I decided to document how to remove the power steering pump on the 3.1L when replacing the camshaft position sensor.
Location:
The camshaft position sensor is located beneath the power steering pump.
Special Tools Required:
Power Steering Pump Pulley Puller: You can borrow the OEM puller from AutoZone for free, with a $40.00 deposit.
Preparatory procedures:
These steps are not strictly necessary, but they easily pay for themselves by making the job go far more efficiently by making space for to work, rather than working in cramped quarters where it is difficult to work and see what you are doing.
1. Remove the body passenger side engine compartment brace that runs over the battery to the strut tower. (3 bolts)
2. Remove the battery. (Two terminals and one hold-down bolt)
3. Remove the nut that secures the electrical junction box and let it slide down and toward the battery tray
4. Remove the two nuts that secure the coolant reservoir. With the tube still connected, swing it around to the front of the car.
*You now have 6 inches or more of unobstructed space in front of the engine.
Remove the old sensor:
1. Remove the serpentine belt
2. Remove the belt guard
3. Remove the power steering pump pulley.
*Note: Because the bracket that holds the power steering pump is in the shape of a C, you cannot lift the pump straight up, nor can you move it toward the back of the car to escape the C because the bank 2 fuel rail is in the way as well as another bracket. You cannot rotate the pump forward to flip it out of the C bracket because because the pulley and pump together form a channel around the C bracket. Thus, you must remove the pulley. The access holes in the pulley to remove the pump bolts are of no benefit in this application.
4. Remove the only the metal line from the power steering pump with a flare nut wrench.
5. Remove the 3 bolts securing the power steering pump to the accessory bracket.
6. Rotate the pump to free it from the C bracket, and lay it aside.
7. You can now clearly see the camshaft position sensor. Part of the intake gasket will cover part of the sensor. Trim this away. Clean the debris from around the sensor to prevent dirt from entering the engine.
8. Remove the small bolt that secures the camshaft position sensor.
9. Using a long screw driver, break the sensor loose by forcing the sensor rotate in its hole, then wiggle and pry it up and out of the hole.
10. Clean the sensor hole and give it a coat of oil.
11. Un-clip the old sensor from the wiring loom. There may be a gray lock tab on the connector. You must remove or cut that out first. You will not need to reuse it. With a small screw driver, gently pry up the locking tab on the old sensor and disconnect it.
12. Install the new sensor, and reassemble everything in reverse order.
