P0340 Camshaft position sensor A circuit (bank 1 or single sensor)
What P0340 means
The engine computer is not receiving a usable signal from camshaft position sensor A on bank 1 (or the only camshaft sensor). It uses this signal to identify which cylinder is on its firing stroke and to control variable valve timing. The engine usually still runs, but may be slow to start and can stall.
P0340 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- High
- Typical repair cost
- 60–250 €
- Workshop time
- 0.5–4 h
- Repair difficulty
- Medium
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Long cranking or hard starting
- Rough idle or stalling
- Power loss, especially in the mid-rpm range
- Higher fuel consumption
Common causes
- Failed camshaft position sensor
- Damaged wiring or a loose or oil-soaked connector
- Damaged camshaft target (reluctor) wheel
- Timing belt or chain that has jumped a tooth
- Engine control unit fault (rare)
Can I keep driving with P0340?
Get it checked within a day or two. The engine may stall or fail to restart, which can leave you stranded or stall in traffic.
What to check first
- Inspect the camshaft sensor connector for oil leaking past the sensor seal, and check the wiring.
- Check the sensor supply voltage and ground, and watch for a signal while cranking.
- Remove the sensor and inspect its tip and the target wheel for damage.
- If other timing-related codes are present, check camshaft-to-crankshaft timing before replacing the sensor.
Related codes
- P0341 Camshaft position sensor A circuit range/performance (bank 1)
- P0342 Camshaft position sensor A circuit low (bank 1)
- P0343 Camshaft position sensor A circuit high (bank 1 or single sensor)
- P0344 Camshaft position sensor A circuit intermittent (bank 1 or single sensor)
- P0345 Camshaft position sensor A circuit (bank 2)
- P0346 Camshaft position sensor A circuit range/performance (bank 2)
- P0336 Crankshaft position sensor A circuit range/performance
- P0335 Crankshaft position sensor A circuit
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
Updated: