P0345 means Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 2). The computer is not receiving a usable signal from the bank 2 camshaft position sensor A. It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P0345 means
The engine computer uses the crankshaft position sensor to know engine speed and piston position, and the camshaft sensors to know which stroke each cylinder is on. On engines with variable valve timing, oil-driven cam phasers rotate the camshafts relative to the crankshaft under the control of solenoids. Timing codes come from a sensor that cannot be read, or from a measured cam angle that does not match the commanded one, so oil level and condition, sensor signals and mechanical timing all need checking.
P0345 symptoms
- Hard starting or long cranking
- Rough running or stalling
- Reduced power on some vehicles
Common causes of P0345
- Failed bank 2 camshaft sensor
- Wiring or connector damage
- Damaged camshaft target
How to diagnose P0345
- Inspect the connector and wiring
- Check the sensor power, ground and signal
- Swap the sensor with the bank 1 sensor where they are identical, and see if the code moves
Can you drive with P0345?
Often possible but unreliable; repair soon.
P0345 tips
On V engines where the bank 1 and bank 2 cam sensors are the same part, swapping them is a quick, free test: if the code changes to P0340, the sensor is bad; if it stays P0345, look at the wiring or the camshaft target.
Will P0345 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P0345 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P0340 | Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) |
| P0365 | Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit (Bank 1) |
| P0018 | Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 2 Sensor A) |
Guides that help
- camshaft position sensor
- crankshaft and camshaft position sensors
- timing chain and cam phaser symptoms
When it is more than a sensor
If a stretched chain has already jumped time and damaged valves, or low oil pressure has worn the engine, a repair can cost more than a replacement; see engine replacement cost and compare engines by code on our engines page.
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