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P0342: Camshaft position sensor A circuit low input (bank 1)

The ECU sees a camshaft sensor signal below what is possible. Almost always a wire shorted to earth or broken, the connector or the sensor.

Code P0342 at a glance
CodeP0342
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP03xx, Ignition and misfires
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?With care

What P0342 means

The camshaft sensor tells the ECU which stroke each cylinder is on, so it can inject at the right moment and control variable valve timing if fitted. Low input means the ECU is reading a voltage below what is possible, almost always from an electrical problem. Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1; on inline engines it is the only bank. Which sensor is "A" is up to each manufacturer (often the intake cam is A and the exhaust cam is B).

Most common causes

  • Sensor connector unplugged or corroded
  • Signal wire shorting to earth or broken
  • No supply to the sensor (fuse or feed wire)
  • Failed sensor
  • ECU fault (rare)

Symptoms

  • Longer cranking before the engine starts
  • Less power or slower response
  • Slightly rough idle
  • Engine warning light on

Can you drive with P0342?

With care You can usually keep driving, as the ECU can manage using the crankshaft sensor, but the engine is down on power and may be hard to start. Get it checked soon.

How to check it

Check for other sensor codes at the same time (crankshaft, pressure and so on): if several appear together, the problem is usually a shared supply or earth rather than the camshaft sensor.

How to read and clear P0342 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0342 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0342 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0342 mean?

The camshaft sensor tells the ECU which stroke each cylinder is on, so it can inject at the right moment and control variable valve timing if fitted. Low input means the ECU is reading a voltage below what is possible, almost always from an electrical problem. Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1; on inline engines it is the only bank. Which sensor is "A" is up to each manufacturer (often the intake cam is A and the exhaust cam is B).

Can you drive with P0342?

You can usually keep driving, as the ECU can manage using the crankshaft sensor, but the engine is down on power and may be hard to start. Get it checked soon.

How do you clear P0342?

With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0342 comes back.