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P0342

Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Low Input (Bank 1)

The CMP signal voltage is below the lower threshold. Most often a sensor with degraded internal output or a short to ground.

  • Check engine light: Yes
  • Emissions related: Yes
  • Repair difficulty: medium

Symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Power loss especially in mid-rpm range
  • Possible rough idle or stalling
  • Increased fuel consumption

Common causes

Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.

  • Sensor failedCommon
  • Signal shorted to groundPossible
  • Connector pins corroded - high contact resistanceLess likely

Parts involved

  • Camshaft Position Sensor
  • Camshaft Position Sensor Wiring

P0342 is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.