P0344: Camshaft position sensor A circuit intermittent (bank 1)
The camshaft sensor signal keeps dropping out. Almost always a poor contact at the connector or a damaged wire, sometimes the sensor itself.
| Code | P0344 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P03xx, Ignition and misfires |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0344 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. Intermittent means the signal comes and goes, often with heat or vibration. 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
- Poor contact or corrosion at the connector
- Chafed wire that breaks contact with vibration
- Sensor that fails when hot
- Sensor loose in its mounting
- 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 P0344?
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.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
Note whether the fault appears when hot, over bumps or in the rain: that detail helps the garage track down a poor contact that is not visible at a glance.
How to read and clear P0344 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 P0344 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
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 an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0340 Camshaft position sensor A circuit fault (bank 1)
- P0341 Camshaft position sensor A signal out of range (bank 1)
- P0342 Camshaft position sensor A circuit low input (bank 1)
- P0343 Camshaft position sensor A circuit high input (bank 1)
- P0345 Camshaft position sensor A circuit fault (bank 2)
- P0346 Camshaft position sensor A signal out of range (bank 2)
- P0347 The camshaft position sensor A (bank 2) gives a lower signal than normal
- P0348 The camshaft position sensor A (bank 2) gives a higher signal than normal
- P0300 Random or multiple cylinder misfire
- P0301 Misfire detected in cylinder 1
- P0302 Misfire detected in cylinder 2
- P0303 Misfire detected in cylinder 3
What does code P0344 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. Intermittent means the signal comes and goes, often with heat or vibration. 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 P0344?
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 P0344?
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, P0344 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
