Timing and crank/cam sensorsGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0341: camshaft sensor signal out of range
P0341 means: camshaft position sensor "A" circuit: performance problem or out-of-range values (bank 1 or single sensor).[1][2][3] The ECU receives a signal from camshaft sensor "A", but considers it incorrect: it is outside the expected range or is not properly synchronised with the crankshaft sensor signal. The ECU continuously compares both signals to keep the engine's operation in sync.[1][2][4]
What code P0341 means
The ECU receives a signal from camshaft sensor "A", but considers it incorrect: it is outside the expected range or is not properly synchronised with the crankshaft sensor signal. The ECU continuously compares both signals to keep the engine's operation in sync.[1][2][4]
Unlike P0340 (circuit fault: the signal is missing or faulty), here the signal exists but is not consistent with the engine position. That is why, besides the sensor and the wiring, mechanical causes have to be considered: the reluctor wheel, the valve timing, a stretched chain or belt or one that has jumped a tooth, or the variable valve timing system.[2][4][5][6]
It is a generic OBD-II code (it starts with P0), so it means the same on any brand; what changes from one engine to another is the most likely cause.[7]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)[1][2][3]
Causes of P0341
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Faulty or degrading camshaft sensor, with noise or intermittent dropouts in the signal.[1][2][4]
- 2Damaged or misaligned camshaft reluctor wheel (tone ring), or foreign particles between the sensor and the wheel, which produce extra or missing pulses.[1][2][4]
- 3Stretched timing chain or belt, with a worn tensioner or one that has jumped a tooth, which throws the camshaft out of phase with the crankshaft.[2][4]
- 4Poor wiring or connection between the sensor and the ECU: corroded connector, cut or shorted wire, poor contact.[1][2]
- 5Ignition interference: sensor wires too close to the spark plug leads or the coil, or spark plugs and leads with high resistance.[1][2]
- 6Incorrectly installed sensor.[2]
- 7Fault in the variable valve timing system.[2]
- 8Incorrectly set valve timing, for example after work on the belt or chain.[2]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light (check engine light) on.[1][4]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Hard or long starting; Carista places it mainly with the engine warm.[1][2][3][4]Hard to start: faults that cause it
- The engine stalls occasionally.[3][4]Engine stalls: faults that cause it
- Reduced performance and loss of power, because the ECU resorts to an emergency strategy when the camshaft signal does not match the crankshaft one.[1][2][4]Less power: faults that cause it
- Irregular or intermittent engine running.[1][4]Vibrations: faults that cause it
- Hesitation when accelerating and misfires.[2][4]Jerking: faults that cause it
- Increased fuel consumption.[1]Uses more fuel: faults that cause it
- If the cause is a stretched timing chain, a rattle may be heard, as well as lack of power when accelerating and hard starting.[2]Chain noise: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0341
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1See whether other codes are stored (P0340, P0335, misfires), because they may point to the cause.[3]
- 2Check the sensor connector and wiring: damage, poor contact or corrosion. On three-wire sensors, check the 5 V supply and the ground at the connector with the ignition on.[1][2]
- 3Check that the sensor wires do not run right next to the spark plug leads or other ignition components. If it has been a long time since a tune-up (spark plugs and leads), do one: high resistance in the ignition can generate interference that puts spikes in the sensor signal.[1][2]
- 4With the diagnostic tool, compare the camshaft position with the crankshaft position in live data during cranking and at idle. An offset of more than a few degrees points to a mechanical problem (chain, phaser or reluctor wheel); if the offset is stable but the signal is noisy, the problem is the sensor.[4]
- 5Verify the valve timing and whether the chain or belt is stretched or has jumped a tooth. According to Samarins, on some cars this is checked by comparing the camshaft signal with the crankshaft one on an oscilloscope and on others a manufacturer-specific tool is needed.[2][3]
- 6Check the operation of the variable valve timing system and the condition of the camshaft sprocket or reluctor wheel (cracked or damaged teeth).[2][3]
- 7Replace the sensor only when the offset is stable and the signal is noisy or absent; if it is confirmed that the chain is stretched, deal with that wear first.[4]
Can I keep driving with P0341?
