The Difference Between the Crankshaft and Camshaft in Your Renault Kangoo

Every wonder how your Renault Kangoo's engine runs? It's a more common question than you think. Even if you don't know a lot about car parts and can't do any more for your car than change its oil, it's normal to wonder exactly what makes your car tick. While there are a number of Peugeot parts that contribute to the operation of your vehicle beneath the bonnet, two important parts that often get confused are the crankshaft and camshaft. While these two parts have similar names, they offer two different functions.

Let's break them down so you understand exactly what they do for your Kangoo.

The Crankshaft

When it comes to Renault parts, the crankshaft is an essential one for the engine. Its job is to convert the linear energy in the engine to rotational energy. This conversion is what makes it possible for your Kangoo to drive forward.

This part is located below the engine cylinders. Depending on the type of engine your car has, it may be found between the banks of the cylinders or at the base of the cylinders. Inside those cylinders are pistons, which move up and down within them. Individual rods connect these pistons to the crankshaft. All of these cylinders work together and with other car parts inside the engine to enable the engine to function as it should. This is known as the four-stroke cycle.

The four-stroke cycle doesn't refer to the number of cylinders in play, as cars can have anywhere from three to twelve cylinders. Instead, it refers to compression, power, intake, and exhaust. Each stroke affects the drive of the engine.

During the intake stroke, the piston begins to move downward and the car's intake valve opens. This lets fuel and air enter the cylinder. When the piston is finished moving downward, the intake valve closes so that the air and fuel mixture remains in the cylinder. The piston then begins moving up, which compresses the mixture. The mixture is then ignited by the Renault's spark plugs, resulting in combustion. The piston is then lowered by the combustion, which turns the crankshaft and allows the car enough power to move forward. This then triggers the exhaust valve to open to release the fuel and air mixture that was not used so the process can begin again.

The Camshaft

The camshaft works in conjunction with the crankshaft. It is responsible for rotating at the same time as the crankshaft and using lobes, also known as cams, to push against the valves and open them up as the pistons move.

The Crankshaft/Camshaft Connexion

Have you ever seen a relay event? This is how a crankshaft and camshaft work together. They move together, but have to be ready for each step the other takes. As the crankshaft moves the piston down, the camshaft must use its cams to open up the intake valves. When the piston reaches the bottom, the camshaft must close the valve and prepare to open the exhaust valve. This is similar to a relay racer waiting for a baton to be handed off to them. If these two Renault parts aren't working together, the parts of the cycle are not able to occur. The fuel/air mixture won't be correct, the combustion process won't occur, the exhaust valve won't eliminate the unused mixture, and there will be no power provided to the flywheel to push your car forward.

Camshaft and Crankshaft Sensors

To ensure your camshaft and crankshaft are functioning properly, sensors are utilised by your car. These sensors transmit information to your car's engine computer and let it know how these car parts are functioning.

These sensors aren't immortal, however, and can be damaged in an accident or wear down over time. Having these sensors in place and operation is important to ensuring your car is running at its best, so it is critical to understand what symptoms might occur when they fail.

Because both the camshaft and crankshaft work together to create a synchronised result, the symptoms of their failing sensors are often the same.

• Check Engine Light- For both the camshaft and crankshaft sensors, this is probably the first symptom you'll see when a sensor is failing. This is a warning that tells you a problem has occurred that needs to be evaluated as soon as possible. Ignoring this warning can lead to serious engine trouble, which will be explained in the next two bullet points.

• Disrupted Driving- When a sensor fails, you will likely experience poor idling, frequent stalling, lower rpm, reduced engine power, problems accelerating and poor fuel mileage. Fortunately, many car owners who ignore their check engine light will be willing to visit a mechanic when these issues occur. Doing so can prevent engine problems from becoming worse.

• No Power- Remember, when the sensors for your camshaft or crankshaft begin to fail, the signal to your engine's computer is disrupted. If the sensors fail completely, the engine won't be able to tell if the crankshaft or camshaft are working properly. If it doesn't know that the injectors need fuel, it won't send it. This will prevent the fuel from entering the cylinder and prevent the rest of the four-cycle process from occurring. Your car won't receive the power it need to operate the flywheel and move the car forward. The engine will shut down as a result, which can leave you stranded wherever you happen to be. This can not only be unsafe if you are on the road, but it can be costly because you'll likely need to either have the car towed to a mechanic or hire a mobile mechanic to come meet you at your location.

Understanding the differences between the camshaft and crankshaft, as well as their dependence on one another, can help ensure you understand how important it is to take care of these car parts. Pay attention to any symptoms that might indicate one of these parts or their sensors is failing and do something about it immediately.