P0345 Code: Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 2)

What the P0345 code means

An inline engine has one cylinder head, one intake camshaft and one sensor. A V or boxer engine has two of each, so the system needs a way to tell them apart. Bank 1 is the side that contains cylinder number one, and bank 2 is the other side.

The P0345 code belongs to the bank 2 camshaft position sensor. Its job is identical to the bank 1 sensor: it tells the computer the phase of the engine so it can decide the injection and spark timing for those cylinders.

What changes compared with the equivalent bank 1 code is not the electronics but the access. On a transverse V engine, one of the two banks usually sits against the firewall, and the sensor on that side can require removing the intake manifold or the engine mount bracket to reach it.

That makes identifying the correct bank more than a detail. A mistake means taking half the engine apart to get to a sensor that has nothing wrong with it, and the error is more common than it sounds because the two sensors are identical.

Keep in mind that on some V engines the two camshaft sensors share their supply and ground even though they have separate signal wires. That means a fault in those shared circuits can set codes on both banks at once, and two codes at the same time do not mean two bad sensors. They can mean a single problem in the common section.

One pattern helps narrow things down. If the engine has misfires concentrated in the cylinders of a single bank along with this code, the link is direct. Without a correct phase signal on that side, sequential injection for those cylinders loses its reference, and the result is misfires that look like spark plug or injector problems. Repairing the sensor usually clears both codes.

P0345 code symptoms

• Check engine light on.
• Long cranking time, several seconds before the engine fires.
• Sudden stalling with a normal restart afterward.
• Rough idle and loss of power.
• Hesitation when you accelerate.
• Higher fuel use.
• On some vehicles, the engine does not start.
• Misfire codes may be stored together with it for the cylinders on that bank.
• Misfires concentrated in the cylinders of a single bank.

Likely causes of the P0345 code

1. Failed sensor from age or heat.
2. Metal shavings stuck to the tip, which distort the signal.
3. Connector that is corroded, loose or has backed-out pins.
4. Wiring damaged by heat or rubbing.
5. Oil on the sensor from a leaking valve cover on that bank.
6. Circuit ground with high resistance.
7. Wrong air gap after fitting a non-specific sensor.
8. Tone wheel on the camshaft of that bank damaged or loose.
9. Missing power supply on Hall effect sensors.

How to diagnose the P0345 code step by step

1. Identify bank 2 physically using the vehicle documentation before you take anything apart. It is the side that does not contain cylinder number one.
2. Remove the sensor and clean its tip of shavings and oil. It costs nothing and solves quite a few cases.
3. Check the power supply for the sensor type: 5 or 12 volts on Hall effect sensors, no supply on inductive ones.
4. Measure the resistance of inductive sensors and compare it with the specification.
5. Compare with the bank 1 sensor, which is identical on most engines. Its values give you an immediate reference.
6. Verify continuity of the signal wire and its ground.
7. Look at the signal with an oscilloscope during cranking.
8. Look for oil in the sensor bore from a leaking valve cover.
9. Check whether the misfires are concentrated in the cylinders of that bank. The link is direct and it usually goes away once the sensor is repaired.

How to fix the P0345 code

• Clean the sensor tip and its bore before you consider any replacement.
• Replace the sensor with an original or reputable brand part and check its air gap.
• Clean or replace the connector and protect it with dielectric grease.
• Repair damaged wiring with solder and heat-resistant sleeving.
• Fix the valve cover leak if the sensor is soaked in oil.
• Restore the circuit ground down to bare metal.
• Replace or secure the tone wheel if it is damaged or loose.
• Repair the sensor before you investigate spark plugs or injectors if the misfires are concentrated in the cylinders of that bank.

Technical reference data

• Bank 2 is the side of the engine that does not contain cylinder number one. It does not exist on inline engines.
• Hall effect sensors: 5 or 12 volt supply and a square wave signal.
• Inductive sensors: typical resistance of 200 to 1,500 ohms.
• Usual air gap between the sensor and the tone wheel: 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters (about 0.020 to 0.060 in).
• On most V engines both sensors are identical and share a reference.
• Without a phase signal on one bank, sequential injection for those cylinders loses its reference.

Brand-specific notes

When there are two identical sensors, the one on the healthy bank is the best reference you have. Measure its values and compare them with the suspect one. If they differ clearly, you have your confirmation without looking up any tables.

Confirm which side is bank 2 before you start. On transverse V engines one of the two banks sits against the firewall, and a mistake means pulling the intake manifold to reach a sensor that is perfectly fine.

Frequently asked questions about P0345