Garage soon
The sources do not agree on severity. Autodoc Club treats it as a fault that must be resolved immediately, because it can prevent starting and cause serious engine damage; Carista gives it medium severity and talks about occasional stalling and loss of power, and Samarins gives no indication. Since the cause can be mechanical (a stretched chain or one that has jumped a tooth), it is worth diagnosing soon.[1][2][4]
Documented faults related to P0341
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
Wiring, connectors and short circuits: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N62 / N63Additional turbo coolant pump with a risk of short circuit and fireIn 2011 BMW recalled 5, 6 and 7 Series, X5 and X6 models built between 2007 and 2011 because of the additional turbo coolant pump: moisture, a short circuit and, in extreme cases, a fire. In 2012 there was another campaign for a crack in the pump, with a more robust version.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.3 TCeBlown fuel pump fuseOn the Renault Captur II and Clio V with the 1.3 TCe engine, a 20-amp fuse can blow and leave the car without an engine. According to L'argus, in April 2021 this fault still had no factory fix; the official service centre's diagnosis includes checking, and sometimes replacing, the catalytic converter.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalM264/M254Poorly tightened 48 V earth wiring in the mild-hybrid system (fire risk)Mercedes-Benz has issued several recalls (2022-2025) because the 12 V and 48 V earth connections of some cars with a 48 V system may be poorly tightened: resistance rises, the connection heats up and a fire cannot be ruled out. The official workshop checks them and repairs them if necessary in an hour or more.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.9 TDIUnit injector tappet wear and injector wiring damageOn the unit injector system, the tappets that operate the injectors can wear if the oil is not changed on time, and the injector wiring can be damaged by contact with oil, causing misfires or loss of power.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonRover 75Seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light onAuto Express warns that the Rover 75's seat SRS connector can cause the airbags to fail, and dealers were fixing it with revised connectors. The Dutch APK inspection puts the airbag or seatbelt fault warning among the most frequent defects across almost all series.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GiuliettaShort circuit from badly routed wiring that can prevent gear shifting (KBA campaign, 2010-2015)Yes: according to Germany's KBA, on Alfa Romeo Giulietta cars built between 2010 and 2015 inadequate cable routing could cause a short circuit and, as a result, gear-shift failure.
Timing chain: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.5 BlueHDiWear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshaftsIn 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between October 2017 and January 2023, the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break, causing serious engine damage. Stellantis has recalled them and covers the fault for 10 years or 240,000 km.Repair (garage): €730–€820
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 and 1.4 TSITiming chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)On the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 (2006-2015) the chain can stretch and the tensioner fall short; if the chain jumps a tooth, the valves hit the pistons. Volkswagen admitted the defect in 2012 and revised the chain and tensioner between 2010 and 2011.Repair (garage): €700–€1,400Appears at around 30,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentOM651Timing chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the OM651 timing chain can stretch prematurely, above all on units built up to 2013, and in 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz recalled around 114,000 vehicles in Germany over a defective sealing ring in the tensioner. A metallic rattle on a cold start is the first sign.Repair (garage): €2,000–€3,500Appears at around 120,000 km
Timing belt: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 PureTechOil-bath timing belt degradationThe oil-bath belt on the 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) can swell and shed debris that blocks the oil pump pick-up; without lubrication, the engine can be destroyed. Stellantis covers it up to 10 years or 180,000 km and asks for it to be changed every 100,000 km or 6 years.Repair (garage): €400–€800
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 EcoBoostDegradation of the timing belt running in oilYes: the 1.0 EcoBoost's timing belt runs in oil and can degrade over the years, shedding bits of rubber that block the oil pump and seize the engine without warning. The NHTSA is investigating the case in the United States and Ford has shortened the recommended replacement interval.Repair (garage): €800–€1,200
