What are the symptoms of a bad cam sensor....???

[Zoo Mob]

I've got my eye on a $250 93 legacy wagon that needs engine work, the owner said that there was a problem with the cam and it doesn't run. A friend mentioned that it could just be the cam sensor. The car is three hours away, and I'd like to kind of grill the guy over the phone to see if it might just be the sensor. What would be the symptoms of a bad sensor?

[94legacy2.2]

no start is a sign of a bad cam sensor.
bad wiring could cause it
you can always take a sensor with you and swap it out. just run the harness over to the plug and call it done.

[gijonas]

If you do that he may decide his car is worth more than $250 at that point

[codfizzle]

Yeah if the cam sensor is bad, the car wouldn't run and would probably throw a check engine light. You can usually get a replacement sensor at a junk yard for $5 or less, and it only takes about 5 minutes to swap it out. If somehow you were able to get a sensor, go to where the car is at, and swap that sensor out to see if that's the problem, it wouldn't cost very much (gas would probably be the biggest expense). And then at least you'd know if the problem was actually a sensor or something much more serious with the cam.