinder head.

Apply a small amount of engine oil to sensor o-ring.

Install sensor into cylinder head with a slight rocking action. Do not twist sensor into position as damage to o-ring may result CAUTION: Before tightening sensor mounting bolt, be sure sensor is completely flush to cylinder head. If sensor is not flush, damage to sensor mounting tang may result.

Install mounting bolt and tighten to 12 N•m (106 in. lbs.) torque.

Connect electrical connector to sensor.

Thank You very much. You make

Submitted by ajankoski on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 06:14.

Thank You very much. You make it sound easy. Do you think I am on the right track considering that the failure is intermittent?

Alan, It is easy. The more

Submitted by Big Block 409 on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 13:05.

Alan,

It is easy. The more beer you drink the easier it gets :-). If the circuits/wiring for both the cam and crank sensor check out, then just replace both the cam and crank sensors themselves. The links below will help.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c152800c08b8

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c152800c08c4

The beer part I am

Submitted by ajankoski on Fri, 01/20/2012 - 10:25.

The beer part I am experienced at. Thanks

Alan, It's good that you got

Submitted by Big Block 409 on Fri, 01/20/2012 - 10:44.

Alan,

It's good that you got experience with the beer part. That means you're well on your way to becoming a great mechanic. Havin little or no experience with the beer part is a problem for alot of guy's. They end up fallin asleep under the car, or spillin beer on the sensors, and that sucks because in this business you don't wanna be wastin beer. Good luck and glad I was able to help :-).