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlueDegradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)Yes: the 2.0 EcoBlue debuted a timing belt that runs bathed in oil on Ford's diesels. Over the years it can degrade and shed debris that affects the lubrication circuit, with a risk of seizure. A roundup by Autopista.es places it in the Focus, Kuga, Transit and Transit/Tourneo Custom.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 / 1.5 VTEC TurboEngine failure caused by the wet timing beltYes: the 1.0 VTEC Turbo (P10A2) uses an oil-bath timing belt that degrades over time, blocks the lubrication circuit and can destroy the engine completely. Fiches-auto.fr documents several cases in the Honda Civic between 72,000 and 114,000 km.Appears at around 72,000 km
Variable valve timing (VVT) actuator: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)Loosening of the camshaft adjuster boltsPorsche acknowledges that the fixing bolts of the camshaft adjusters on certain Cayenne S and Turbo and Panamera models built up to September 2011 can fail: noise, vibration, engine warning light and, in rare cases, stalling. There has been a worldwide workshop campaign since 2012.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Wear of the Valvetronic and the VANOS solenoid valvesOver the years, the eccentric shaft or the actuator motor of the Valvetronic can wear and cause heavy idle fluctuations; the VANOS solenoid valves also fail over time, with similar symptoms and a loss of power. According to English-language Wikipedia, the 1.6-litre N43B16 does not have Valvetronic.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM111Camshaft adjuster oil leak into the wiringYes: the magnet (solenoid valve) of the M111 camshaft adjuster can lose its seal, and the oil creeps up by capillary action to the connector and the wiring loom. Mercedes-Benz has the same repair cable as for the M271 (part number A2711502733), which is cheap to fit.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM271Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiringYes: the camshaft adjuster solenoids (magnets) of the M271 can lose their seal, and the oil wicks up to the connector and the wiring loom, and can even reach the control unit. Mercedes-Benz has a specific repair cable (reference A2711502733) that is cheap to fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between P0341 and P0340?
Both refer to camshaft sensor "A" on bank 1, but describe different faults. P0340 is a circuit fault: the ECU cannot see the camshaft position because the signal is missing or faulty. P0341 indicates that the signal exists but is not consistent: it is outside the expected range or out of phase with the crankshaft one. That is why, with P0341, mechanical causes also have to be looked at, such as the reluctor wheel or the timing chain or belt.[1][2][4][5][6]
Does P0341 mean the camshaft sensor is broken?
Not necessarily. The sensor is one of the causes, but the signal can be inconsistent because of a damaged reluctor wheel, a stretched or jumped timing chain or belt, ignition interference or a problem with the variable valve timing system. Carista says that, if there is an offset of more than a few degrees between camshaft and crankshaft, the problem is mechanical; if the offset is stable but the signal is noisy, the sensor is replaced.[1][2][4]
Can a stretched timing chain cause P0341?
Yes. Carista and Samarins mention a stretched chain, or a chain or belt that has jumped a tooth, as a cause of P0341, because it throws the camshaft out of phase with the crankshaft. Samarins adds that a stretched chain usually gives itself away with a rattle, lack of power when accelerating and hard starting.[2][4]
Can I drive with code P0341?
The sources do not agree on severity. Autodoc Club treats it as a fault that must be resolved immediately because it can prevent starting and damage the engine; Carista gives it medium severity and mentions occasional stalling and loss of power. The prudent course is to drive only as much as necessary and diagnose it soon, especially if there is a rattle from the timing or the engine stalls.[1][2][4]
Does P0341 mean the same on all brands?
Yes. Codes starting with P0 are generic OBD-II codes and have the same definition for all manufacturers.[7]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0341?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[8]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Código OBD2 P0341: causas, síntomas y cómo corregirloAutodoc Club · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish
- P0341 - Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Range/PerformanceSamarins.com · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- DTC P0341 Camshaft position sensor "A" circuit range/performance (bank 1 or single sensor), Saab 9-2X (9346) 2005, 2.5iSaab WIS Online (Saab Workshop Information System) · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- P0341: OBD-II code P0341 means the camshaft position sensor signal is present but implausibleCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- Código OBD2 P0340: causas, síntomas y cómo corregirloAutodoc Club · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish
- P0340: OBD-II code P0340 flags a fault in the camshaft position sensor circuitCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- On-board diagnosticsWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 October 2026
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish