P0342 Camshaft position sensor A circuit low (bank 1)
What P0342 means
The camshaft position sensor tells the engine computer where the camshaft is, so it can time fuel injection and ignition. P0342 means its signal voltage is below the normal range. The engine may take longer to start, run poorly or stall.
P0342 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 no-start
- Stalling or hesitation
- Reduced power
Common causes
- Failed camshaft position sensor
- Signal wire shorted to ground
- Broken supply or reference wire
- Oil-contaminated or corroded connector
- Damaged wiring near hot or moving parts
Can I keep driving with P0342?
Have it checked within a few days. The engine may stall or fail to start without warning.
What to check first
- Inspect the sensor connector for oil, corrosion or damage
- Check supply voltage, ground and signal at the sensor
- Check the wiring for chafing or shorts
- Replace the sensor if supply and wiring are good
Related codes
- P0341 Camshaft position sensor A circuit range/performance (bank 1)
- P0343 Camshaft position sensor A circuit high (bank 1 or single sensor)
- P0340 Camshaft position sensor A circuit (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.
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