Timing and crank/cam sensorsManufacturer codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P1340: crankshaft and camshaft out of sync (VW/Audi)
P1340 means: manufacturer (VW/Audi): crankshaft position (CKP) and camshaft position (CMP) sensor signals out of sequence, that is, they do not agree with each other.[1][2] It is a manufacturer code, not a generic one. On Volkswagen and Audi it means the ECU detects that the crankshaft sensor signals and the camshaft signals do not have the expected correlation, so it does not know precisely where piston 1 is relative to the camshafts.[1][2]
What code P1340 means
It is a manufacturer code, not a generic one. On Volkswagen and Audi it means the ECU detects that the crankshaft sensor signals and the camshaft signals do not have the expected correlation, so it does not know precisely where piston 1 is relative to the camshafts.[1][2]
Other brands use the same number with a different meaning: on Mercedes-Benz it refers to the camshaft sensor signal; on Peugeot and Citroën, to a fault in camshaft position sensor circuit "B"; on Honda and Isuzu, to cylinder identification in the ignition module, and on Toyota and Lexus, to the cylinder 8 ignition circuit. Always check the brand before trusting a guide.[1][2]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Camshaft position (CMP) sensor 1 / Bank 1 / crankshaft position (CKP) sensor - out of sequence[1][2]
Causes of P1340
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Excessive slack in the timing chain from wear in its links: the source names it as the main cause on VW VR6 engines.[1]
- 2Worn chain tensioner or guides, or low oil pressure that stops the tensioner maintaining tension.[1]
- 3Worn sprockets or timing belt, on engines that have a belt.[1]
- 4Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, or damaged reluctor wheel.[1][2]
- 5Sensor badly fitted, or unsuitable replacement parts; on some brands also the wiring and the ECU.[1][2]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on.[1]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Uneven engine running, because ignition and injection can fall out of adjustment.[1]Jerking: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P1340
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Confirm the brand and engine: the meaning changes by manufacturer, and read the full fault memory for other timing codes.[1][2]
- 2Inspect the connectors and wiring of the crankshaft and camshaft sensors.[2]
- 3Check the condition of the timing (chain, tensioner, guides and sprockets, or belt) and the oil level and pressure if slack is suspected.[1]
- 4Check the sensors and the reluctor wheel, and that the sensors are of suitable quality. Replace whichever part fails the check before the sensor, which is the cheapest thing to rule out.[1][2]
Can I keep driving with P1340?
Garage soon
The source indicates that, if the cause is a slack chain, the mismatch between crankshaft and camshaft upsets ignition and injection. It is not advisable to keep driving as normal until the timing has been checked.[1]
Documented faults related to P1340
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does P1340 mean on a Volkswagen or Audi?
That the crankshaft sensor signals and the camshaft signals are out of sequence, that is, they do not agree with each other.[1][2]
Is P1340 always the timing chain?
No. It is a cited cause, especially on VR6 engines, but the sensors, the reluctor wheel or the timing belt can also fail.[1]
Does P1340 mean the same on all brands?
No. As it is a manufacturer code, its meaning changes: on Peugeot and Citroën it is camshaft sensor circuit B and on Toyota the cylinder 8 ignition.[1][2]
Will I pass the MOT with code P1340?
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.[3]
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.
- P1340 - TroubleCodes.net (definiciones por fabricante)TroubleCodes.net · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- P1340 - Manufacturer Controlled DTCDTCSearch · Technical documentation · consulted 29 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