P0345: Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2)
Quick Answer
Safe to drive (short-term)
P0345 means the ECM can't get a valid signal from camshaft position sensor A on bank 2 (the bank that doesn't contain cylinder 1). Fuel injection sync and variable valve timing accuracy drop until it's fixed.
- Severity
- Moderate · Electrical
- Estimated repair cost
- From €65 to €2500+, varies by vehicle
€65 or €2500, depending on your car.
- Replace bank 2 camshaft position sensor€65–€270
- Timing chain, tensioner and guides replacement€850–€2500
A scan shows whether P0345 is really stored on your car, which codes sit next to it and how urgent each one is.
A scan needs a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter (Bluetooth LE on iPhone), about €25-60; the built-in demo runs without one. See which adapter to buy
What does P0345 mean?
P0345 is a electrical-related diagnostic trouble code classified as moderate severity.
Where it is on the car
- Crankshaft sprocket and position sensor
- Timing chain or belt
- Camshaft sprockets with VVT phasers
- Camshaft position sensor
- VVT oil control solenoid
Bank 2 is the side of a V or flat engine that does not hold cylinder 1. An inline engine has no bank 2. The picture shows one bank.
What are the symptoms of P0345?
- Check engine light on, occasionally flashing under load if misfires develop
- Hard starting or extended cranking, often worse when hot
- Rough idle with intermittent misfire feel
- Power loss and hesitation during acceleration
- Occasional stalling at idle or when coming to a stop
- 5-10% drop in fuel economy from degraded fuel trims
- Limp mode on VAG, BMW, and some Ford applications
What causes P0345?
Failed camshaft position sensor on bank 2 (Hall-effect element degrades with heat)
: high
Oil-contaminated or corroded connector at the sensor, usually from a leaking valve cover gasket
: high
Worn variable valve timing actuator or solenoid causing cam correlation drift
: medium
Stretched timing chain or worn tensioner shifting reluctor timing out of window
: medium
Damaged reluctor ring on the camshaft (cracks, missing teeth)
: low
Open or shorted wiring between sensor and ECM, or a failed ECM driver
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0345?
Generally yes, for short-term driving. You can drive short distances, but expect rough running, hard starts, and possible stalling. Without a clean CMP signal the ECM falls back to crankshaft-only timing, which is less precise and hard on the catalyst if you leave it for weeks.
How do you diagnose P0345?
- Scan for all stored and pending codes, noting companion codes like P0340, P0341, P0016, or crankshaft position codes that change the diagnostic path
- Confirm which bank is bank 2 for your specific engine using a factory diagram, bank 2 is the side without cylinder 1 and it varies by manufacturer
- Visually inspect the bank 2 CMP connector for oil intrusion, green corrosion, bent pins, and chafed wires near the valve cover
- With key on engine off, verify reference voltage (5V or 12V depending on sensor type) and a clean ground at the sensor connector
- Use a scope or graphing scan tool to capture the CMP waveform while cranking, a missing or ragged square wave points at the sensor or reluctor
- Remove the sensor and inspect the tip for metal shavings, sludge, or physical damage to the pole piece
- Check cam-to-crank correlation with manufacturer-level software (a generic OBD2 reader does not show it); a large phase error suggests chain stretch or a failed VVT actuator rather than a bad sensor
- If sensor, wiring, and reference voltage all pass, back-probe at the ECM connector while cranking to isolate a harness break from an ECM fault
How much does P0345 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace bank 2 camshaft position sensor | €25–€120 | €40–€150 | €65–€270 | Easy |
| Repair wiring harness or replace connector pigtail at sensor | €10–€50 | €60–€180 | €70–€230 | Moderate |
| Replace VVT/VCT solenoid or phaser on bank 2 | €80–€450 | €150–€600 | €230–€1050 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, tensioner and guides replacement | €250–€700 | €600–€1800 | €850–€2500 | Professional |
| ECM repair or replacement with programming | €400–€1200 | €100–€300 | €500–€1500 | Professional |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
P0345 on specific vehicles
Nissan
Nissan Pathfinder VQ40DE 4.0L
2005-2012
The VQ40DE is a repeat offender for CMP sensor failure. Bank 2 sensor sits on the firewall side rear of the head.
Ford
Ford F-150 5.4L 3V Triton
2004-2010
The 3V 5.4L is infamous for VCT phaser rattle and failure, which throws P0345 alongside P0344/P0346. Sludge from stretched oil-change intervals is a common underlying cause.
Toyota
Toyota Tacoma 1GR-FE 4.0L V6
2005-2015
1GR-FE is generally reliable. The bank 2 camshaft position sensor runs hot next to the exhaust manifold and degrades over time.
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0345
- Which side is bank 2 on my V6 or V8?
- Bank 2 is the side that does not contain cylinder 1, and which physical side that is depends entirely on the engine. On transverse Japanese V6s it varies by family: on the Honda J-series, for example, cylinder 1 is on the rear bank, so Bank 2 is the front one. On the Ford Modular V8 and the GM LS the banks are the other way round from each other. Descriptions such as driver's side and passenger's side also swap between left- and right-hand-drive cars, so go by the bank diagram rather than by side. Check a factory bank diagram for your engine before ordering parts, because guessing the side is an easy way to pay for a sensor you did not need.
- Can I just clear P0345 and keep driving?
- You can clear it, but if the fault is still present it'll return in a few drive cycles. The real cost of ignoring it is catalyst wear, fuel trims and injector timing get sloppy and a €600 cat converter is a lot worse than a €50 sensor.
- Will a new sensor fix it, or do I need a timing chain job?
- On a lower-mileage engine a sensor or connector fix is often enough. On higher-mileage V engines, and on those with known timing chain or cam phaser wear such as the Ford 5.4 3V, check cam-to-crank correlation with manufacturer-level software before assuming the sensor. Replacing a sensor on a stretched chain is throwing money away.
- Why did P0345 appear right after an oil change?
- Two things: an overfill can push oil past the cam seal and drown the sensor connector, or the tech bumped the connector loose while working around the valve cover. Pull the connector, dry it, dielectric-grease it, and reseat it before buying anything.
- Does P0345 cause a no-start?
- Rarely on its own. Most modern engines can start on crank signal alone and then sync the cam. A hard no-start with P0345 usually means the CKP signal is also gone, or the timing chain has jumped teeth, at that point you're diagnosing mechanical damage, not a sensor.