P0342Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Low Bank 1 or Single Sensor
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- Can trigger limp mode
- Needs a drive cycle to confirm a fix
- How the car detects it
- P0342 means the signal of the intake camshaft sensor of bank 1 (or the only cam sensor) stays at ground level without edges – signal wire shorted to ground, sensor supply missing or the Hall sensor faulty. Ford's 2023 diesel sets it when the signal stays at 0 V over 10 or more crank revolutions (3 s), while cranking or running. On the Saab 9-4X V6 (GM LAU) the signal must stay low without pulses for more than 1 s, or 10 s cumulatively, and the code follows after two trips; with the sensor disconnected the signal wire should show 4.8–5.2 V. Saab's Motronic 2.8.1 (900 V6) treats low and high together: no connection or short to ground or battery, about 4.5 V at idle, air gap at most 1.5 mm. GM petrol engines 2014–2019 and Ford petrol engines report this under P0340.
- What you may notice
- Check engine light on
- Longer cranking before the engine starts
- Loss of power (cam timing held in its base position)
- Rough idle, occasionally stalling
- Likely causes
- LikelySignal wire shorted to ground
- Possible5 V or 12 V supply of the sensor missing
- PossibleCamshaft position sensor faulty
- PossibleConnector corroded or wiring chafed
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Easy · Often possible to do yourself.Typical cost: €30 – €300
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.